Mexican Lotería Caller and Printable Boards
Call all 54 cards of Mexican lotería without repeats, with English translations, a Spanish voice, auto mode, and free printable boards (tablas).
Let's play lotería!
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0 of 54 cards called
Called cards
- 1El Gallo
- 2El Diablito
- 3La Dama
- 4El Catrín
- 5El Paraguas
- 6La Sirena
- 7La Escalera
- 8La Botella
- 9El Barril
- 10El Árbol
- 11El Melón
- 12El Valiente
- 13El Gorrito
- 14La Muerte
- 15La Pera
- 16La Bandera
- 17El Bandolón
- 18El Violoncello
- 19La Garza
- 20El Pájaro
- 21La Mano
- 22La Bota
- 23La Luna
- 24El Cotorro
- 25El Borracho
- 26El Tecolote
- 27El Corazón
- 28La Sandía
- 29El Tambor
- 30El Camarón
- 31Las Jaras
- 32El Músico
- 33La Araña
- 34El Soldado
- 35La Estrella
- 36El Cazo
- 37El Mundo
- 38El Maíz
- 39El Nopal
- 40El Alacrán
- 41La Rosa
- 42La Calavera
- 43La Campana
- 44El Cantarito
- 45El Venado
- 46El Sol
- 47La Corona
- 48La Chalupa
- 49El Pino
- 50El Pescado
- 51La Palma
- 52La Maceta
- 53El Arpa
- 54La Rana
Printable boards
Each board (tabla) has 16 different cards chosen at random. Print them or save them as a PDF.
How to use the lotería caller
Press "Draw card" and the card appears in large type with its number, picture, Spanish name, and English translation. Cards never repeat: the full deck has 54, and the "Called cards" panel lights up the ones already drawn so you can check a board when someone shouts "¡Lotería!".
"Auto mode" draws a card every 5, 8, 12, or 15 seconds, and "Call cards aloud" has your browser read each card in Spanish, optionally with a short verse first, just like a traditional caller. No boards? Generate them under "Printable boards": each one has 16 different cards.
How to play Mexican lotería
- Each player takes one or more boards (tablas) and a handful of beans, pebbles, or bottle caps as markers.
- Agree on the winning pattern before starting: full board, a line, the four corners, or the center.
- The caller (el cantor) draws the cards one at a time and announces them, often with a funny verse or riddle before the name.
- Anyone with that card on their board places a bean on it.
- The first player to complete the pattern shouts "¡Lotería!" (or "¡Buena!"). The game pauses and the board is checked against the called cards.
Ways to win
| Pattern | What to complete |
|---|---|
| Full board (tabla llena) | All 16 cards |
| Line (chorro) | 4 cards in a row, column, or diagonal |
| Four corners (cuatro esquinas) | The 4 corner cards |
| Center (centrito) | The 4 middle cards |
| Frame (marco) | The 12 cards around the edge |
A little history
Lotería reached New Spain in the 18th century as a game of chance brought from Europe and became a family pastime at fairs, church festivals, and Christmas posadas. In the late 19th century, the 54-card deck whose pictures almost every Mexican recognizes became popular. Those illustrations are copyrighted, so this page uses only the card names and emojis.
It is also a great way to learn Spanish: each card is a simple, concrete word, and many U.S. classrooms use lotería to practice vocabulary. That is why every card shows its English translation.
Why El Tecolote and El Maíz?
We keep all 54 cards and their traditional numbers but, like several modern decks, replace two cards now seen as racial stereotypes: card 26 (El Negrito) becomes El Tecolote (the owl) and card 38 (El Apache) becomes El Maíz (the corn). That way any family or classroom can play comfortably.
Frequently asked questions
Are the cards random?
Yes. Each card is picked by your browser's cryptographic generator from the cards not yet called, so none repeat and all have the same chance.
How many boards can I print?
Up to 12 at a time, and you can generate more. Each board has 16 different random cards. Choose "Save as PDF" in the print dialog to share them.
Why is the voice in Spanish?
Lotería cards are called by their Spanish names, even in English-speaking homes. If you can't hear anything, check your volume and try Chrome, Edge, or Safari, which usually include a Spanish voice.
Can I use it to teach Spanish?
Yes. Show the card with its translation, have students repeat the Spanish name, and play for a line or full board to review vocabulary.
Why aren't the classic pictures used?
The traditional illustrations are copyrighted. The card names are common vocabulary, so we pair them with emojis to keep the game free.