Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
FIELD in Spanish: CAMPO
Campo · noun · KAHM-poh
Campo is the most common Spanish translation of 'field,' covering open land, agricultural areas, sports grounds, and figurative fields of study. Its versatility mirrors the English word, but learners should know that specialized contexts — like a soccer field in Latin America — often call for cancha instead.
KAHM-poh
Los niños juegan en el campo detrás de la escuela.
The children play in the field behind the school.
Field in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for field, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| campo | field | KAHM-poh | Default, widely understood |
| cancha | field | sports field in Latin America | |
| ámbito | field | field of study/work |
How Native Speakers Use Campo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Agriculture
El agricultor trabaja en el campo desde el amanecer.
The farmer works in the field since dawn.
Agricultural and rural contexts.
Professional
Es experta en el campo de la inteligencia artificial.
She is an expert in the field of artificial intelligence.
Academic or professional specialization.
Sports
Los jugadores salieron al campo de fútbol.
The players went out to the soccer field.
Sports arena context.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Campo
Using Campo for Form Fields
Incorrect: Llena todos los campos del campo.
Correct: Llena todos los campos del formulario.
In digital forms, campo means a data field (like a text input), but you need to pair it with formulario to avoid confusing it with an open field.
Cancha vs Campo
Incorrect: Vamos a jugar en el campo de tenis.
Correct: Vamos a jugar en la cancha de tenis.
In Latin America, enclosed sports courts (tennis, basketball) use cancha rather than campo, which refers to larger open fields.
Lock in Field Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Campo used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using campo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Los niños juegan en el campo detrás de la escuela. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Field in Spanish
- When should I use cancha instead of campo?
- In Latin America, cancha is preferred for sports courts and smaller playing fields (tennis, basketball, soccer in some regions), while campo is used for open agricultural land, large sports fields in Spain, and figurative meanings.
- How do I say 'field trip' in Spanish?
- A field trip is called excursión escolar or salida de campo — the latter literally means 'field outing' and is common in educational settings.
- Does campo also mean countryside?
- Campo doubles as the word for countryside or rural areas. Phrases like vivir en el campo (to live in the countryside) and ir al campo (to go to the country) are extremely common in everyday Spanish.