Spanish vocabulary: intermediate (B1)
The 167 words and phrases taught in the intermediate chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Stories and memories
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- contarto tell (a story); to count · o → ue: , …; : You've never told me
- la historiastory; history · feminine
- primerofirst (adverb) · : First I bought a ticket
- esperarto wait; to wait for · regular: , …
- exactoexactly, that's right
- perderto miss (a train, a bus); to lose · e → ie: , …
- nervioso / nerviosanervous
- al día siguientethe next day, the following day
- la entrevista de trabajojob interview · feminine
- ¡Qué casualidad!What a coincidence!
- empezar ato start doing something · + infinitive; e → ie: ; preterite:
- duranteduring, for (a period) · : for the whole journey
- dos años despuéstwo years later
- casarseto get married · : we got married; : to marry someone
2. Opinions and reasons
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- la noticiapiece of news, news story · feminine; : the news
- el ayuntamientotown council, city council; town hall · masculine
- ¿Tú crees?Do you think so? · from : , , …
- la tiendashop · feminine; : the local shops
- venderto sell
- sinwithout · : without cars
- lo contrariothe opposite
- caminarto walk
- suficienteenough · : there aren't enough buses
- la opciónoption, choice · feminine; plural:
- tener razónto be right · : you're right about that
- antes debefore …ing · + infinitive: , before closing
- estar de acuerdoto agree · : to agree with someone
- demasiado / demasiadatoo much; too many (demasiados / demasiadas) · before an adjective it doesn't change:
3. News and current events
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- las obrasroadworks, building works · feminine plural; : work (of art), building site
- el alcalde / la alcaldesamayor
- viejo / viejaold · : the old market
- el mercadomarket · masculine
- la empresacompany, firm · feminine
- segúnaccording to
- construirto build · , …; participle:
- por todas parteseverywhere
- el vecino / la vecinaneighbour; resident (of a street or area)
- contento / contentahappy, pleased · with :
- de pequeño / de pequeñaas a child, when I was little
- el edificiobuilding · masculine
- conservarto keep, to preserve
- Algo es algo.It's better than nothing. · literally “something is something”
4. Feelings and relationships
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- irseto leave, to go away · : she's moving to Berlin
- ofrecerto offer · , …; : she's been offered a job
- el mejor amigo / la mejor amigabest friend
- ¡Qué pena!What a shame! What a pity! · : it makes me sad
- el colegioschool · masculine; informal:
- casialmost, nearly
- alegrarse deto be glad (about) · + subjunctive
- entenderto understand · e → ie: , …
- molestarto annoy, to bother · works like : …
- enfadarseto get angry · / : to be angry with someone
- seguro que…I'm sure (that)…
- la amistadfriendship · feminine
- preocuparseto worry · : don't worry; …: I'm worried that…
- el aviónplane · masculine; : by plane
5. Hopes and wishes
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- jubilarseto retire · : you're retiring; / : retired
- aprenderto learn · + infinitive:
- pintarto paint
- el Camino de Santiagothe Way of St James (pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela) · often just
- ¡Pero si…!But…! (to object or show surprise) · : But you don't like walking!
- andarto walk · preterite: , …
- hacer ilusiónto be looking forward to, to be excited about · works like :
- el kilómetrokilometre · masculine
- pasar tiempoto spend time · : to spend time with someone
- ojalálet's hope, I hope · + subjunctive: ; : I hope so!
- echar de menosto miss (a person or place) · : I miss you
- traerto bring · , …; subjunctive:
- ir a buscar a alguiento pick someone up, to fetch someone
- por supuestoof course · : of course not
6. Solving problems
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- ¿En qué le puedo ayudar?How can I help you? (polite) · informal:
- la cafeteracoffee machine; coffee pot · feminine
- ya nonot any more, no longer · : it doesn't work any more
- encenderseto turn on, to come on · e → ie: ; : to turn something on
- exactamenteexactly
- Déjeme ver.Let me see. · imperative of + ; :
- la garantíaguarantee, warranty · feminine; : a three-year guarantee
- repararto repair, to fix
- gratisfree (of charge) · never changes: ,
- tardarto take (time) · : How long does it take?
