No matter whether you call it football or soccer, there’s no denying that association football is one of the most popular sports in the world. In fact, with an estimated 250 million active players in over 200 countries, it might just be the most popular sport around the globe. That means, no matter where you go, you’re likely to come across a footie fan or two. So, why not make sure you’ve got something to talk about?
If you’re looking to make a friend when you’re speaking a new language, it’s always good to start on common ground. That’s why we’ve added some ultra-specific topics to the uTalk app – things like Skiing, Sailing, and Football Commentary. These topics give you specialised vocabulary and phrases that should make breaking the ice that bit easier.
The most popular sport in the world, football is enjoyed by people of all cultures and languages. Even if they don’t enjoy it, the people you meet will probably have an opinion on it! It makes sense, then, to learn a few words and phrases that might come in handy, right?
We’ve taken some vocabulary from our Football Commentary and Football Match Abroad topics and arranged them so you can get started in just about any football conversation. There are even some phrases that you’ll find useful if you happen to visit a match in a country where the language you’re learning is spoken. Don’t forget – if you download our app, you’ll also get all the audio that goes along with these!
Start with the basics
Let’s get started. There are a few terms that are probably useful to know off the bat:
What about the people?
There are certain people you might want to talk about when you’re discussing a match. The referee is an important one, but you can also mention the players, goalkeeper, and fans watching at their home ground or away at the other team’s.
When things go wrong…
Football matches aren’t all sunshine and roses, and this especially depends on the team you support. Yes, you might see a red card or a yellow card, but if you miss it, then you’ll need these words to help you understand what’s going on.
Get chatting
Of course, some phrases will come in handy when you find yourself in a conversation with an avid football fan. Start with the easy Who do you support? to make sure you don’t commit a social faux pas by saying you like their rivals! You can also ask What time is kick off? if you’re interested in watching a game yourself – either in person or on TV.
Plus, there are always fun things to shout as the match progresses: Go on! Great shot! Great save! Learn these phrases, and you’ll be sounding like a native in no time.
And the important bits…
Football is a competition, after all! Learn how to say win, draw, or defeat:
And, of course, 2022 is a World Cup year. Did you know that the men’s World Cup is the most-viewed sporting event in the world? Learn how to say it in 20+ languages below:
Want to learn more football-related words and phrases? Why not give our football starter pack a try? Choose from any of 150+ languages and you’ll be up and speaking in no time!
Happy language learning!
I was very surprised by the pronunciation of the word ‘ball’ in Serbian, it’s very different from other languages