Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Ski in Spanish: Esquiar
Esquiar · verb · ehs-kee-AHR
Esquiar is the Spanish verb meaning to ski, while esquí is the noun referring either to the sport or the physical ski equipment. The word was borrowed from French (which itself took it from Norwegian), and Spanish adapted it with the prefix 'es-' to fit phonetic patterns. Skiing is popular in Spain, Chile, and Argentina.
Three syllables: ehs-kee-AHR. The stress falls on the final syllable. The noun esquí is stressed on the last syllable too: ehs-KEE.
Aprendí a esquiar en los Andes chilenos.
I learned to ski in the Chilean Andes.
ski in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for ski, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| esquiar | ski | ehs-kee-AHR | Default, widely understood |
| esquí | ski | noun form: the ski itself or the sport |
How Native Speakers Use Esquiar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
winter vacation
Vamos a esquiar a Bariloche durante las vacaciones de julio.
We're going to ski in Bariloche during the July vacation.
July is winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
equipment
Compré unos esquís nuevos para la temporada de nieve.
I bought new skis for the snow season.
Esquís is the plural noun for the equipment.
Spanish resort
Sierra Nevada es la estación de esquí más al sur de Europa.
Sierra Nevada is the southernmost ski resort in Europe.
Estación de esquí means 'ski resort.'
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Esquiar
accent placement
Incorrect: Me encanta el esqui acuático.
Correct: Me encanta el esquí acuático.
Esquí requires a written accent on the final 'i' to mark the stress — without it, the word would not follow Spanish spelling rules for stress patterns.
verb conjugation
Incorrect: Yo esquío todos los inviernos.
Correct: Yo esquío todos los inviernos.
This one is actually correct — esquío with an accent on the 'i' is the proper first-person present tense conjugation, forming a hiatus rather than a diphthong.
Lock in ski Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
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See Esquiar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using esquiar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Aprendí a esquiar en los Andes chilenos. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About ski in Spanish
- Where can you ski in Spanish-speaking countries?
- Argentina and Chile have world-class ski resorts in the Andes, including Bariloche, Las Leñas, and Valle Nevado. Spain offers skiing in Sierra Nevada (near Granada) and numerous Pyrenees resorts. The Southern Hemisphere ski season runs June through September.
- What is the plural of esquí?
- The plural of esquí is esquís (adding an 's' to the accented final vowel). This refers to the physical pair of skis: 'un par de esquís' (a pair of skis).
- How do I say 'ski resort' in Spanish?
- A ski resort is an estación de esquí (literally 'ski station') or centro de esquí. Both terms are standard, with estación being slightly more common in Spain and centro in Latin America.