Jugar Conjugation: Juego, Jugué, Juegue and Every Tense (Chart)

Jugar means "to play" a game or sport. It's the only Spanish verb with a u→ue stem change: juego, juegas, juega, jugamos, jugáis, juegan. It also adds a u after the g before an e, so the preterite yo form is jugué and the subjunctive is juegue.

Jugar Conjugation Chart

Indicative: present, preterite and imperfect

Future, conditional and present perfect

Subjunctive

Commands (imperative)

Gerund: jugando (estoy jugando) · Past participle: jugado (he jugado)

What Makes Jugar Irregular

Jugar is an -ar verb with two small irregularities:

• u→ue in the stressed stem: juego, juegas, juega, juegan, but jugamos, jugáis. The same split applies to the subjunctive and the tú command (juega).
• g→gu before e: This keeps the hard g sound. It affects the preterite yo form (jugué) and the whole present subjunctive (juegue, juegues, juguemos, juguéis, jueguen).

Everything else is regular: jugaba, jugaré, jugaría, jugando, jugado. Other -gar verbs, such as llegar (llegué) and pagar (pagué), share the spelling change but not the stem change.

How to Use Jugar

In Spain and in formal writing, jugar takes a plus the article before a sport or game: jugar al fútbol, jugar a las cartas. In much of Latin America, people drop it: jugar fútbol. Both are understood everywhere.

Jugar is only for games and sports. For musical instruments, use tocar: toco la guitarra. For a role in a film or play, use hacer de or interpretar, though jugar un papel works for figurative roles: La economía juega un papel importante.

Common Expressions With Jugar

Jugar in Example Sentences

• Juego al tenis los sábados. (I play tennis on Saturdays.)
• Ayer jugué con mis sobrinos todo el día. (Yesterday I played with my nephews all day.)
• De pequeños, jugábamos en la calle. (When we were little, we played in the street.)
• ¿Jugarás en el partido del domingo? (Will you play in Sunday's game?)
• No juegues con la comida. (Don't play with your food.)
• Los niños están jugando en el parque. (The kids are playing in the park.)

Common Mistakes With Jugar

• "Jugo" instead of juego. Jugo means "juice." "I play" is juego.
• "Jugé" instead of jugué. Without the u, the g would sound like the Spanish j.
• "Juegamos" instead of jugamos. Nosotros keeps the u.
• Using jugar for instruments. Say tocar el piano, not "jugar el piano."

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is jugar stem-changing if it has no o?

Jugar comes from the Latin iocare, and its u behaves like an o. It's the only Spanish verb with a u→ue change.

What is the preterite of jugar?

Jugué, jugaste, jugó, jugamos, jugasteis, jugaron. Only the yo form has the spelling change.

Do you say jugar fútbol or jugar al fútbol?

Both are correct. Jugar al fútbol is standard in Spain and formal writing; jugar fútbol is common in Latin America.

What is the subjunctive of jugar?

Juegue, juegues, juegue, juguemos, juguéis, jueguen.

Keep Practicing

The quiz below mixes pronouns and tenses from the chart above. For more practice, these guides pair well with jugar:

• Pensar Conjugation: Pienso, Pensé, Piense and Every Tense (Chart)
• Empezar Conjugation: Empiezo, Empecé, Empiece and Every Tense (Chart)
• A Practical Guide to Spanish Present Tense AR Verbs
• Spanish Subjunctive Made Simple: A Complete Guide