Free Spanish Lesson 54. The Tico’s are serious about their #1 pastime

Like many parts of the mundo (world), soccer is the “número uno” pastime in Latin America. Latin American’s are very serious about their soccer, and many fans are fanatical about their teams.

Vocabulario semanal – Weekly Vocabulary

mundo – world

número uno – number one

acerca de sus – about their

fútbol – soccer

fútbol americano – American football
significa – means

como mencioné – as I mentioned

después de – after

partidos – games

afuera – outside

equipo – team

pelea – fight

a veces – sometimes

en el país de – in the country of

español – Spanish

puesto que – since

hace unos años – a few years ago

enojados – angry

muy serios – very serious

deportes – sports

atletas – athletes

mundo – world

televisión – television

dinero – money

casa de un amigo – friend’s house

historia – story

estadio – stadium

también – also

equipo favorito – favorite team

copa mundial – world cup soccer

In Spanish, the word for soccer is “fútbol”. It looks and sounds similar to the English word “football”. However, if you are referring to U.S.-style “football”, you say “fútbol americano” instead of “fútbol” which, as I mentioned, means “soccer” in español.

As I mencioné, Latin Americans are very serios about their “fútbol”. After many of their partidos (games), the fans meet each other afuera (outside). The fans from one equipo (team) are pitted against the fans from the other equipo and they will often get into a physical pelea (fight). I guess it isn’t enough for the partido to be decided by the final score; the fans want to really show who won by getting in a pelea after the partidos. Sometimes the fights can become very serious!

In the country of Brazil, they don’t speak español, but they are very integrated into the Latin American culture since they are surrounded on most sides by countries that speak español. Anyway, a few years ago, the equipo nacional (national team) of Brazil was in competición for the world title and their goal keeper missed a key stop. Some fans were so enojados (angry) when the team returned to Brazil that they found the goal keeper and it wasn’t pretty.

As I mencioné, they are very serios about their fútbol.

Professional deportes in the United States usually don’t get serios enough that fans fight and injure each other or the atletas (athletes). If it is that way in other parts of the mundo (world), please e-mail and let me know.

Latins here in the U.S. also are very serios about their fútbol. If the games aren’t on their home televisión they will often pay a lot of dinero to watch partidos on a big screen televisión at a Latin/Spanish restaurant or casa of un amigo (friend).

Moral of the historia: If you are in Latin America, close to an estadio (stadium), just after a game, take cover fast or be sure to wear a bullet-proof vest. Or — just stay away from the area altogether. Also, if you are friends with Latin people, it is good to be aware of how serios they are about their “fútbol”. You many want to ask them about their equipo favorito (favorite team), or how the copa mundial (world cup soccer) is going.

¡Hasta luego! (“Until later”)

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Written by David S. Clark President/Director, U.S. Institute of Languages. Copyright © 1999-2010 US Institute of Languages All rights reserved.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.