Spanish vocabulary: upper intermediate (B2)
The 168 words and phrases taught in the upper intermediate chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Discussing and debating
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- aunquealthough; even if · + indicative for a fact, + subjunctive for “even if”
- quedarse fuera (de)to be left out (of) · : gets left out of everything
- la red socialsocial network; las redes sociales: social media · feminine
- el peligrodanger · masculine
- Perdona que te interrumpa.Sorry to interrupt. · :
- Déjame terminar.Let me finish. · :
- sin embargohowever
- poner límitesto set limits
- por un lado… por otro (lado)…on the one hand… on the other (hand)…
- la ventajaadvantage · feminine
- el inconvenientedrawback, disadvantage · masculine
- en cambioon the other hand, whereas
- la normarule · feminine
- Hablando se entiende la gente.People understand each other by talking. (saying)
2. Work in depth
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- la propuestaproposal · feminine
- la ropa de camabed linen · feminine
- el proveedor / la proveedorasupplier
- el precioprice · masculine
- el descuentodiscount · : to give a discount
- conseguirto get, to obtain; to manage to · e → i like : ; preterite ,
- el pedidoorder (from a customer) · masculine
- el pagopayment · : payment within thirty days
- la entregadelivery · : to deliver, to hand in
- comprometerse ato commit to, to promise to
- el plazodeadline; period (of time) · : within five days
- cumplirto meet (a deadline), to keep (a promise) · : to have a birthday
- el presupuestoquote, estimate; budget · masculine
- agradecerto be grateful for, to thank for · ; : I'd be grateful
3. Film, books and media
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- parecerto seem; ¿Qué te parece? What do you think (of it)? · works like : ,
- lento / lentaslow
- sin dudawithout a doubt
- el / la protagonistamain character; lead actor / actress
- actuarto act · , , … (accent on the u)
- basado / basada enbased on
- la novelanovel · feminine
- no tener ni ideato have no idea
- tratar deto be about · What's it about? Informal:
- morirto die · o → ue: ; preterite ; participle
- la críticareview; criticism; the critics · feminine; critic: /
- el premioprize, award · masculine
- No me extraña.I'm not surprised. · + subjunctive
- merecer la penato be worth it · : it's worth it; …
4. Science and technology
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- la central (solar)(solar) power station · feminine
- producirto produce · ; preterite ,
- el hogarhome, household · masculine
- servir parato be for, to be used for · e → i like : What's it for?
- el espejomirror · masculine
- la luzlight · feminine; plural:
- la torretower · feminine
- moverseto move · o → ue:
- calentarto heat (up) · e → ie:
- almacenarto store
- por lo tantotherefore, so
- debido abecause of, due to
- gracias athanks to
- bajarto go down, to fall (prices); to go down (stairs)
5. Society and the environment
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- el incendiofire (that destroys something) · masculine; : fire in general
- el bombero / la bomberafirefighter
- quemarseto burn, to be burned · : to burn (something)
- la sequíadrought · feminine
- el montewoodland, forest; hills, mountain · masculine; uncultivated land with trees or scrub
- no queda nadathere's nothing left · : to be left, to remain; : there'll be no forest left
- vivir deto live off, to make a living from
- el ganadolivestock, animals (cows, sheep, goats) · masculine, singular
- limpiarto clean; to clear (land) · / : clean
- a tiempoin time
- la ayudahelp; grant, subsidy · : grants, public money
- volver ato do something again · + infinitive: , we're going to plant again
- el árboltree · masculine; plural:
- Toda ayuda es poca.Every little helps.
