Fencing is a combat sport with a unique set of techniques and tactics. For those entering this exciting world, understanding some fencing vocabulary in Spanish essential.

This article provides a comprehensive introduction to fencing vocabulary in Spanish, covering everything from basic terms to more advanced ones. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced fencer, knowing these words will help improve your understanding of the sport and enable you to communicate during training and competitions.

Fencing Vocabulary in Spanish

This article provides a detailed guide to fencing vocabulary in Spanisht. It covers a wide range of terms, from basic equipment like florete (foil) and mask (mask) to advanced techniques such as parada (parry) and respuesta (riposte). The guide also includes important phrases related to positions and movements, ensuring fencers can communicate effectively during practice and competitions.

Now let’s start learning fencing vocabulary in Spanish.

Fencers and Personnel

Fencing means la esgrima in Spanish. And the noun esgrimista (fencer) is the person who fences. This noun can refer both to a male and female fencer.

Here is more fencing vocabulary in Spanish related to officials and personnel.

  1. El árbitro or la árbitra (referee)
  2. El juez or la jueza (judge)
  3. El director técnico or la directora técnica (technical director)
  4. El entrenador or la entrenadora (coach)
  5. El or la asistente de pista (strip assistant)
  6. El cronometrador or la cronometradora (timekeeper)
  7. El presidente del jurado or la presidente del jurado (president of the jury)
  8. El delegado técnico or la delegada técnica (technical delegate)
  9. El supervisor de vídeo or la supervisora de vídeo (video referee)
  10. El comisario or la comisaria (commissioner, responsible for equipment checks)
  11. El or la oficial de control (control officer)
  12. El or la responsable de material (equipment manager)
  13. El anotador or la anotadora (scorer)

Clothes and Equipment

Here you have some fencing vocabulary in Spanish referring to clothes and equipment.

  1. El florete (foil)
  2. La espada (épée)
  3. El sable (sabre)
  4. La máscara (mask)
  5. La careta transparente (transparent mask, used in some competitions for visibility)
  6. El guante (glove)
  7. La chaqueta de esgrima (fencing jacket)
  8. La sottogiacca (underarm protector)
  9. El peto (plastron)
  10. El protector de pecho (chest protector, often used by women)
  11. El protector de cadera (hip protector)
  12. Los pantalones de esgrima (fencing breeches)
  13. El cable de cuerpo (body cord)
  14. Los calcetines largos (long socks)
  15. Los zapatos de esgrima (fencing shoes)
  16. La bolsa de esgrima (fencing bag)

At the Fencing Strip

These are specific areas on the fencing strip where fencing actions take place:

  1. La pista de esgrima (fencing strip, piste)
  2. La zona de tocado (target area)
  3. La zona de preparación (preparation area)
  4. La zona de ataque (attack area)
  5. La zona de defensa (defense area)
  6. La zona de guardia (guard position)

Now let’s see the stances or specific locations a fencer can assume during a bout, usually in relation to their opponent:

  1. En guardia (on guard, the ready position of the fencer at the start of the bout)
  2. La posición de guardia (guard position, the stance a fencer takes while in a defensive posture)

La línea (line) in fencing refers to the different target areas on the opponent’s body that can be attacked or defended against.

  1. La línea (line)
  2. La línea alta (high line, generally above the waist)
  3. La línea baja (low line, generally below the waist)
  4. La línea interna (inside line, closer to the centerline of the body)
  5. La línea externa (outside line, further to the centerline of the body)
  6. El punto en línea (point in line, a position where the blade is extended straight at the opponent)

In addition, fencing has defined target areas on the body where touches can score points. These vary depending on the type of weapon used.

  1. El tocado válido de florete (valid touch area for foil). This is the torso, including the back, but excluding the arms and head.
  2. El tocado válido de espada (valid touch area for épée). This is the entire body.
  3. El tocado válido de sable (valid touch area for sabre). This is the torso above the waist, including the arms and head.

Techniques and Movements

Now let’s learn some fencing vocabulary in Spanish related to techniques and movements.

  1. El tocado (touch)
  2. La guardia (guard)
  3. El ataque (attack)
  4. El ataque compuesto (compound attack, it includes one or more feints)
  5. El ataque simple (simple attack, made in one movement)
  6. El ataque indirecto (indirect attack, an attack that changes lines)
  7. El contraataque (counterattack)
  8. El stop-hit (stop-hit, a counterattack made with opposition)
  9. La parada (parry)
  10. La parada circular (circular parry)
  11. La quinta (quinte, a parry position)
  12. La sexta (sixte, a parry position)
  13. La séptima (septime, a parry position)
  14. La octava (octave, a parry position)
  15. La respuesta (riposte)
  16. El touche (touch, term used for a valid hit)
  17. La finta (feint)
  18. El desplazamiento (footwork)
  19. El avance (advance)
  20. La retirada (retreat)
  21. El desarme (disarm)
  22. La batida (beat)
  23. La cavación (disengage)
  24. La corredura (corps-à-corps, a close-quarters situation where the fencers’ bodies come into contact)
  25. La croisé (cross, an action where the blade is moved from one line to another in a crossing motion)
  26. El coulé (glide, a sliding action along the opponent’s blade)
  27. La derivada (glide, an attack that slides along the opponent’s blade)
  28. El engagement (engagement, the initial contact of the blades)
  29. La flecha (fleche, a running attack)
  30. El golpe de fito (cut, an attack made with the edge of the blade)
  31. La invitación (invitation, an opening made to invite the opponent to attack)
  32. El lunge (lunge, a forward movement to deliver an attack)
  33. El ocho (circular disengagement)
  34. El pase (pass, moving past the opponent after an attack)
  35. El volteo (volt, a backward jump to avoid an attack)
  36. Romper la misura (to break distance, to step back to make the opponent’s attack fall short)

Exercises

Let’s do some exercises to practice some fencing vocabulary in Spanish. In our blog, you can also practice American football, chess, soccer, baseball, basketball, cricket, golf, ice hockey, rugby or tennis vocabulary in Spanish.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

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Vocabulary