playoffs

noun PLAY-offs Rare

Origin: Borrowed from English playoffs.

Usage Note

Playoffs is an invariable English loanword used in Spanish sports contexts, particularly in football, basketball, and baseball. It is always masculine and plural in Spanish: los playoffs. The singular el playoff exists but playoffs is far more common. Some style guides prefer the Spanish calque eliminatorias, but playoffs dominates broadcast and sports media.

Examples

"El equipo llegó a los playoffs por primera vez."

Natural Translation

The team reached the playoffs for the first time.

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