jugar

to play (a game or sport)

verb hoo-GAHR Common

Usage Note

Jugar is an -ue stem-changing verb (juego, juegas…) and is used exclusively for games and sports, always with the preposition a: jugar al fútbol, jugar a las cartas. To play a musical instrument uses tocar instead: tocar la guitarra. The g → gu spelling change appears in the first-person preterite: jugué.

Examples

"Los niños juegan al fútbol cada tarde."

Natural Translation

The children play football every afternoon.

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