Definition
the player on a sports team whose main job is to defend the goal and prevent the other team from scoring.
Etymology
Compound word from 'goal' (from Middle Dutch 'gole,' meaning 'bourn or ravine') and 'keeper' (from Old English 'cēpan,' meaning 'to catch or keep').
Kelly Says
The goalkeeper position might be the most psychologically demanding in sports—one mistake can lose the game, and studies show goalkeepers experience higher stress levels than other players! Interestingly, goalkeepers can wear different-colored uniforms than their team, a privilege unique to their position.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ጎል keepers
gol-kee-pers
ARالعربية
حارس المرمى
haraas al-marmi
BNবাংলা
গোলরক্ষক
gol-rokshak
CSČeština
brankář
bran-ka-r
DADansk
målkeeper
mahl-keep-er
DEDeutsch
Torwart
tor-vart
ELΕλληνικά
τερματοφύλακας
ter-ma-to-fy-la-kas
ESEspañol
guardameta
gar-dya-me-ta
FAفارسی
دروازهبان
daro-aza-ban
FISuomi
maalivahti
mahl-i-vah-ti
FRFrançais
gardien
gar-dee-an
HAHA
gaban gaba
ga-ban ga-ba
HIहिन्दी
गोलकीपर
gol-kee-per
IDBahasa Indonesia
penjaga gawang
pen-ja-ga gaw-ang
IGIG
gọọlkiipā
go-ol-kee-pa
ITItaliano
portiere
por-tee-e-re
JA日本語
ゴールキーパー
go-ru-kee-paa
KKKK
өкіністі
o-ki-nis-ti
KMKM
គោលរាក្សក
go-ol-ra-ksak
MSBahasa Melayu
penjaga gol
pen-ja-ga gol
MYမြန်မာ
ဂုတ်ကီပါ
gu-t-kee-pa
NLNederlands
keeper
kee-per
NONorsk
målvakt
mahl-vakt
PLPolski
bramkarz
bram-karz
PTPortuguês
goleiro
go-lay-roo
RUРусский
вратарь
vratary
SVSvenska
målvakt
mahl-vakt
SWKiswahili
mwagaji wa lango
mwa-ga-ji wa lan-go
TAதமிழ்
க goalies
goal-ee-s
TEతెలుగు
గోల్కీపర్
gol-kee-per
THไทย
ผู้รักษาประตู
poo-rak-sa-a-pra-too
TLTL
bantay-goal
ban-tay-goal
UKУкраїнська
воротар
vo-ro-tar
URاردو
گول کیپر
gol-kee-per
VITiếng Việt
thủ môn
thoo-mon
YOYO
ọ́mọ́-ọ́lọ́
o-mo-o-lo
ZUZU
amaphoyisi
a-ma-po-yisi
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Goalkeeper uses the default masculine 'man' compound despite gender neutrality in sport. Historically, sports positions were linguistically gendered even as women entered the field.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'goalkeeper' alone or 'goalie' — both are gender-neutral and equally standard.
Inclusive Alternatives
["goalie","keeper"]
Empowerment Note
Women goalkeepers have excelled across professional leagues; the position name should reflect inclusive language.