Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Sport in Spanish: Deporte
Deporte · noun (masculine) · deh-POHR-teh
Sport in Spanish is deporte, a masculine noun. The adjective is deportivo/a (ropa deportiva = sportswear). An athlete or sports person is deportista (gender-neutral form). The verb phrase hacer deporte means to do sports / exercise.
deh-POHR-teh — three syllables with stress on the second. All vowels are clean and short.
El fútbol es el deporte más popular del mundo.
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world.
Sport in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for sport, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| deporte | sport | deh-POHR-teh | Default, widely understood |
| deportivo/a | sport | adjective: sporty, athletic |
How Native Speakers Use Deporte
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Favorite sport
¿Cuál es tu deporte favorito?
What's your favorite sport?
Deporte favorito is the standard question about sports preferences.
Doing sports
Hago deporte tres veces por semana.
I do sports three times a week.
Hacer deporte is the general phrase for exercising or playing sports.
Adjective form
Lleva ropa deportiva aunque no vaya al gimnasio.
She wears sportswear even if she's not going to the gym.
Deportivo/a is the adjective: carro deportivo (sports car), marca deportiva (sports brand).
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Deporte
Using esporte or sport as a loanword
Incorrect: Me gusta el sport.
Correct: Me gusta el deporte.
Sport has not been adopted as a loanword in standard Spanish. Deporte is the established word derived from the Old French desport.
Saying deporto for athlete
Incorrect: Es un gran deporto.
Correct: Es un gran deportista.
The person who does sports is deportista (not deporto). Deportista works for both genders: un deportista, una deportista.
Lock in Sport 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 Deporte used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using deporte in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El fútbol es el deporte más popular del mundo. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Sport in Spanish
- How do you say sport in Spanish?
- Sport is deporte in Spanish. It is masculine: el deporte. Plural: los deportes.
- How do you say to play sports in Spanish?
- Hacer deporte (do sport) or practicar deportes (practice sports). For a specific sport: jugar al fútbol, jugar al tenis.
- What is a deportista?
- A deportista is an athlete or sports person. It is the same form for both genders: un deportista (male), una deportista (female).