Sports are the best way to learn English while having fun! By using English while playing, you’ll naturally acquire vocabulary and expressions. Plus, being able to enjoy overseas matches and sports news in English will boost your motivation to learn!
This article introduces the English names of various sports, useful English phrases for playing, and English conversation guides for each sport .
1. English names of sports (by sport)
First, let’s learn the English names of sports!
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| soccer | Soccer (⚽) / Football (UK) |
| baseball | Baseball (⚾) |
| basketball | Basketball (🏀) |
| tennis | Tennis (🎾) |
| badminton | Badminton |
| Table tennis | Table tennis / Ping pong |
| golf | Golf (🏌️) |
| Track and field | Track and Field |
| swimming | Swimming (🏊) |
| volleyball | Volleyball (🏐) |
| rugby | Rugby |
| Gymnastics | Gymnastics |
| skate | Skating (⛸️) |
| judo | Judo |
| kendo | Kendo |
| boxing | Boxing (🥊) |
2. Sports English Conversation Phrases for Each Sport!
⚽ Soccer (Football)
📖 Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, where teams of 11 players try to kick the ball into the opponent’s goal. Using hands is not allowed, with the exception of the goalkeeper.
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is played by two teams of 11 players, who aim to kick the ball into the opponent’s goal. Players cannot use their hands, except for the goalkeeper.
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Pass the ball!”
- “Shoot!”
- “Nice goal!”
- “Stay in position!”
- “Mark your man!”
🗣️ English conversation about soccer
A: “Can you pass the ball to me?”
B: “Sure! Here you go!”
A: “Nice pass! Let’s score a goal!”
⚾️ Baseball
Baseball is a sport in which two teams of nine players take turns batting and defending, hitting the ball and running the bases to score runs. It is especially popular in the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
Baseball is a sport where two teams of nine players take turns batting and fielding. The batting team tries to hit the ball and run around the bases to score points. It is especially popular in the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Swing the bat!”
- “Strike!”
- “Safe!”
- “Out!”
- “Run to first base!”
🗣️ Baseball English Conversation
A: “What position do you play?”
B: “I’m the pitcher.”
A: “Let’s have a great game today!”
🏀 Basketball
Basketball is a sport where teams of five players dribble a ball on a court and shoot it into the opponent’s goal. A game consists of four quarters, and the winner is determined by the number of goals scored.
Basketball is a sport played by two teams of five players on a court. Players dribble the ball and shoot it into the opponent’s hoop. The game is divided into four quarters, and the team with the most points wins.
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Dribble the ball!”
- “Pass it to me!”
- “Shoot from the three-point line!”
- “Play defense!”
- “Rebound!”
🗣️ Basketball English Conversation
A: “Who will take the next shot?”
B: “I’ll take it!”
A: “Alright, go for it!”
🎾 Tennis
Tennis is a sport played in singles (1 vs 1) or doubles (2 vs 2), where players use rackets to hit the ball back into their opponent’s court. The scoring system is “love (0), 15, 30, 40, deuce”.
Tennis is a sport played either in singles (one-on-one) or doubles (two-on-two). Players use rackets to hit the ball back and forth over the net. The scoring system is unique, with points counted as “love (0), 15, 30, 40, and deuce.”
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Serve the ball!”
- “Nice return!”
- “Out!”
- “Deuce!”
- “Game, set, match!”
🗣️ Tennis English Conversation
A: “What’s the score?”
B: “It’s 40-30.”
A: “We need one more point to win!”
🏊 Swimming
Swimming as a competitive sport has four main strokes: freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, and backstroke. Competitions are held individually and in relays. It’s also one of the most popular events at the Olympics.
Swimming includes four main strokes: freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, and backstroke. Competitions can be individual or relay races. It is one of the most popular events in the Olympics.
📢 Phrases for the swimming pool
- “Jump in!”
- “Take a deep breath!”
- “Kick your legs!”
- “Swim faster!”
- “Touch the wall!”
🗣️ Swimming English Conversation
A: “How many laps did you swim?”
B: “I swam 10 laps today!”
A: “Wow, that’s amazing!”
🥊 Boxing
Boxing is a sport in which two fighters, wearing gloves, exchange punches in a ring. The winner is determined by either knocking out (KO) the opponent or by points. Matches proceed in rounds, and there are both professional and amateur boxing competitions.
Boxing is a combat sport where two fighters, wearing gloves, throw punches at each other in a ring. The match can be won by knockout (KO) or by accumulating points. Matches are divided into rounds, and there are both professional and amateur boxing competitions.
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Keep your guard up!”
- “Throw a punch!”
- “Dodge!”
- “Knock him out!”
🗣️ Boxing English Conversation
A: “How long have you been training?”
B: “I’ve been boxing for two years.”
A: “You’re getting really strong!”
🏐 Volleyball
📖 Volleyball is a sport in which two teams of six players compete by hitting a ball back and forth across a net, aiming to score points by getting it into the opponent’s court. Attacks are limited to three passes, and the first team to reach 25 points wins a set. It’s a popular sport at the Olympics and world championships.
