Jai-alai Terms

DELANTERO:  Frontcourt player.

FRONTIS:  The front playing wall.

FRONTON:  The building in which jai-alai is played.

JUEZ:  Spanish word for judge. Each of the three court judges in striped shirts that are present during the games to make the close calls.

LATERAL:  The name for the side wall of the playing court.

PELOTARI:  A jai-alai player, from the Spanish "pelota" (and the French "pelote") meaning ball.

ZAGUERO:  Backcourt player.

Communication Between Jai-alai Players

Jai alai players must communicate with their partners in a doubles match.  Spanish is the universal language of the sport and here are some of the more commonly used terms:

AIRE:  Translates to "air" in Spanish.  Catch the ball in the air before it bounces.

ARRIBA:  Translates to “up” in Spanish.  Up, up lift the ball.

ENTRA:  Translates to “enter” in Spanish.  I am out of position. You must go for the ball.

FUERA:  Translates to "out" in Spanish.  Meaning the pelota is out of bounds. A player usually says this to his partner when the ball is close to the out of bounds line or the wood and his partner is undecided on making the catch.

LIBRE:  Translates to “free” in Spanish.  You are free to play (used by frontman to let backcourt partner know that even though he is near the rear wall there is enough room to move backwards and catch the ball).

MUCHO:  Translates to “great” in Spanish.  “Nice catch” or “nice shot”.

MUERTA:  Translates to "dead" in Spanish. This is what you call a ball with a slow bounce, a dead ball.

SALE:  Be ready for a rebote, the pelota is taking a high bounce off the backwall.

TUYA:  Translates to “yours” in Spanish.  You take it. It is your ball.

VIVA:  Translates to “alive” in Spanish.  This is what you call a pelota when it has a fast bounce; a live ball.

VOY:  Translates to “mine” in Spanish.  Let it go. It is my ball.

VOY SI NO:  Translates to “I’m here if you are not” in Spanish.  If you don't take it I will get it.

Source:  Extreme Jai-alai