What does jugar in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word jugar in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use jugar in Spanish.

The word jugar in Spanish means play, play, play, play, play with, gamble with, play games with, gamble, bet, bet , stake, take the plunge, go for broke, move, play at, play the field, be two-faced, play a double game, work in 's favor, be in 's favor, play hard, play in earnest, walk on a tightrope, play French skipping, play charades, play bottle caps, play house, play tag, play God, play the market, mislead, play hide-and-seek, play cat and mouse, play cat and mouse, play with, toy with, tease. mock, play with marked cards, play with a marked deck, swindle, play with fire, exchange glances, play with 's feelings, play defense, influence, play doubles, play dirty, play the game, play, play an important role, play a dirty trick on. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word jugar

play

verbo intransitivo (divertirse, entretenerse)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Los niños juegan en el parque. Las pequeñas están jugando con los muñecos.

The kids are playing in the park.

play

(hacer algo para divertirse) (do something for enjoyment)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

A mis hijos les gusta jugar a las escondidas.

My kids love to play hide and seek.

play

(practicar un juego con reglas) (of a game with rules)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Juego al ajedrez para mantener mi mente activa.

Playing chess keeps my mind alert.

play

(juego de azar: apostar) (gamble)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Mi madre lleva veinte años jugando a la lotería sin ganar ningún premio.

My mother has been playing the lottery for twenty years without winning any prizes.

play with, gamble with

(no tomar en serio) (figurative: take lightly)

Por jugar con su salud, ese joven se enfermó de muerte.

He played with (or: gambled with) his health, and as a result got terminally ill.

play games with

(no respetar) (trifle with, treat disrespectfully)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

No juegues conmigo; soy tu novia y merezco respeto.

Don't play games with me. I'm your girlfriend, and I deserve respect.

gamble, bet

verbo transitivo (apostar en juego)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Jugué diez dólares en la ruleta y los perdí.

I gambled ten dollars on roulette and lost.

bet , stake

verbo pronominal (apostar en juego)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

En una ocasión, el abuelo se jugó el salario de un mes en una partida de póquer.

On one occasion, grandpa staked a month's wages on a game of poker.

take the plunge, go for broke

verbo pronominal (figurado (arriesgarse, aventurar algo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Para triunfar en la vida, hay que jugárselo todo.

To succeed in life, you have to go for broke.

move

verbo intransitivo (juego de mesa: mover una pieza) (board game)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Venga, te toca jugar a ti. Es tu turno.

Come on, you've got to move; it's your go.

play at

(algún juego)

Los niños jugaron a la escondida toda la tarde.

The children played at hide and seek all afternoon.

play the field

locución verbal (coloquial (ser infiel)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Martín juega a dos bandas con su novia.

Martin plays the field with his girlfriend.

be two-faced

locución verbal (coloquial (tener dos caras)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Laura juega a dos bandas y nunca sabes cómo va a reaccionar.

Laura is two-faced and you never know how she'll react.

play a double game

locución verbal (coloquial (tener dos caras)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

El jefe juega a dos barajas, es imposible de predecir.

work in 's favor, be in 's favor

(US)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

He is very well known, and that works (or: is) in his favor.

play hard, play in earnest

locución verbal (afanarse al máximo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

walk on a tightrope

locución verbal (figurado (arriesgarse demasiado)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Estás jugando a la cuerda floja con ese traficante, ten cuidado.

play French skipping

locución verbal (saltar cantando) (UK)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Las niñas jugaban a la goma en el recreo.

The girls played French skipping during the break.

play charades

locución verbal (adivinar acertijos)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Los niños juegan a las adivinanzas para pasar el tiempo.

The kids play charades to while away the time.

play bottle caps

locución verbal (lanzar tapones)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

play house

locución verbal (juego de roles)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Los pequeños jugaban a mamás y a papás en su habitación mientras los adultos trabajaban.

The kids were playing house in their bedroom while the adults were working.

play tag

locución verbal (ES (perseguir y alcanzar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Después de la escuela, los niños jugaban a pillar en el patio.

The children were playing tag in the playground after school.

play God

locución verbal (coloquial (creerse omnipotente)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

El jefe juega a ser Dios y nadie lo soporta. Ese científico jugó a ser Dios y causó una emergencia ambiental en su ciudad.

The boss plays God and nobody can stand him.

play the market

locución verbal (especular en bolsa)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Se hizo rico jugando al alza en la Bolsa.

He became rich by playing the market.

mislead

locución verbal (mentir, engañar)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Maxi juega al despiste con todos.

Maxi misleads everyone.

play hide-and-seek

locución verbal (ocultarse para ganar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Marta jugaba al escondite con sus primos.

Marta was playing hide-and-seek with her cousins.

play cat and mouse

locución verbal (perseguir y atrapar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Los niños jugaban al gato y al ratón.

The kids were playing cat and mouse.

play cat and mouse

locución verbal (coloquial, figurado (eludirse y perseguirse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

María y su exnovio todavía juegan al gato y al ratón.

Maria and her ex are still playing cat and mouse.

play with

(divertirse con)

Los niños están jugando con los muñecos.

The boys are playing with the dolls.

toy with

(juguetear con algo)

Mi marido está jugando con el motor del auto.

My husband is toying with the car's engine.

tease. mock

(burlarse de)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

María juega con sus compañeros de trabajo y no le cae bien a nadie.

Maria teases her colleagues and is not liked by anyone.

play with marked cards, play with a marked deck

(juegos: hacer trampa)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Marcos jugaba con cartas marcadas y por eso ganó.

swindle

(figurado (hacer fraude)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Se dice que la candidata jugó con cartas marcadas en las pasadas elecciones.

play with fire

locución verbal (figurado (exponerse, arriesgarse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

A María le gusta jugar con fuego y luego se queja.

exchange glances

locución verbal (coloquial (coquetear)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Malena tiene la mala costumbre de jugar con la mirada en reuniones de trabajo.

play with 's feelings

locución verbal (ser desconsiderado)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Lucas jugó con los sentimientos de María y la lastimó.

play defense

locución verbal (posición en la cancha) (US)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

influence

(influir, intervenir)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

El estado de ánimo juega en el desempeño laboral.

Your state of mind influences your work.

play doubles

locución verbal (en tenis) (tennis)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

play dirty

(ser deshonesto)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Si quieres hacerte con el control del negocio, ve de frente y no juegues sucio.

play the game

expresión (ES (usar bien sus medios)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Esteban sabe jugar sus bazas para conseguir lo que quiere.

Esteban knows how to play the game to get what he wants.

play

locución verbal (figurado (usar las oportunidades) (manage, handle)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Mi padre triunfó en su profesión porque jugó sus cartas como debía.

He succeeded in his profession, because he played his cards well.

play an important role

locución verbal (tener peso en un asunto)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

La belleza de Ana jugó un papel importante en su éxito.

Ana's beauty plays an important role in her success.

play a dirty trick on

locución verbal (hacer una faena)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

El clima nos jugó una mala pasada y arruinó nuestros planes.

The weather played a dirty trick on us and ruined our plans.

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