A1 - Beginner Spanish
The A1 level is for students with no prior knowledge of Spanish.
Students typically complete this level when they can interact with others by asking and answering questions about yourself and where you live.
Based on the widely used Instituto Cervantes Spanish learning levels.
entender
understand
The Spanish word 'entender' represents the act of comprehending or grasping the meaning of something, similar to 'understand' in English. It's used in various contexts, such as understanding a language, a concept, or a person's feelings.
Example sentences with entender →escalera
stairs
The Spanish word 'escalera' translates to 'stairs' in English. It is a common noun and is used to refer to a set of steps leading from one floor of a building to another. It is also used to denote any set of steps or stages that are said to resemble or lead up like stairs. Thus, it is widely used in different contexts in everyday language.
escolar
school
The Spanish word 'escolar' is an adjective that refers to anything related to school. Common uses include defining a year, uniform, or a day as school-related. For example, 'año escolar' translates to 'school year', 'uniforme escolar' means 'school uniform', 'día escolar' becomes 'school day' in English. However, it's crucial to remember that the noun 'school' is translated as 'escuela' in Spanish, not as 'escolar'.
escribir
to write
'Escribir' corresponds to the act of writing, drawing or inscribing symbols on a surface for the purpose of communicating.
Example sentences with escribir →escribir una carta
write a letter
The Spanish phrase 'escribir una carta' translates to 'write a letter' in English. This is a common phrase that could be used in a variety of contexts, such as asking someone to write a letter or describing an action that one is taking. Like in English, the verb 'escribir' (to write) can be modified to indicate who is doing the action and when the action is taking place.
escribir una postal
write a postcard
'Escribir una postal' is a Spanish phrase that translates to 'write a postcard' in English. It is formed from the verb 'escribir', which means 'to write', and the phrase 'una postal', which means 'a postcard'. This phrase is generally used in the context of writing postcards for travel, holiday, or other special occasions. It's a great phrase to know if you plan to communicate via traditional mail while in a Spanish-speaking country.
escuchar
to listen
'Escuchar' is used for the action of paying attention to sounds or hearing something.
Example sentences with escuchar →escuchar la radio
listen to the radio
The Spanish term 'escuchar la radio' translates to 'listen to the radio' in English. This phrase is typically used when you want to express or tell someone about your intention or act of tuning into a radio station for news, music, broadcasts, and other programs. Including 'escuchar', which means 'to listen', and 'la radio', which means 'the radio', the phrase can be used in various contexts relating to the use of a radio.
escuchar música
listen to music
The Spanish phrase 'escuchar música' translates to 'listen to music' in English. It is composed of 'escuchar', which means 'to listen', and 'música', which translates to 'music'. This expression is commonly used when you want to say that you are listening to music or you want someone else to listen to music. Just like in English, this phrase can be used in different contexts such as at a concert, while working, or during leisure activities.
escuchar una canción
listen to a song
The Spanish phrase 'escuchar una canción' translates to 'listen to a song' in English. This phrase is composed of three parts: 'escuchar' which is the verb 'listen', 'una' is the indefinite article 'a', and 'canción' is the noun 'song'. Therefore, when you 'escuchar una canción', you are choosing to listen to a specific song. This phrase can be used in various contexts, such as when you want to command someone to 'Listen to a song', or inform others what you are doing, for example, 'I will listen to a song'.
español
spanish
The word 'español' is a noun in Spanish language translated to English as 'Spanish'. 'Español' refers to the language that originated in Spain and is officially spoken in 21 countries today. It is the second most spoken first language in the world, after Mandarin Chinese.
esquiar
ski
The word 'esquiar' is a verb in Spanish, which translates to 'ski' in English. As in English, it can be used both in terms of the action of skiing and the sport itself. For example, similar to saying 'I love to ski' in English, in Spanish you would say 'Me encanta esquiar'. Note that, like all verbs in Spanish, 'esquiar' can be conjugated differently depending on the subject and tense.
estación de autobuses
bus station
The Spanish phrase 'estación de autobuses' translates to 'bus station' in English. A 'bus station' is a structure where city or intercity buses stop to pick up and drop off passengers. It's a central hub of public transportation, often located in city centers or busy neighborhoods, where various bus routes converge. In Spanish speaking countries, 'estación de autobuses' are common and an important part of public transportation infrastructure.
Example sentences with estación de autobuses →estación de metro
metro station
The Spanish term 'estación de metro' translates to 'metro station' in English. It refers to a specified area where the metro, or a type of high-capacity public transportation, stops for passengers to get on or off. These stations are typically found in urban areas and can be located either underground or above ground. They are a central part of public transportation in many cities worldwide.
Example sentences with estación de metro →estación de tren
train station
The Spanish term 'estación de tren' translates to 'train station' in English. This is a facility where trains regularly stop to load or unload passengers or freight. It generally consists of at least one track-side platform and a station building providing such ancillary services as ticket sales, waiting rooms and baggage/freight service. It's a very common term used in transportation.
