Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Volleyball in Spanish
Voleibol · noun · boh-LAY-bol
"Voleibol" (masculine noun) is the standard Spanish translation of volleyball. You may also encounter "vóley" in informal contexts and "balonvolea" in parts of Spain. Beach volleyball is called "vóley playa" or "voleibol de playa."
Say "voleibol" as boh-lay-BOL, stressing the final syllable. The initial "v" is pronounced like a soft "b" in most Spanish dialects. The short form "vóley" is pronounced BOH-lay.
Jugamos voleibol en la playa todos los domingos.
We play volleyball on the beach every Sunday.
Volleyball in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for volleyball, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| voleibol | volleyball | boh-LAY-bol | Default, widely understood |
| vóleibol | volleyball | alternate accentuation accepted by RAE | |
| vóley | volleyball | informal, common in Argentina, Chile, and Peru | |
| balonvolea | volleyball | Spain, formal/institutional usage |
How Native Speakers Use Voleibol
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Talking about a hobby
Mi deporte favorito es el voleibol.
My favorite sport is volleyball.
When naming sports in Spanish, include the definite article "el" before the sport noun.
Beach volleyball
El vóley playa es muy popular en Brasil.
Beach volleyball is very popular in Brazil.
"Vóley playa" is the most common way to say beach volleyball in informal speech.
Describing a match
El equipo de voleibol ganó la final en cinco sets.
The volleyball team won the final in five sets.
"Set" is borrowed directly from English and used without translation in Spanish sports terminology.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Voleibol
Spelling error
Incorrect: Jugamos voleyball esta tarde.
Correct: Jugamos voleibol esta tarde.
Unlike English, the Spanish adaptation drops the double "l" and uses "ei" instead of "ey." Although "vóley" exists as a short form, the full English spelling "volleyball" is not standard in written Spanish.
Article omission
Incorrect: Me gusta voleibol.
Correct: Me gusta el voleibol.
When expressing a general preference for a sport, Spanish requires the definite article: "me gusta el voleibol."
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See Voleibol used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Volleyball in Spanish
- Is "vóley" or "voleibol" more common?
- "Voleibol" is the standard written form accepted by the RAE. In everyday conversation, especially in Argentina, Peru, and Chile, speakers frequently shorten it to "vóley."
- How do you say beach volleyball in Spanish?
- You can say "vóley playa" informally or "voleibol de playa" in more formal contexts. Both are widely understood.
- What does "balonvolea" mean?
- "Balonvolea" is a calque used primarily in Spain in official or institutional contexts. It literally translates the components of the sport: balón (ball) + volea (volley). In daily conversation, even Spaniards tend to say "voleibol."