Picture this: you’re in Spain, eager to treat your kid to some playground fun complete with a thrilling slide. You confidently inquire, “Hey, where’s the ‘tobogán’?” But hold on! If you find yourself in Latin America, swap that term for “resbaladilla.” And wait, there’s more! In Puerto Rico, Mexico, or Colombia, yet another word takes center stage. Ready to uncover the local lingo for the ultimate slide adventure?
The common Spanish for slide term is “tobogán.” This piece of playground equipment is found in play areas around the world and serves as a main attraction for children who enjoy the thrill of sliding down its sloped surface. In Spanish-speaking countries, just as in other parts of the world, slides are a staple in parks, schools, and recreational spaces. They come in various shapes and sizes and can be made from different materials such as plastic, metal, or wood.
Several other Spanish words for slide exist across countries including chorrera, resbaladilla, resbalín, resbaladero or resbaladera, canal, resfalín and alisadero.
Words for Playground Slide in Spanish
| Word in Spanish | Countries |
| Resbaladero | Mexico, Guatemala |
| Resbaladilla | Mexico |
| Canal | Cuba |
| Resbalín | Bolivia, Chile, Spain |
| Tobogán | Spain, Venezuela, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Peru |
| Deslizadero | El Salvador |
| Chorrera | Puerto Rico |
| Rodadero | Colombia |
| Resbalador | Mexico |
Spanish Terms for parts of Playground Slides
| Spanish Word | English Translation |
|---|---|
| el tobogán | Slide |
| las escaleras | Ladder/Stairs |
| la barandilla | Handrail |
| la plataforma | Platform |
| descenso | Descent |
The word tobogán is synonymous with the playground slide, an equipment piece that children slide down from a height. It often includes escaleras to climb up to the plataforma from where the slide starts. The barandilla provides safety as children ascend, and descenso refers to the act of going down the slide.
Common Spanish phrases for playing with SLIDES
| Spanish Phrase | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ¿Quieres ir al tobogán? | Do you want to go to the slide? |
| ¡Es mi turno! | It’s my turn! |
| Ten cuidado al subir. | Be careful when climbing up. |
| ¡Baja por el tobogán! | Go down the slide! |
| Espera tu turno. | Wait for your turn. |
These are phrases one might hear or use when interacting with others on the playground. They are used to invite someone to play (¿Quieres ir al tobogán?), to say “It’s my turn!” (¡Es mi turno!), to caution while climbing up (Ten cuidado al subir.), to encourage sliding down (¡Baja por el tobogán!), and to tell someone to wait their turn (Espera tu turno.).
Slide in Other Contexts
The Verb To Slide in Spanish
The verb “to slide” in Spanish is “deslizar” or “resbalar.” So, if you want to say “to slide” in Spanish, you can say either “deslizar” or “resbalar.”
But in terms of using it in reference to go down a playground slide, you can say “tirarse por el tobogán” or “lanzarse por el tobogán”.
PowerPoint Slide or Google Slide in Spanish
If you wonder how you say ‘PowerPoint slide’ in Spanish in the context of a presentation you say diapositiva.
Slide Show in Spanish
To describe a “slide show” in Spanish, you can use either “presentación de diapositivas” or simply “presentación”.
Microscope glass slide in Spanish
The appropriate term for a microscope slide in Spanish is portaobjetos.
Slide Rule in Spanish
The term for a slide rule, a mathematical instrument, in Spanish is regla de cálculo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the term for ‘water slide’ when translated from English to Spanish?
In Spanish, a ‘water slide’ is commonly referred to as ‘tobogán acuático’.
How do you refer to ‘monkey bars’ in the Spanish language?
The term for ‘monkey bars’ in Spanish is ‘barras de mono’ or more formally, ‘juegos de trepar’.
What is the Spanish term for a ‘playground slide’ specifically in Colombian dialect?
In Colombia, the term for a ‘playground slide’ is often ‘tobogán’. But you may also hear “rodadero” and “alisadero”.
How is ‘playground slide’ expressed in Mexican Spanish?
In Mexico, a ‘playground slide’ is typically called ‘resbaladilla’ or ‘resbaladero’.
What is the English translation for the Spanish word ‘resbaladilla’?
The Spanish word ‘resbaladilla’ translates to ‘slide’ in English, specifically referring to a playground slide.
Whether you find yourself in Spain or Latin America, the quest for the perfect playground slide to spend time with your kids unveils a delightful linguistic journey. From “tobogán” to “resbaladilla” and beyond, each country adds its own flavor to the playground lexicon.
And here is other playground-related vocabulary if you are interested.
