Geek Terminology (Spanish-English)

Geek Madrid is an English language website, but it’s not fair to expect everyone in Madrid to speak English fluently enough to geek with them.

Therefore, we’ve compiled this handy list of terminology, focusing mainly on the sorts of phrases likely to come up in tabletop games.

This post lists the words and phrases alphabetically by what they are in Spanish, click here for the same list ordered by the English.

boca arriba = face up
boca baja = face down
carta = card
casilla = space (on the board)
cuando = when
dados = dice
daño = damage
devuelve = return/put back
encima = on top
ficha = token or marker
fin de turno = end of the turn
friki = geek
ganar = win or gain
gira = to rotate (such as to ‘tap’ cards)
hasta abajo = underneath or on the bottom of
hechizo = (magic) spell
juega = to play
juegos = games
juegos de mesa = tabletop games
juegos de rol = roleplaying games
jugador = player
mano = hand (can be literal, or a hand of cards)
más = add or more
mazo = deck (of cards)
menos = minus or less
mesa = table
mostrar = show/reveal
moverse = move
objetivo = target
oponente = opponent
pieza = piece
pila = pile
pon = put
propietario = owner
roba/robar = draw (a card/token)
siempre que = whenever
tablero = board
tira = roll (the dice)
toca = turn (game turn, not to rotate)
toma = take
turno = turn (game turn, not to rotate)
vida = life

Let me know if you think there are any phrases you’re looking for that aren’t on here.