deportivo
adjectiveCEFR B1
What does “deportivo” mean in English?
sporty / athletic
sporty / athletic (adjective; sports-related)
Example sentences
Lleva una vida muy deportiva desde pequeña: practicó natación de competición durante diez años y ahora combina el running con el ciclismo.
She has lived a very sporty life since she was young: she did competitive swimming for ten years and now combines running with cycling.
Si buscas ropa deportiva de calidad a buen precio, las marcas blancas de los grandes supermercados han mejorado mucho en los últimos años.
If you are looking for quality sportswear at a good price, supermarket own-brand products have improved a great deal in recent years.
How to use it
Deportivo/a is the adjective derived from deporte. It means 'sporty', 'athletic', or 'sports-related'. Common collocations: ropa deportiva (sportswear), calzado deportivo (sports footwear), estilo de vida deportivo (sporty lifestyle), centro deportivo (sports centre). In some LatAm varieties, el deportivo is also a noun meaning a sports car.
Common mistake
Deportivo is the adjective; the noun is el deporte (sport) not *el deportivo (which means sports car in colloquial LatAm). The feminine form is deportiva; both are standard. Do not confuse ropa deportiva (sportswear) with ropa de deporte (sport clothing) — both are used but ropa deportiva is more compact and preferred.