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.
ir en barco
go by boat
The Spanish phrase 'ir en barco' translates to 'go by boat' in English. This could be used in various contexts where one is referring to traveling or moving from one place to another place by a boat. It is a common phrase in Spanish-speaking locales that have rivers, lakes, or seas as prominent geographical features.
Example sentences with ir en barco →ir en coche
go by car
The Spanish phrase 'ir en coche' translates to 'go by car' in English. This is used to denote the action of traveling or commuting via a car, similar to how one would say 'drive' or 'go for a drive' in English.
Example sentences with ir en coche →ir en metro
go by metro
The phrase 'ir en metro' in Spanish translates to 'go by metro' in English. It is often used when providing directions or sharing travel plans, especially in city areas where underground trains are a commonly used form of transport. Remember, in Spanish, the verb 'ir' changes according to the subject while 'en metro' remains constant. So, master the variations of 'ir' for different subjects to use this phrase accurately.
Example sentences with ir en metro →ir en taxi
go by taxi
The Spanish phrase 'ir en taxi' translates to 'go by taxi' in English. This phrase is often used in situations where someone is planning to travel somewhere by taxi, similar to how it would be used in English. In Spanish, the verb 'ir' means 'to go', 'en' is a preposition often translated as 'by' in this context, and 'taxi' is the same in both languages. So if you say 'Voy a ir en taxi', it simply means 'I am going to go by taxi'.
Example sentences with ir en taxi →ir en tren
go by train
The Spanish phrase 'ir en tren' translates to 'go by train' in English. This is a common phrase used to express the mode of transportation, specifically when one is traveling by train. It is a part of useful travel vocabulary. In a sentence, you could use it like this: 'Voy a ir en tren a Madrid.' which means 'I am going to go by train to Madrid.'
Example sentences with ir en tren →jabón
soap
The word 'jabón' is a common noun in Spanish which translates to 'soap' in English. It's a term that you'll likely hear or use in daily conversation, particularly when discussing hygiene or cleaning. 'Jabón' might refer to things such as a bar of soap you use for washing your hands or a liquid soap used for washing dishes.
Example sentences with jabón →japonés
japanese
The word 'japonés' is a Spanish term that translates into 'Japanese' in English. It may be used to refer to anything relating to Japan - its people, language, or culture. Used as an adjective, 'japonés' describes something as being of Japanese origin. It links not only to the geographical country of Japan but also encompasses the rich historical, cultural, and linguistic dimensions associated with it. Therefore, when one is referring to a Japanese food, person, language or any other element, the term 'japonés' is used in the Spanish language.
jefe
Chief
The Spanish word 'jefe' translates to 'chief' in English. It is used in professional or organizational contexts to refer to a person who is in charge or leading a group, project, or organization. This could be a job title or a general term for a person in a position of authority.
jersey
jersey
The Spanish word 'jersey' directly translates to 'jersey' in English. The term can be used in a similar context as in English, often referring to a knitted jumper, pullover, or sweater. Despite sharing a term with a type of athletic apparel in English, the Spanish usage of 'jersey' typically does not imply a context of sports or athletics.
joven
young
The Spanish word 'joven' is used exactly as the English word 'young'. It can be used to refer to a person, animal, or thing that is in the early stages of life or growth. It can also be used in a broader sense to describe something that is new or fresh.
Example sentences with joven →judío
jew
'Judío' is a Spanish noun that translates to 'Jew' in English. It is used to refer to people who follow or are connected with Judaism, a monotheistic religion considered one of the world's major religious groups. This term is commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries to identify someone as a follower of Judaism, the same way 'Jew' is used in English.
Example sentences with judío →juego
game
The word 'juego' is used in Spanish just like 'game' is used in English. It can stand for a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or luck. It could also mean a complete episode or period of play, typically ending in a definite result. Also, don't forget about the other use of '-game' like 'video juego' which means 'video game'.
Example sentences with juego →jugar al fútbol
play football
The Spanish phrase 'jugar al fútbol' translates to 'play football' in English. It's a common phrase used to refer to the act of playing the sport of football (soccer in American English), which is one of the most popular sports in Spanish-speaking countries. The verb 'jugar' means 'to play,' and 'al fútbol' specifically means 'football.' Therefore, if you're ever in a Spanish-speaking country and someone asks you if you want to 'jugar al fútbol,' they're inviting you to play a game of football.
jugar al tenis
play tennis
The Spanish phrase 'jugar al tenis' translates to 'play tennis' in English. This verb phrase will be used when referring to the act of playing tennis. In this phrase, 'jugar' represents the verb 'to play', 'al' is a preposition akin to 'to' or 'at' in English, and 'tenis' stands for the noun 'tennis'. Applying the phrase in a sentence could be: 'A Pedro le gusta jugar al tenis', which is translated as 'Peter likes to play tennis'.
lapiz
pencil
A writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core in a protective casing that prevents the core from being broken or marking the user’s hand.
