Make English idioms easier to explore with this English–Spanish idiom memory game and printable flashcard set. Colorful pictures, Spanish meanings and bilingual example sentences bring 32 English expressions into a playful learning experience.
From “Full of beans” to “Head in the clouds,” learners can explore each expression, practice saying it and find its matching picture in a hands-on memory game.
What’s included
• One 49-page printable PDF
• 32 illustrated teaching cards with English idioms, Spanish meanings and example sentences in both languages
• 64 memory-game cards forming 32 matching pairs
• One English card and one Spanish card in each pair, featuring the same illustration
• A colorful cover page
How to play
Choose a few matching pairs to begin. Shuffle the cards and place them face down.
Players take turns flipping over two cards. If the pictures match, they keep the pair and read the English idiom and Spanish meaning aloud. If the pictures do not match, they turn both cards face down again in the same positions.
Continue until all pairs have been found. The player with the most pairs wins!
Start with a smaller selection and add more pairs as learners become familiar with the expressions.
Explore the meaning behind the picture
The playful illustrations show the literal side of English expressions, while the Spanish meanings and example sentences help explain what they actually mean.
Use the teaching cards before playing, revisit an expression after finding a pair, or invite learners to create their own sentence.
Spanish text includes natural equivalents or short meaning explanations where a direct idiom equivalent would be less helpful.
Made for flexible learning
Use this bilingual idiom activity for:
• English lessons with Spanish-speaking learners
• ESL and ELL small-group practice
• Classroom vocabulary and figurative-language centers
• Homeschool English activities
• Family memory-game sessions
Learners who are still developing reading confidence can play with an adult reading the cards aloud.
Print and prepare
Print the pages you need, cut out the cards and start playing. Use opaque cardstock or identical opaque backing so the pictures cannot be seen through the cards. Lamination is optional for repeated use.
The PDF uses A4 landscape pages. Select “Fit to page” when printing on US Letter paper.
Please note
This is a digital PDF download. No physical cards, book or supplies will be shipped. Printing, cutting and any optional lamination are completed by the buyer.
Download and access
Once payment is confirmed, a download link will be sent to the email address used for your order. Follow the email instructions to download and save your PDF. If the email does not arrive, check your spam or junk folder, then contact us with your order number for help.
Permitted use
Print and use this resource with your own children, household, or students you directly teach, including your own classes and tutoring sessions. Your purchase does not include a school-wide license. Do not resell, publicly upload, or share the purchased file with others for their independent use. See our full terms of use for details.
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