Learn Spanish (Spain): Los chavales están jugando al fútbol en la plaza. - The kids are playing football in the square.

Los chavales están jugando al fútbol en la plaza.

The kids are playing football in the square.

Breakdown of Los chavales están jugando al fútbol en la plaza.

in / on / by (means of transport) / about (after pensar)

estar

to be (location/state)

to the (m)

el fútbol

the football

Questions & Answers about Los chavales están jugando al fútbol en la plaza.

I haven't seen the word chavales before. Is this a common word for 'kids'?

Yes, especially in Spain! Chaval (singular) or chavales (plural) is a very common, slightly colloquial way to say 'kid', 'youth', or 'teenager' in Spanish from Spain. In Latin America, you are more likely to hear niños, chicos, or muchachos instead.

Why is it jugando al fútbol and not just jugando el fútbol?

In Spanish, when you talk about playing a sport or a board game, you must use the word a after the verb jugar. Because fútbol is a masculine noun, a combines with the word el (the) to make the contracted word al.

Could I just say Los chavales juegan al fútbol here?

You could, but it changes the focus slightly. Using the present continuous structure (están jugando) emphasizes that the action is happening right at this exact moment. The simple present (juegan) could mean they are playing right now, but it is more commonly used to say that they play football in general as a regular habit.

Does plaza always translate to 'square'?

In a town or city setting like this, yes, it means a public square. However, plaza can also refer to an available physical space or seat, such as a parking spot (plaza de aparcamiento) or a vacancy for a job or a course.