español · A2 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Hobbies and sports
Pair each free-time activity with the verb Spanish expects.
Understand the choice
Describe free time with the verb each activity expects. Sports and games use jugar a, instruments use tocar, and activities such as reading, swimming, dancing, or drawing use their own verb directly.
Core rule: Use jugar a for games and sports, but tocar for musical instruments.
Notice it in context
En mi tiempo libre leo, nado y toco la guitarra.
In my free time I read, swim, and play the guitar.
Use jugar a for games and sports, but tocar for musical instruments.
Nuestro equipo juega un partido los sábados.
Our team plays a match on Saturdays.
Equipo and partido form a natural sports pair; juega agrees with the singular collective subject.
Mi hermana toca el piano.
My sister plays the piano.
Tocar, not jugar, is used for an instrument.
What to remember
- Jugar al tenis contains the contraction a + el; most sports still follow jugar a even when English uses “play” without a preposition.
- Tocar la guitarra uses the definite article for the instrument, even when speaking generally.
Common trap: Do not use jugar for an instrument: jugar la guitarra is an English-shaped error. Say tocar la guitarra or tocar el piano.