Italian Soccer Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words for Italian Calcio

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Updated on March 10, 2019

You don’t have to study Italian for long before you learn that Italians love soccer.

Historically and currently it’s referred to as il calcio. (Have you heard of an event called il Calcio Storico Fiorentino? It won’t look quite like the soccer matches you’re used to!)

Nowadays, though, there are coaches and referees from other countries, players on loan from all over the world and tifosi (fans) internationally.

By Cher Hale

In Italy, in matches ranging from the Coppa del Mondo (World Cup) to Serie A, from international friendlies to the friendly pick-up game in the piazza, a multitude of languages are spoken—not just Italian.

But even so, there are advantages to knowing Italian soccer terms. If you were to attend a game in-person in Italy, chances are that you'll still hear Italian spoken most of the time. And if your goal is to improve your Italian language skills, then reading Corriere dello Sport or Gazzetta dello Sport (which is famous for it's pink colored pages - even the website maintains this pink color!) for the latest results of your favorite squadra (team) or listening to soccer broadcasts in Italian is a very effective way to advance in the standings, so to speak.

Besides knowing the vocabulary words that you see below, you’ll also want to know about the different teams, their nicknames, and how the leagues are structured.

Common Soccer Vocabulary Words

i calzoncini—shorts
i calzini (le calze da giocatore)—socks
i guanti da portiere—goalkeeper's gloves
il calcio d'angolo (il corner)—corner (corner kick)
il calcio di punizione—free kick
il calcio di rigore (il rigore)—penalty (penalty kick)
il calcio di rinvio—goal kick
il campo di/da calcio—field
il cartellino giallo (per l'ammonizione)—yellow card (as a caution)
il cartellino rosso (per l'espulsione)—red card (for expulsion)
il centrocampista—midfield player
il dischetto del calcio di rigore—penalty spot
il colpo di testa—header
il difensore—defender
il difensore esterno—outside defender
il dribbling—dribble
il fallo—foul
il fuorigioco—offside
il gol—goal
il guardalinee—linesman
il libero—sweeper
il palo (il palo della porta)—post (goalpost)
il pallone—soccer ball
il parastinchi—shin guard
il passaggio diretto (della palla)—pass (passing the ball)
il passaggio corto—short pass
il portiere—goalkeeper
l'ala—outside forward (winger)
l'allenatore—coach
l'ammonizione—sending-off
l'arbitro—referee
l'area di rigore—penalty area

l'arresto (della palla)—receiving the ball (taking a pass)
l'attaccante—striker
l'ostruzione—obstruction
la bandierina di calcio d'angolo—corner flag
la linea di fondo—goal line
la linea di metà campo—half-way line
la linea laterale—touch line
la maglia—shirt (jersey)
la mezz'ala—inside forward (striker)
la partita—match
la respinta di pugno—save with the fists
la rimessa laterale—throw-in
la riserva (il giocatore di reserva)—substitute
la rovesciata—bicycle kick
la scarpa da calcio—soccer boot (shoe)
la squadra—team
la traversa—crossbar
lo stadio—stadium
lo stopper—inside defender
segnare un gol—to score a goal
tifosi - fans

For vocabulary words related to other sports, like skiing and cycling, read, 75 Vocabulary Words for Talking About Sports in Italian.