How to Talk About Basketball in American English 🏀

1. **Arena**: A large building where basketball games are played.
- "The basketball game tonight will be in the big arena downtown."

2. **Court**: The playing area for a basketball game.
- "Players must stay within the lines of the basketball court during the game."

3. **Hoop**: The ring through which players try to throw the ball to score points.
- "He jumped high and put the ball through the hoop."

4. **Net**: The mesh hanging from the hoop, which helps see when a point is scored.
- "The ball swished through the net without touching the rim."

5. **Backboard**: The flat board behind the hoop that helps players make bank shots.
- "She bounced the ball off the backboard, and it went in."

6. **Free-throw**: A shot taken from the free-throw line without defense, usually after a foul.
- "After the foul, he got two free-throws."

7. **Dribbling**: Bouncing the ball on the floor repeatedly while moving.
- "He is good at dribbling the ball past defenders."

8. **Passing**: Throwing the ball to a teammate.
- "Good passing helps the team keep control of the ball."

9. **Shoot**: To try to score points by throwing the ball into the hoop.
- "She will shoot from the three-point line."

10. **Rebound**: To catch the ball after a missed shot.
- "He jumped high to catch the rebound."

11. **Foul**: Breaking the rules, which may give the other team a free-throw.
- "The player was given a foul for pushing."

12. **Substitute**: A player who comes into the game to replace another player.
- "The coach made a substitute to bring fresh legs into the game."

13. **Layup**: A close-range shot made by laying the ball into the hoop.
- "He made an easy layup after dribbling past the defender."

14. **Slam dunk**: Scoring by jumping and forcefully putting the ball through the hoop.
- "The crowd cheered loudly after the player's impressive slam dunk."

15. **Three-pointer**: A shot made from outside the three-point line.
- "Scoring a three-pointer adds three points to the team's score."

16. **Timeout**: A break in the game when the coach can talk to the players.
- "The team called a timeout to discuss their strategy."

17. **Jump ball**: The way to start the game or restart it after a stop, by tossing the ball into the air.
- "The game started with a jump ball at center court."

18. **Steal**: Taking the ball away from the opposing team.
- "He made a quick steal and ran to score."

19. **Shot clock**: A timer that limits how long a team can try to score.
- "They need to shoot before the shot clock runs out."

20. **Airball**: A shot that misses the hoop and the backboard.
- "The shot was an airball, not touching anything."

21. **Half court**: The middle line of the basketball court.
- "After the timeout, they started play from half court."

22. **Double dribble**: Dribbling the ball, stopping, and then starting to dribble again, which is not allowed.
- "The referee called a double dribble on the player."

23. **Whistle**: The tool referees use to stop the game or call a foul.
- "The game stopped when the referee blew his whistle."

24. **Referee**: A person who makes sure the rules are followed during the game.
- "The referee called a foul on the defender."

25. **Block**: Preventing a shot by knocking it away.
- "He made an impressive block against the other team's shot."

26. **March Madness**: A college basketball tournament held in March.
- "Many teams compete in March Madness for the championship."

27. **Teammate**: A player on the same team.
- "He passed the ball to his teammate for an easy score."

28. Fowl is a word used to describe birds, usually ones that people keep for eggs or meat.

Example sentence: "The farmer has many fowls in his yard, including chickens and ducks."

29. A basketball coach is a person who teaches players how to play basketball and helps them improve.

Example sentence: "The basketball coach trained the team every afternoon, teaching them new techniques and strategies."

In this live American English lesson, you will learn 25 English words and terms Americans use when speaking about basketball. Words like ref, whistle, steal, hoop, and more.

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