The universal language of sport: terms understood everywhere

Today, whether you're in Tokyo, Paris, Los Angeles or São Paulo, you'll hear the same words echoing around gyms and fields: squat, dribble, hole-in-one, crossfit, coach, workout... These terms, often in English, cross borders and languages without needing to be translated. But why have these words become universal? And how is this "common language" helping to make sport a global playground?

Words that travel

In many modern sports, the original terminology (often English) has become established in practices all over the world. Basketball, invented in the USA, uses a vocabulary that's virtually unchanged wherever you play it: shoot, time-out, dunk or rebound are understood by players from Canada to Cameroon. The same goes for golf, where putt, birdie, green, fairway or tee are all spoken with international ease.

Even fitness has developed a linguistic identity that knows no borders: HIIT, cardio, reps, burpees... So many terms that can be found from one end of the planet to the other, pronounced with all possible accents, but always understood in the same way. The result: you don't need a dictionary to share a moment of international sport.

The glocal effect

But that doesn't mean you have to say goodbye to your mother tongue! In France, we don't say "personal trainer", we say "personal coach", and we speak more often of "crossfit" than "functional circuit training". It's what we call the glocal phenomenon: the sport is going global, but everyone's putting their own local spin on it.

A common language that connects

Imagine: a Brazilian, an Italian and a Japanese in a gym. It could be the beginning of a joke... but no, it's just a classic session where everyone understands "20 squats, 15 push-ups". No need to talk, the body and technical language do the job. And frankly, it's beautiful.

Universality, a lever for inclusion

This common vocabulary is a real boost and a lever for inclusion. Whether you're in Bali or Berlin, you'll recognize the keywords in your workout. Even a program designed by a New York coach can give you a boost in your living room in Marseille.

An evolving vocabulary

And like any living language, sports vocabulary is evolving. Terms like booty band, mobility, WOD (Workout of the Day) and tabata have entered the global lexicon, driven by trends, influencers and online communities. Sport, in its own way, creates its own living, evolving linguistic culture.

An evolving language (like your training playlist)

Sport never sleeps, and neither does its vocabulary. Every year, new words appear on the scene: "mobility", "tabata", "AMRAP", "booty band"... Driven by trends, influencers and online communities, they enrich the global language of fitness.

Sport, a language for the body... and the heart

You don't have to speak the same language to sweat together. With a few shared words, we play, we encourage each other, we progress...and above all, we connect.

So wherever you are, and whatever your level: a simple "Ready... go!" is all it takes to join the game.

My name is Candice Lhomme and I have been the digital marketing manager at SPART since April 2024.

Passionate about artistic gymnastics and sports in general, I'm also a great lover of sunsets, good food and travel.

Through my articles, I hope to pass on a little of my good humor and my passions. Are you ready to discover simple ideas for feeling better every day?