Volleyball is a sport where two teams of six players hit the ball over the net, trying to land it on the opponent’s court. Each team can pass the ball up to three times before hitting it over. A set is won by reaching 25 points first. It is a popular event in the Olympics and world championships.
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Serve the ball!”
- “Set it up!”
- “Spike it!”
- “Block the shot!”
- “Nice dig!”
🗣️ Volleyball English Conversation
A: “Can you serve next?”
B: “Sure! I’ll try my best.”
A: “Let’s aim for a strong spike!”
🏉 Rugby
Rugby is a contact sport played in teams of 15 or 7 players, with the objective of scoring a try (scoring points) by carrying the ball into the opponent’s territory. The ball can only be passed backward, and plays such as tackles and scrums are characteristic of the sport.
Rugby is a contact sport played with teams of either 15 or 7 players. The objective is to carry or kick the ball into the opponent’s goal area to score a try. Players can only pass the ball backward, and the game includes tackles and scrums as key elements.
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Pass the ball!”
- “Tackle him!”
- “Run for the try line!”
- “Kick it forward!”
- “Hold your position!”
🗣️ Rugby English Conversation
A: “Which position do you play?”
B: “I’m a scrum-half.”
A: “Let’s go for a strong defense today!”
🏌️ Golf
Golf is a sport in which players use a club to hit a ball and compete to get it into the cup in as few strokes as possible. Each hole has a par (a set number of strokes), and players play strategically, taking into account the course’s terrain and wind conditions.
Golf is a sport where players use clubs to hit a ball into a hole in as few strokes as possible. Each hole has a designated par (the expected number of strokes), and players must consider the terrain and wind conditions while strategizing their shots.
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Keep your eyes on the ball!”
- “Swing smoothly!”
- “Watch the wind direction!”
- “That was a great putt!”
- “You’re on the green!”
🗣️ Golf English Conversation
A: “How many strokes did you take?”
B: “I finished the hole in three strokes.”
A: “Nice! You’re getting better!”
🏸 Badminton
📖 Badminton is a sport where players use rackets to hit a shuttlecock (a ball with feathers attached) back and forth. It is played in singles (1 vs 1) and doubles (2 vs 2), with the first player to reach 21 points determining the winner. It is a fast-paced sport that requires quick reflexes and endurance.
Badminton is a sport played with a racket and a shuttlecock. It can be played in singles (1 vs. 1) or doubles (2 vs. 2), and the winner is determined by reaching 21 points first. The game is fast-paced and requires quick reflexes and endurance.
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Serve the shuttle!”
- “Smash it!”
- “Drop shot!”
- “Watch the net!”
- “Nice rally!”
🗣️ Badminton English Conversation
A: “Which side do you want to start on?”
B: “I’ll take the right side.”
A: “Alright, let’s go for a strong start!”
⛸️ Skating
📖 There are various types of skating, including figure skating, speed skating, and ice hockey. Figure skating is a sport where the beauty of the performance is judged, while speed skating is a sport where speed is the key. Ice hockey is a team sport where the goal is to get the puck into the net.
Skating includes figure skating, speed skating, and ice hockey. Figure skating focuses on artistic performance, while speed skating is a race on ice. Ice hockey is a team sport where players aim to score goals using a puck.
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Glide smoothly!”
- “Keep your balance!”
- “Speed up!”
- “Pass the puck!”
- “Shoot now!”
🗣️ Skating English Conversation
A: “How long have you been skating?”
B: “For about three years.”
A: “You look really smooth on the ice!”
🥋 Kendo
Kendo is a traditional Japanese martial art in which points are scored by using a bamboo sword to strike the opponent’s “men” (head), “kote” (wrist), “do” (torso), and “tsuki” (thrust). It is also known as a martial art that emphasizes etiquette and mental strength.
Kendo is a traditional Japanese martial art where practitioner use bamboo swords (shinai) to strike designated target areas: the head (men), wrists (kote), torso (do), and throat (tsuki). It emphasizes discipline and respect.
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Men!”
- “Kote!”
- “Do!” (Body!)
- “Tsuki!” (Thrust!)
- “Rei!” (Bow!)
🗣️ Kendo English Conversation
A: “What is the most important thing in Kendo?”
B: “Respect and discipline.”
A: “Let’s train hard!”
🥋 Judo
Judo is a martial art originating in Japan, where competitors determine victory by throwing or pinning their opponents. A “full point” (ippon) results in an immediate victory, and there is also a point system. It is also an Olympic sport.
Judo is a Japanese martial art that focuses on throws and holds to defeat an opponent. Scoring an “Ippon” results in an immediate victory. Judo is also an Olympic sport.
📢 Phrases used during the match
- “Grip strong!”
- “Throw him!”
- “Go for Ippon!”
- “Hold him down!”
- “Stay balanced!”
🗣️ Judo English Conversation
A: “What’s your favorite technique?”
B: “I like the Seoi-nage.”
A: “Nice! Let’s practice together.”
3. Summary
Learning sports in English means you’ll not only naturally pick up English during matches and practices , but you’ll also be able to enjoy watching overseas matches and sports news!
英語がまったく初心者のご家庭でも安心してご受講いただけます。
まずは無料体験からお試しください！