6. Public life
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- la rueda de prensapress conference · feminine
- anunciarto announce
- la línea (de autobús)(bus) route, line · feminine
- el carril bicicycle lane · masculine; plural:
- los impuestostaxes · masculine plural
- subirto raise, to put up; to go up · the opposite of
- negarto deny · e → ie: ; + subjunctive
- asegurarto say firmly, to assure; to insure
- la bibliotecalibrary · feminine; is a bookshop
- reconocerto admit; to recognise · , like
- recordarto remind; to remember · o → ue: ; : reminded her of it
- la pacienciapatience · : to be patient
- informarto report, to inform
- opinarto give your opinion, to think
7. Education and learning
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- suspenderto fail (an exam, a subject) · the opposite is (o → ue):
- la asignatura(school) subject · feminine
- como sias if · + imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive
- el tallerworkshop; garage (for repairs) · masculine
- arreglarto fix, to repair
- el bachilleratothe last two years of secondary school (16–18), before university · masculine
- la Formación Profesional (FP)vocational training · feminine
- el ciclo(vocational) course · masculine; : higher-level course
- la informáticaIT, computing · feminine
- las prácticaswork placement, internship · feminine plural
- elegirto choose · e → i: , ; preterite
- dejar los estudiosto give up studying, to drop out
- arrepentirse deto regret · e → ie:
- Nunca es tarde para…It's never too late to…
8. Idioms and everyday speech
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- estar hecho polvo / hecha polvoto be shattered, exhausted · informal
- no pegar ojonot to sleep a wink
- seguir hablandoto keep talking, to still be talking · + gerund: to still be doing something; : you were still talking
- quedarse en blancofor your mind to go blank · : my mind went blank
- ponerse ato start doing something · + infinitive: , I started talking
- o seaI mean; so, in other words
- meter la patato put your foot in it, to make a blunder
- el jefe / la jefaboss
- echarse a reírto burst out laughing · : to laugh;
- ser pan comidoto be a piece of cake, to be very easy
- estar a punto deto be about to do something · + infinitive: , I was about to leave
- tomar el pelo a alguiento pull someone's leg, to tease someone · Are you pulling my leg?
- ¡Enhorabuena!Congratulations!
- seguir sinto still not do something · + infinitive: , she still doesn't know anything
9. Humour and informal language
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- el currojob, work (colloquial) · : to work
- olvidársele algo a alguiento forget something (by accident) · : I forgot my pass
- majo / majanice, friendly (colloquial, Spain)
- caérsele algo a alguiento drop something (by accident) · : I dropped / spilt the coffee
- el portátillaptop · masculine
- ¡Qué fuerte!That's unbelievable! Wow! (colloquial)
- que me trague la tierraI wish the ground would swallow me up · : I wanted the ground to swallow me up
- molarto be cool, to be great (colloquial) · works like :
- guaycool, great (colloquial) · plural: or
- el becario / la becariaintern, trainee
- resulta que…it turns out that…
- fliparto be amazed, to be blown away (colloquial) · : You're unbelievable
- a lo mejormaybe, perhaps · followed by the indicative
- caer bien / malto like / not like (a person) · works like : : I like him / her; , …
10. Formal writing
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- la carta de presentacióncover letter · feminine; : letter
- antes de quebefore · + subjunctive
- la oferta de empleojob advert, job offer · feminine; : employment, job
- dirigirse ato address, to write to (formal) · : I am writing to you
- la candidaturaapplication (for a post) · : to apply
- asimismoalso, likewise (formal)
- contar conto have (formal); to count on · o → ue:
- la atención al clientecustomer service · feminine
- adjuntarto attach · : Please find my CV attached
- a menos queunless · + subjunctive
- en caso de quein case, if · + subjunctive
- Quedo a la espera de sus noticias.I look forward to hearing from you. (formal)
- atentamenteyours faithfully, yours sincerely (to end a formal letter)
- con tal de queas long as, provided that · + subjunctive
11. Giving a presentation
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- presentarto present; to introduce (a person) · …: Let me introduce…
- en primer lugarfirst, first of all
- a continuaciónnext, then
- por últimofinally, lastly
- la huertamarket garden, vegetable garden · feminine
- el intermediario / la intermediariamiddleman, intermediary
- darse cuenta deto realise · …: I realised that…
- sencillo / sencillasimple
- el agricultor / la agricultorafarmer
- destacarto highlight, to stress; to stand out
- de mediaon average
- ganarto earn; to win
- Es una buena pregunta.That's a good question.
- el datofigure, piece of information · masculine; : data
12. Final review
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- ¡Qué alegría!How lovely! I'm so happy! · : joy, happiness
- hacía siglos que no…it had been ages since… · : We hadn't seen each other for ages
- ¿Cómo no iba a…?How could I not…? Of course I would…
- ser mayorto be elderly, to be getting on ·
- La vida da muchas vueltas.Life takes some funny turns. (saying)
- la vueltareturn, coming back; turn · feminine
- el choque culturalculture shock · masculine
- ahoritaright now, in a moment (Latin America)
- ¿Mande?Sorry? Pardon? (Mexico)
- el celularmobile phone (Latin America) · in Spain:
- acordarse deto remember · o → ue: ¿Te acuerdas de…? Do you remember…?
- brindarto drink a toast · Shall we have a toast?
- vengaOK, come on, right then (Spain, informal)
- ¡Salud!Cheers! (when drinking); Bless you! (after a sneeze)
Other levels: Beginner (A1) · Elementary (A2) · Intermediate (B1)