Football Terms in 10 Languages
The fan's World Cup glossary — how to say goal, penalty, offside, and more in every major football language.
Essential Terms
Goal
When the ball fully crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar
Spanish
Gol
gohl
Same as English but one syllable
Portuguese
Gol
gohl
Brazilian Portuguese; European Portuguese uses 'golo' (GO-loo)
French
But
boo
Silent 't' — not 'butt'! Means 'target/goal'
German
Tor
tor
Also means 'gate' — a goal is literally a gate
Italian
Gol
gohl
Arabic
هدف (Hadaf)
HAH-duf
Means 'target' or 'objective'
Japanese
ゴール (Gōru)
GOH-roo
Borrowed from English
Chinese
进球 (Jìnqiú)
jin-CHYOH
Literally 'enter ball'
Russian
Гол (Gol)
gol
Borrowed from English
Dutch
Doelpunt
DOOL-punt
Literally 'goal point'
Turkish
Gol
gohl
Penalty (Kick)
A direct free kick from the penalty spot, awarded for a foul in the penalty area
Spanish
Penalti / Penal
peh-NAL-tee
'Penalti' is used in Spain; 'penal' in Latin America
Portuguese
Pênalti
PEH-nahl-chee
Brazilian Portuguese; note the 'ti' = 'chee'
French
Penalty
pay-nahl-TEE
Borrowed from English but stressed on last syllable
German
Elfmeter
ELF-may-ter
Literally 'eleven metres' — the distance from goal
Italian
Calcio di rigore
KAL-choh dee ree-GOH-reh
Literally 'kick of rigour'; shortened to 'rigore'
Arabic
ركلة الجزاء (Rakla al-Jazaʾ)
RAK-leh al-juh-ZAH
Literally 'kick of punishment'
Japanese
ペナルティ (Penaruti)
peh-NAH-roo-tee
Borrowed from English, adapted to Japanese phonology
Dutch
Strafschop
STRAF-skhop
Literally 'punishment kick'
Turkish
Penaltı
peh-NAL-tuh
Note the dotless 'ı' — a different vowel sound in Turkish
Offside
When an attacking player is nearer to the opponent's goal than both the ball and the second-to-last defender
Spanish
Fuera de juego
FWEH-rah deh HWEH-goh
Literally 'outside of play'
Portuguese
Impedido
im-peh-DEE-doo
Literally 'impeded/obstructed'
French
Hors-jeu
or-ZHUH
Literally 'outside game'; 'jeu' = 'zhuh'
German
Abseits
AB-zyts
Literally 'off-side' (same concept, different construction)
Italian
Fuorigioco
FWOH-ree-JOH-koh
Literally 'outside game'
Arabic
تسلل (Tasallul)
tah-SAL-lul
Literally 'infiltration/sneaking'
Japanese
オフサイド (Ofusaido)
oh-foo-SY-doh
Borrowed from English
Dutch
Buitenspel
BOW-ten-spel
Literally 'outside play'
Red Card
A card shown by the referee to dismiss a player from the match
Spanish
Tarjeta roja
tar-HEH-tah ROH-hah
Roja = red (feminine, matching tarjeta)
Portuguese
Cartão vermelho
kar-TOWN vehr-MEH-lyoo
Vermelho = red; 'lh' = 'ly' sound
French
Carton rouge
kar-TOHN roozh
Carton = card (like cardboard); rouge = red
German
Rote Karte
ROH-teh KAR-teh
Rote = red (feminine); Karte = card
Italian
Cartellino rosso
kar-tel-EE-noh ROS-soh
Rosso = red
Arabic
البطاقة الحمراء (Al-bitaqa al-hamra)
al-bih-TAH-kah al-HOM-rah
Hamra = red (feminine form)
Japanese
レッドカード (Reddo kādo)
REH-doh KAH-doh
Direct borrowing from English
Chinese
红牌 (Hóng pái)
hong PY
Literally 'red card/tile'
Dutch
Rode kaart
ROH-deh kart
Rode = red; kaart = card
Yellow Card
A caution shown by the referee; two yellow cards result in a red card
Spanish
Tarjeta amarilla
tar-HEH-tah ah-mah-REE-yah
Amarilla = yellow (feminine)
Portuguese
Cartão amarelo
kar-TOWN ah-mah-REH-loo
French
Carton jaune
kar-TOHN zhohn
Jaune = yellow (the 'j' = 'zh')
German
Gelbe Karte
GEL-beh KAR-teh
Gelbe = yellow (feminine)
Italian
Cartellino giallo
kar-tel-EE-noh JAL-loh
Giallo = yellow
Arabic
البطاقة الصفراء (Al-bitaqa al-safra)
al-bih-TAH-kah al-SAF-rah
Safra = yellow (feminine)
Japanese
イエローカード (Ierō kādo)
ee-eh-ROH KAH-doh
Chinese
黄牌 (Huáng pái)
hwahng PY
Literally 'yellow card/tile'
Free Kick
A kick awarded to a team after a foul by their opponents
Spanish
Tiro libre
TEE-roh LEE-breh
Literally 'free shot'