Example sentences with estación de tren →estado civil
marital status
The Spanish phrase 'estado civil' translates to 'marital status' in English. It refers to the formal ranking, recognized by the society and law, that an individual holds in terms of his or her relationship commitment. This status could indicate whether the person is single, married, divorced, widowed, separated, etc. It is often used in official documents and forms.
estar enfermo
to be sick
The Spanish phrase 'estar enfermo' translates to 'to be sick' in English. 'Estar' is a verb that means 'to be' and is used to denote temporary states or conditions. 'Enfermo' is an adjective that means 'sick'. This phrase is used to express the current health condition of a person which may change over time. One might say 'Yo estoy enfermo' to convey 'I am sick'. Remember, 'estar' is used for transient states of being unlike 'ser' which is used for permanent states and intrinsic qualities.
Example sentences with estar enfermo →estar mal
being bad
The Spanish phrase 'estar mal' translates to 'being bad' in English. It is generally used to express a state of ill health, emotional trouble, or general discomfort in a person or a situation. Such as when one's well-being or circumstances are not good or have turned unfavorable. Please note that Spanish often requires a verb to be attached before 'estar mal' to form a complete and meaningful sentence. Therefore, it is significant in conveying someone's feeling or situation.
euro
euro
The term 'euro' in Spanish is directly translated to 'euro' in English, which is the official currency of 19 of the 27 member states of the European Union. This group of states is known as the Eurozone or Euro area, and includes major countries like Germany, France, and Italy among others. The euro is the second largest reserve currency as well as the second most traded currency in the world after the United States dollar.
examen
review
The Spanish word 'examen' translates to 'review' in English. It is commonly used in an academic or work context, reflecting the practice of evaluating or inspecting something thoroughly. For example, a teacher might give an 'examen' to students to assess their understanding of the course material. Similarly, a worker might conduct an 'examen' of a project or work process to identify any areas for improvement.
exposición
exhibition
The Spanish word 'exposición' translates to 'exhibition' in English. The term 'exposición' can refer to a presentation or display of a selection of items. Typically, these items can be works of art, historical objects, scientific or artistic installations, among others. 'Exposición' is commonly used in academic, cultural, and commercial environments and it represents an important aspect of learning, knowledge sharing, and business promotion in Spanish-speaking cultures.
extranjero
foreign
The Spanish word 'extranjero' is used to denote something or someone from another country, not native. It is commonly used in contexts where you are talking about foreign languages, countries, people, goods etc. It is important to note that this term can be both a noun and an adjective, depending on the context in which it is used.
Example sentences with extranjero →falda
skirt
The Spanish word 'falda' translates to 'skirt' in English. In many cultures, it is a garment typically worn by women, and it hangs from the waist and covers all or part of the legs. There are many styles of skirts including mini, maxi, pencil, and pleated skirts. The term 'falda' is commonly used in many Spanish-speaking countries and regions.
familia
family
A group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.
Example sentences with familia →farmacia
pharmacy
The Spanish word 'farmacia' translates to 'pharmacy' in English. A 'farmacia' is a place where medicines are prepared and sold. It's equivalent to a drug store or a chemist's shop in English-speaking countries. Just like in English-speaking countries, 'farmacias' in Spanish-speaking regions can also provide health consultations and sell over-the-counter drugs, among other health-related products.
Example sentences with farmacia →fecha de nacimiento
date of birth
The Spanish term 'fecha de nacimiento' translates to 'date of birth' in English. This term is primarily used in formal or legal contexts to refer to the specific day on which a person was born. It is composed of three words: 'fecha', which means 'date', 'de', a preposition that translates as 'of', and 'nacimiento', which means 'birth'. Consequently, the term 'fecha de nacimiento' signifies the registration or recognition of the day someone was born, which is a critical piece of personal information in both Spanish and English-speaking cultures.
festividad
holidays
The Spanish word 'festividad' translates to 'holidays' in English. It is often used to describe a day or period of celebration recognized by a country or culture where typically, normal everyday activities such as work and schooling are suspended. 'Festividad' can also refer to festive activities and celebrations that take place on these special dates. This term encompasses both singular and plural holiday events.
fiesta
party
In Spanish, 'fiesta' is the word used to refer to a party or celebration. It can be used to talk about different social gatherings such as birthdays, weddings or festive events. For example, you can say 'Voy a una fiesta de cumpleaños', which translates to 'I'm going to a birthday party'. It is a common term used in both formal and casual contexts.
Example sentences with fiesta →foto
photo
The Spanish word for 'photo' is 'foto'. It is used in the same context as in English, to describe a picture taken by a camera. It can be used in various sentences such as 'Tomamos una foto' which means 'We took a photograph'.
Example sentences with foto →fotocopia
photocopy
The Spanish word 'fotocopia' translates to 'photocopy' in English. It is derived from the compound of 'photo-', which is derived from Greek and means light, and 'copy', which has Latin roots. The word 'fotocopia' is used in a variety of contexts, largely in office and school settings. It can be used as a noun to refer to the actual copied document, or as a verb to refer to the process of duplication using a photocopier machine.