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noun A1 Beginner Common

soccer

SOK-uh
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Soccer (noun) means Association football, the sport played with a round ball moved mainly by kicking, not touched by hand except by the goalkeeper. Example: “The kids play soccer in the park every Saturday.”

noun
1
Association football, the sport played with a round ball moved mainly by kicking, not touched by hand except by the goalkeeper.
"The kids play soccer in the park every Saturday."
"My brother has played soccer since he was five and loves every match."
"We watched a soccer game on the big screen at the pub."

How to use soccer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe sport called football almost everywhere except the US, Canada, and a few other countries.

UK vs US

Mainly American/Canadian/Australian usage — most of the world just calls it "football."

Easily confused with
rugby →
Common pairings
play soccer a soccer match soccer ball
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Word forms

Third person singular
soccers
Past tense
soccered
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The kids play _____ in the park every Saturday.

Etymology

From an informal British abbreviation of "association" (as in Association Football) plus the playful -er ending, the same pattern that gave "rugger" for rugby.

Synonyms

View more →
football association football footy the beautiful game

Related words

football footy

Frequently asked questions

What does “soccer” mean?
The word “soccer” means association football, the sport played with a round ball moved mainly by kicking, not touched by hand except by the goalkeeper. In plain terms, the sport called football almost everywhere except the US, Canada, and a few other countries.
How do you pronounce “soccer”?
“Soccer” is pronounced SOK-uh (/ˈsɑk.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “soccer” in a sentence?
Here is “soccer” used in a sentence: “The kids play soccer in the park every Saturday.”
What part of speech is “soccer”?
“Soccer” is a noun.
Is “soccer” a common word?
“Soccer” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between soccer and football?
They are the same sport, association football. "Soccer" is the usual term in the United States, Canada, and Australia, partly to distinguish it from their own football codes, while most of the world calls it "football." Confusingly, "football" in America means gridiron, a different game entirely.
Why is it called soccer?
The word comes from "association." When "association football" was named in nineteenth-century England to set it apart from rugby football, students shortened "assoc" to "soccer." So the term actually began in Britain, even though it is now used mainly in North America and a few other countries.
What are the basic rules of soccer?
Two teams of eleven try to score by getting the ball into the opposing goal. Outfield players may use their feet, head, or body, but not their hands or arms; only the goalkeeper may handle the ball, within the penalty area. A standard match lasts ninety minutes, split into two halves.
How many players are on a soccer team?
Eleven players from each side are on the pitch at once, including one goalkeeper. Teams also name substitutes on the bench who can replace tired or injured players during the match. If too many players are sent off and a side drops below seven, the game is abandoned.

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