# What verbs are used in other languages for 'playing' music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422 "2009-10-20T01:25:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/21 "2009-10-20T14:09:18Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Does one use ‘tocar’ for making music in general, without specifying an instrument? (¿Se dice “tocar musica”?) I’ve heard that, and said that, but usually it is more specific (toca quitarra=plays the guitar, toca piano= plays the piano). I’ve used it more when I put a CD or have my radio turn on and people ask me what I’m doing, although I’m more likely to say “poner musica” “to put music on”. If you’re making music with your voice, wouldn’t that be “to sing”? (cantar) ---
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/22 "2009-10-20T14:36:08Z")
Finnish: music: soittaa (the verb musisoida is also available but not very widely used). Soittaa pianoa, soittaa huilua, soittaa kitaraa, soittaa banjoa. games: pelata what children do: leikkiä Soittaa is also the one you use when calling someone on the phone. There’s also a term, “soittaa suutaan”, to play one’s mouth, which means to speak harshly or provocatively. Normally, to sing is “laulaa”. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/23 "2009-10-20T15:15:13Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > … \*tocar la flauta \*… This one _must be_ a double entendre for the filthy-minded 😉 ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/24 "2009-10-20T15:24:02Z")
> [@cckerberos](#): > > In Japanese it depends on the instrument. Why am I not surprised? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/25 "2009-10-20T15:59:13Z")
Interesting the Spanish… here in Mexico I’ve never heard “tocar palmas” (I read the end of that sentence anxiously waiting to see what instrument “palmas” was!). I’ve only ever heard “aplaudir,” which translation should be apparent in English. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/26 "2009-10-20T16:00:45Z")
> [@cckerberos](#): > > In Japanese it depends on the instrument. > > Generally, it’s _hiku_ (pluck) for stringed instruments, _fuku_ (blow) for wind instruments, and _tataku_ (strike) for percussion. Pianos count as stringed. In case anyone is curious, this is not the same as the verb 遊ぶ (_asobu_), which is to play in the sense of having an enjoyable time. 奏でる (_kanaderu_) is another verb for _to play (an instrument)_. ---
**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/27 "2009-10-20T16:34:51Z")
In Russian, while the same verb is used for “to play a game” and “to play an instrument,” the inflection of the following word will differ. So you play football or you play hockey, but you play on the piano or you play on the violin. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/28 "2009-10-20T17:07:37Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > This one _must be_ a double entendre for the filthy-minded 😉 It is. Somehow, I imagine it being said with the article dropped out. Balthisar, same here in Puerto Rico, Caribbean, and as far as I know rest of Latin America. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/29 "2009-10-20T17:10:42Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > This one _must be_ a double entendre for the filthy-minded 😉 More like a triple entendre. It’s got that meaning you thought of but also, from one of Aesop’s fables IIRC, “tocar la flauta por casualidad” (to play a flute without meaning to) means to have a very long shot pay up. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/30 "2009-10-20T17:49:37Z")
Like in Swedish, modern Norwegian has “spille” for music, sports and board-/computer-/RP-games, while what children do in the playground is “leke”, you also “leker” hide-and-go-seek, and to play fight is “lekeslåss”. We differ in some old fashioned use of “lek” though, the Swedes speak of the Olympic Games as “Olympiska spelen (OS)” while in Norwegian it’s “Olympiske leker (OL)”. My dictionary tells me “lek” is the old Norse word, while “spill” is a later import from German. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/31 "2009-10-20T17:59:11Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > The members of the German electronica group **Kraftwerk** term themselves _musikarbeiters_ or music workers. But, you know, they have their special approach… As stated before, in Germany we play (_spielen_) an instrument, but we make (_machen_) music. ---
**Author:** ![Nathan\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Nathan\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nathan_S)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/32 "2009-10-20T18:08:56Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > I believe your Italian is wrong. _Suonare_ goes with music and instruments, not _giocare_, which is used for playing games. Yes, that is correct. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/33 "2009-10-20T18:17:39Z")
So, what you are saying is that, for once, the only language that makes any sense is Japanese. Well, now I’ve heard it all. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/34 "2009-10-20T18:49:24Z")
Psh, Japanese makes plenty of sense! How many other languages do you know that have only \*\*two \*\*irregular verbs? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/35 "2009-10-20T18:52:08Z")
Slight hijack: In theatre nobody “plays” a role. The word professionals use is “do,” as in "I did Rumpleteaser in _CATS_, and that lead to me doing Raoul in _Phantom_. Using “play” would be misleading and sacriledge. Live performing is hard work, when one becomes the character. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/36 "2009-10-20T19:53:57Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > This one _must be_ a double entendre for the filthy-minded 😉 You can do a lot worse in Spanish. Tocar bajo en La menor. and a lot more along those lines. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/37 "2009-10-20T20:00:19Z")
FWIW, it sounds like the person quoted in the OP was riffing on the Willie Stargell\* quote, > [@](#): > > When they start the game, they don’t yell, “Work ball.” They say, “Play ball.” - According to my sources ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/38 "2009-10-20T20:41:44Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Slight hijack: In theatre nobody “plays” a role. The word professionals use is “do,” as in "I did Rumpleteaser in _CATS_, and that lead to me doing Raoul in _Phantom_. > > Using “play” would be misleading and sacriledge. Live performing is hard work, when one becomes the character. I’m sorry, in Canada, someone could say “Colm Feore is playing Cyrano”, and it wouldn’t raise an eyebrow. Spoken as a professional singer. Not to say you couldn’t say “I did”, “I sang”, “I danced”, “I was” - they’d all make sense. Yours is the first indication I’ve ever had that it was not in common usage elsewhere; it certainly is here. From Colm Feore’s bio in [Tribute](http://www.tribute.ca/people/Colm+Feore/5925) magazine > [@](#): > > During his 13 seasons at Stratford, he achieved fame as one of Canada’s premiere stage actors, playing virtually all of Shakespeare’s leading men from Richard III and Iago to Romeo and Hamlet, as well as many other characters in classical and contemporary plays. His first film experience was a number of filmed plays he did at Stratford such as The Boys from Syracuse and The Taming of the Shrew (playing the lead in both of them). ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/39 "2009-10-20T20:50:46Z")
Someone help with Chinese, please? I’ve been trying to find this forever. ---
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422/40 "2009-10-20T21:31:20Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Psh, Japanese makes plenty of sense! How many other languages do you know that have only \*\*two \*\*irregular verbs? Two? Bah! In Finnish we only have **one**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-verbs-are-used-in-other-languages-for-playing-music/514422.md?page=3)