Portuguese
Falta
FAL-tah
Literally 'fault/foul' — the word for both foul and free kick
French
Coup franc
koo FRAHN
Literally 'frank/free blow'
German
Freistoß
FRY-shtos
Freistoß = free kick; 'ß' is a special German letter
Italian
Calcio di punizione
KAL-choh dee poo-neet-SYOH-neh
Literally 'kick of punishment'; often shortened to 'punizione'
Arabic
ضربة حرة (Darba hurra)
DAR-bah HOOR-ah
Literally 'free hit'
Japanese
フリーキック (Furī kikku)
foo-REE-kik-koo
Borrowed from English
Dutch
Vrije trap
VRAY-yeh trap
Literally 'free kick/trap'
Corner Kick
A restart from the corner arc, awarded when the ball goes out over the goal line from a defender
Spanish
Córner / Saque de esquina
KOR-nehr / SAH-keh deh es-KEE-nah
Both terms used; 'córner' borrowed from English
Portuguese
Escanteio
es-kan-TAY-oo
Unique Brazilian term; European Portuguese uses 'canto'
French
Corner
kor-NEHR
Borrowed from English but French-accented
German
Eckball / Ecke
EK-bal / EK-keh
Ecke = corner/nook; Eckball = corner ball
Italian
Calcio d'angolo
KAL-choh DAN-goh-loh
Literally 'kick of corner'; often shortened to 'angolo'
Arabic
ركلة الزاوية (Rakla az-zawiya)
RAK-leh az-ZAH-wee-yah
Zawiya = corner/angle
Japanese
コーナーキック (Kōnā kikku)
KOH-nah-kik-koo
Borrowed from English
Dutch
Hoekschop
HOOK-skhop
Hoek = corner; schop = kick
Goalkeeper
The player who defends the goal and is the only one allowed to use hands in the penalty area
Spanish
Portero
por-TEH-roh
From 'puerta' (door/gate)
Portuguese
Goleiro
goh-LAY-roo
From 'gol' (goal)
French
Gardien (de but)
gar-DYAHN duh BOO
Gardien = guardian/keeper
German
Torwart
TOR-vart
Tor = gate/goal; Wart = guardian
Italian
Portiere
por-TYEH-reh
From 'porta' (gate)
Arabic
حارس المرمى (Haris al-marma)
HAH-ris al-MAR-mah
Haris = guardian; marma = goal
Japanese
ゴールキーパー (Gōru kīpā)
GOH-roo-KEE-pah
Borrowed from English; often shortened to GK
Chinese
门将 (Mén jiàng)
mun JYAHNG
Mén = gate; jiàng = general/officer
Dutch
Doelverdediger / Keeper
DOOL-vehr-day-di-kher / KEE-per
'Keeper' borrowed from English is common
Turkish
Kaleci
KAH-leh-jee
Kale = castle/goal; -ci = person who does/guards
Referee
The official who enforces the rules of the game on the field
Spanish
Árbitro
AR-bee-troh
Stress on first syllable — ar-BEE-troh is wrong
Portuguese
Árbitro
AR-bee-troo
French
Arbitre
ar-BEETR
Stress on second syllable in French
German
Schiedsrichter
SHEEDZ-rikh-ter
Schied = verdict; Richter = judge — 'verdict judge'
Italian
Arbitro
AR-bee-troh
Arabic
حكم (Hakam)
HAH-kahm
Means 'judge' or 'arbitrator' in Arabic
Japanese
審判 (Shinpan)
SHIN-pahn
Shin = examine; pan = judge
Chinese
裁判 (Cáipàn)
TSYE-pahn
Cai = judge/decide; pan = determine
Dutch
Scheidsrechter
SKHAYDS-rekh-ter
Turkish
Hakem
HAH-kem
Borrowed from Arabic hakam (judge)
VAR
Video Assistant Referee — technology used to review decisions using video footage
Spanish
VAR
VAR
Universal acronym
Portuguese
VAR
VAR
French
VAR
VAR
German
VAR
VAR
Arabic
حكم الفيديو
HAH-kahm al-FEE-dee-oh
Video judge
Japanese
ビデオ・アシスタント・レフェリー (Bideo ashisutanto referī)
BEE-deh-oh ah-shee-SOO-tan-toh reh-feh-REE
Hat-trick
When a player scores three goals in a single match
Spanish
Hat-trick / Triplete
hat-TRICK / tree-PLEH-teh
Triplete is the Spanish term; hat-trick is also widely used
Portuguese
Hat-trick / Tríplice
hat-TRICK / TREE-plee-seh
French
Hat-trick / Triplé
hat-TRICK / tree-PLAY
German
Hattrick
HAT-trick
Written as one word in German
Italian
Tripletta
tree-PLET-tah
Also 'poker' for four goals
Arabic
هاتريك (Hatrik)
HAH-tree
Borrowed from English
Japanese
ハットトリック (Hatto torikku)
HAT-toh-to-rik-koo
Borrowed from English
Turkish
Hattrick
HAT-trick
Let's Go! (Chant)
The universal football encouragement — how fans urge their team forward
Spanish
¡Vamos!