- la reparaciónrepair · feminine
- devolverto give back, to return (something) · o → ue: ; : to give a refund
- dejar algo a alguiento lend someone something (in Spain) · : I'll lend you a coffee machine; also means to leave, to let
- mientras tantoin the meantime, meanwhile
7. Culture and traditions
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- el dulcecake, pastry; sweet thing · masculine; also means “sweet” (adjective)
- el roscón de Reyesring-shaped sweet bread eaten at Epiphany · masculine
- celebrarto celebrate
- los Reyes Magosthe Three Kings, the Three Wise Men · : Epiphany, 6 January; : Father Christmas
- el regalopresent, gift · masculine; : to give (as a present)
- hoy en díanowadays, these days
- la cabalgataparade (of the Three Kings) · feminine
- tirarto throw; to throw away
- el caramelosweet, boiled sweet · masculine
- la sorpresasurprise · feminine
- la figuritalittle figure, figurine · feminine
- el hababroad bean · feminine, but / because it starts with a stressed a; plural:
- tocarto get (by chance), to win; to touch · works like :
- encontrarto find · o → ue: , …
8. Work and careers
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- el currículumCV, résumé · masculine; plural:
- invitarto invite · : thank you for inviting me
- sobreabout, on (a topic)
- llevar seis años trabajandoto have been working for six years · + time + gerund: , I've been working for six years
- organizarto organise
- el congresoconference · masculine
- la feriatrade fair; fair · feminine
- resolverto solve, to sort out · o → ue: ; participle:
- con calmacalmly
- el puestopost, position, job · masculine;
- dirigirto lead, to manage, to run · , …
- el equipoteam · masculine
- el correo electrónicoemail · masculine; also or
- estupendo / estupendagreat, wonderful
9. Health and lifestyle
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- el resultadoresult · masculine
- el análisistest, blood test · masculine; the same in the plural:
- la tensiónblood pressure · feminine; : to have high blood pressure
- el hábitohabit · masculine
- hacer ejercicioto exercise, to do exercise
- sentado / sentadasitting (down), seated
- las escalerasstairs · feminine plural; also
- el ascensorlift · masculine
- la salsalt · feminine
- ninor, or (after a negative) · : don't have salt or fried food
- los fritosfried food · masculine plural; / : fried; : chips, crisps
- de vez en cuandofrom time to time, now and then
- dentro dein (a length of time from now); inside · : in three months' time
- mañana mismotomorrow (and no later) · like : right now
10. Money and everyday services
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- abrir una cuentato open an account · : bank account; also the bill
- acabar deto have just (done something) · + infinitive: , I've just arrived
- mudarseto move (house, to another place) · : I've moved to Las Palmas
- ¿Me permite…?May I (see / have)…? (polite) · from : to allow
- la comisiónfee, charge (bank); commission · feminine
- recibirto receive, to get
- el sueldosalary, wages · masculine
- rellenarto fill in (a form)
- el formularioform · masculine
- firmarto sign
- Ya está.Done. / That's it. / There you go.
- la transferenciabank transfer · feminine; : to make a transfer
- cobrarto charge; to be paid, to earn
- por correoby post · : post, mail; : by email
11. Travel stories
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- imaginarseto imagine · …: you can't imagine…
- la islaisland · feminine
- el vueloflight · masculine
- cancelarto cancel · : it has been cancelled
- la huelgastrike · feminine; : to be on strike
- al llegarwhen (we) arrived, on arriving · + infinitive: when…, on …ing
- la suerteluck · feminine; : What bad luck!
- explicarto explain · preterite: , …
- por errorby mistake
- asílike that, like this; this way
- el paisajelandscape, scenery · masculine
- el volcánvolcano · masculine; plural:
- ¡Qué envidia!I'm so jealous! Lucky you! · : envy
- las vacacionesholiday(s) · feminine plural; : to be on holiday
12. Telling your story
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- publicarto publish · preterite: , …
- la vidalife · feminine
- decidirto decide · + infinitive:
- el nieto / la nietagrandson / granddaughter · : my grandchildren
- nacerto be born · , , …; : I was born in 1950
- el campothe countryside; field · masculine; : to work on the land
- a los diez añosat the age of ten
- desde entoncessince then, from then on
- la libreríabookshop · feminine; a library is
- el maridohusband · masculine; : my partner
- al principioat first, at the beginning
- llevar un negocioto run a business · also means to wear, to carry; : her daughter runs the bookshop
- cuidarto look after, to take care of
Other levels: Beginner (A1) · Elementary (A2) · Upper intermediate (B2)