Basic Football Vocabulary in Portuguese
Common Terms and Equipment
- Futebol – Football (soccer)
- Bola – Ball
- Campo – Field or pitch
- Goleira (Brazil) / Baliza (Portugal) – Goal (the structure)
- Rede – Net
- Chuteira – Football boots
- Uniforme – Kit or uniform
People Involved
- Jogador – Player
- Técnico (Brazil) / Treinador (Portugal) – Coach
- Árbitro – Referee
- Bandeirinha – Assistant referee (linesman)
- Torcedor (Brazil) / Adepto (Portugal) – Supporter or fan
- Goleiro (Brazil) / Guarda-redes (Portugal) – Goalkeeper
Essential Actions and Verbs
- Chutar – To kick
- Passar – To pass
- Cabecear – To head the ball
- Driblar – To dribble
- Marcar um gol – To score a goal
- Defender – To defend (or to make a save, for goalkeepers)
- Apitar – To whistle (referee action)
Match Structure and Key Moments
- Partida or jogo – Match or game
- Primeiro tempo – First half
- Segundo tempo – Second half
- Prorrogação – Extra time
- Pênalti (Brazil) / Penálti (Portugal) – Penalty kick
- Escanteio (Brazil) / Canto (Portugal) – Corner kick
- Falta – Foul
- Cartão amarelo – Yellow card
- Cartão vermelho – Red card
- Impedimento – Offside
Football Positions in Portuguese
- Goleiro / Guarda-redes – Goalkeeper
- Zagueiro (Brazil) / Defesa central (Portugal) – Center-back
- Lateral – Full-back (left or right)
- Meio-campista / Médio – Midfielder
- Atacante (Brazil) / Avançado (Portugal) – Forward/striker
- Ponta – Winger
Useful Football Phrases in Portuguese
- Qual é o placar? – What’s the score?
- Quem marcou o gol? – Who scored the goal?
- Vai começar o segundo tempo. – The second half is about to start.
- Foi falta! – That was a foul!
- Está impedido! – He/She is offside!
- Que defesa incrível! – What an amazing save!
- Vamos torcer pelo nosso time! – Let’s cheer for our team!
Tips for Practicing Football Vocabulary
- Watch live football matches with Portuguese commentary on TV or online platforms.
- Read match reports and sports news in Portuguese to familiarize yourself with how terms are used in context.
- Join online forums or social media groups where Portuguese speakers discuss football.
- Practice speaking with a language partner, especially during live matches to make it more interactive and fun.
Learn More with Talkpal
Mastering football vocabulary is a fantastic way to connect with Portuguese speakers and immerse yourself in their culture. At Talkpal, our AI language learning blog offers tips, resources, and interactive tools to help you build your Portuguese skills in real-world contexts, including sports and beyond. Whether you’re a casual fan or a die-hard supporter, these essential terms will help you join the conversation and enjoy the beautiful game in Portuguese.