BAH-mohs
Most universal football chant in the Spanish-speaking world
Portuguese
Vai! / Vamos!
VY / VAH-moosh
Vai = go! (singular/direct)
French
Allez!
ah-LAY
'Allez les Bleus!' (ah-LAY leh bluh) = Go Blues!
German
Los! / Auf geht's!
lohs / owf GAYTS
'Auf geht's!' = literally 'Up it goes!'
Italian
Forza!
FOR-tsah
'Forza Azzurri!' = Come on Blues! Forza literally means 'strength'
Arabic
يَلّا!
YAL-lah
Yalla! = Come on! — Pan-Arab encouragement chant
Japanese
頑張れ! (Ganbare!)
gahn-BAH-reh
Means 'do your best / hang in there!'
Korean
대한민국! (Daehan Minguk!)
deh-HAN MIN-gook
South Korea fans chant the country's full name as encouragement
Brazilian Portuguese
Vai Brasil!
VY brah-ZEEL
Go Brazil! — the classic chant
Turkish
Haydi!
HY-dee
Means 'come on / let's go!'
Dutch
Hup Holland Hup!
hup HOL-und hup
Classic Dutch chant — 'Hup' is an exclamation of encouragement
The Beautiful Game
Football's most famous nickname — attributed to Pelé
Spanish
El fútbol es el juego más lindo
el FOOT-bol ess el HWEH-goh mahs LEEN-doh
'Lindo' = beautiful/lovely; used especially in Latin America
Portuguese
O jogo bonito
oo ZHOH-goh boh-NEE-too
Pelé's own phrase — 'the beautiful game' in Portuguese
French
Le beau jeu
luh boh ZHUH
Literally 'the beautiful game'
German
Das schöne Spiel
dahs SHUR-neh SHPEEL
Schöne = beautiful (with umlaut)
Italian
Il gioco del calcio
eel JOH-koh del KAL-choh
Italy calls football 'calcio' (kick) — not 'football'
Arabic
اللعبة الجميلة (Al-luʿba al-jamīla)
al-LOOB-ah al-jah-MEE-lah
Jamīla = beautiful
Chants From Around the World
France
Allez les Bleus!
ah-LAY leh bluh
Go Blues! (the French team wear blue)
Used at all France matches — the signature chant
Italy
Forza Azzurri!
FOR-tsah ah-TSOOR-ree
Come on Blues! (Azzurri = the blues, Italy's kit colour)
Italy's signature chant. Forza = strength/force
Brazil
Brasil! Brasil!
brah-ZEEL! brah-ZEEL!
Brazil! Brazil!
Simple but powerful — the rhythm and passion say everything
Argentina
¡Vamos Argentina!
BAH-mohs ar-hen-TEE-nah
Let's go Argentina!
Also: 'Ole ole ole ole, ar-hen-tee-NAH ar-hen-tee-NAH'
Germany
Deutschland! Deutschland!
DOYTS-lant! DOYTS-lant!
Germany! Germany!
Also sung to the tune of 'Seven Nation Army'
Spain
¡Sí se puede! / ¡España! ¡España!
see seh PWEH-deh / es-PAHN-yah
Yes it can be done! / Spain! Spain!
Sí se puede is also associated with social movements
England
It's Coming Home!
its CUM-ing hohm
A reference to football returning to its birthplace — immortalised by 'Three Lions' (1996)
The most famous football song in English history. Sung every tournament.
Senegal
Lions de la Téranga!
leeyon duh lah teh-RAHN-gah
Lions of Teranga — 'teranga' means hospitality in Wolof
The team's full nickname; Senegalese hospitality is legendary
Morocco
Yalla Al-Maghrib!
YAL-lah al-MAH-rib
Come on Morocco! (using the Arabic name)
2022 World Cup made this chant famous across the Arab world
South Korea
대한민국! (Daehan Minguk!)
deh-HAN MIN-gook
Republic of Korea! — the country's formal name
Korean fans chant the full formal country name with Red Devil drums
Japan
ニッポン、チャチャチャ! (Nippon Cha Cha Cha!)
NIP-pon chah chah chah
Japan! Cha cha cha! (rhythmic encouragement)
One of football's most recognisable non-European chants
USA
I Believe That We Will Win!
eye beh-LEEV that wee wil WIN
A rallying cry adopted by US fans in 2014
Became iconic at the 2014 World Cup — sung at every USMNT match
Universal
Olé Olé Olé!
oh-LAY oh-LAY oh-LAY
An Andalusian/flamenco exclamation of approval — became the world's football chant
The most universal football chant on earth. Used by virtually every fan base.