Example sentences with lapiz →lavabo
toilet
The Spanish word 'lavabo' refers to a 'basin' or 'sink' where one can wash their hands or face. However, it's often also used to refer to the porcelain fixture found in a bathroom (a 'toilet' in English), particularly in some dialects or regions. This can sometimes be confusing, as 'toilet' in English-speaking contexts more often refers to the specific fixture used for waste disposal (more accurately translated to 'inodoro' in Spanish), whereas 'lavabo' encompasses the broader bathroom sink area in general.
lavarse el pelo
wash your hair
The Spanish phrase 'lavarse el pelo' translates to 'wash your hair' in English. This is usually used in the context of daily hygiene and personal care. It's a reflexive verb phrase, meaning you're performing the action on yourself.
Example sentences with lavarse el pelo →lavarse la cara
wash your face
'Lavarse la cara' is a Spanish phrase that translates directly to 'wash your face' in English. It is derived from the verb 'lavarse' which means 'to wash oneself', and 'la cara' which means 'the face'. This phrase is often used as a part of daily routine conversations and instructions, similar to how one might use 'wash your face' in English.
Example sentences with lavarse la cara →lavarse las manos
wash your hands
The phrase 'lavarse las manos' in Spanish translates to 'wash your hands' in English. This is an important phrase, often used in the context of personal hygiene and health. It involves using soap and water to clean your hands, which is a common practice around the world to prevent the spread of germs and disease.
Example sentences with lavarse las manos →lavarse los dientes
Wash your teeth
The Spanish phrase 'lavarse los dientes' translates to 'brush your teeth' in English. It's a common phrase used to instruct or remind someone to clean their teeth using a toothbrush and toothpaste, typically as part of a daily hygiene routine in the morning and evening. The literal translation is 'wash your teeth', but the normal English phrase is 'brush your teeth'.
Example sentences with lavarse los dientes →lección
lesson
The Spanish term 'lección' translates to 'lesson' in English. This can be understood as a structured period of learning, a chunk of educational instruction, or a useful piece of advice based on life experiences. In a formal context, a lesson is part of a course given by a teacher, possibly in a school, college, or university setting. Lessons can be in the form of reading, writing, or practical exercises. In an informal or metaphorical context, a lesson might be a life teaching that comes through a challenging or enlightening experience. In essence, 'lección' or lesson is a unit or measure of learning or teaching.
leche
milk
'Leche' translates to 'milk' in English. From a glass of warm milk for breakfast to the use in different recipes, milk is an everyday item in Spanish-speaking cultures.
Example sentences with leche →leer
to read
'Leer' corresponds to the act of interpreting written, typographic, or printed symbols for the purpose of communication.
Example sentences with leer →leer el periódico
read the newspaper
The term 'leer el periódico' in Spanish refers to the action of reading a newspaper in English. It is a common phrase utilized in Spanish-speaking cultures when someone is engaged in the activity of reading the news printed on a newspaper. This action can be part of a daily routine in many households. 'Leer' is the infinitive form of the verb to read and 'el periódico' refers to the newspaper.
leer un libro
read a book
The Spanish phrase 'leer un libro' translates to 'read a book' in English. This phrase is typically used to talk about the act of reading a book. 'Leer' is the infinitive form of the verb 'to read' in Spanish, and 'un libro' translates to 'a book'. So, if someone tells you 'Me gusta leer un libro', they are saying 'I like to read a book'. This phrase can be used in a variety of contexts in daily conversations.
leer un periódico
read a newspaper
The Spanish term 'leer un periódico' translates to 'read a newspaper' in English. This is a common phrase used to denote the action of perusing a newspaper. 'Leer' is the action of reading in Spanish, 'un' is a singular indefinite article which corresponds to 'a' in English, and 'periódico' is the Spanish word for newspaper. Thus, when combined, the phrase implies consuming written content, specifically on a newspaper.
leer una revista
read a magazine
The Spanish phrase 'leer una revista' directly translates to 'read a magazine' in English. This phrase also provides an example of a common Spanish verb conjugation for the infinitive 'leer' (to read) in present tense. It is instructive on how Spaniards typically use their language in everyday conversation, like letting someone know that they are about to read a magazine or suggesting someone else to read one.
libro
book
'Libro' is a noun in Spanish that means book. This can refer to a set of pages bound together containing text or illustrations.
Example sentences with libro →llaves
keys
The Spanish word 'llaves' translates to 'keys' in English. It can refer to a set of keys for opening locks like a house or a car, or also to keys in a musical context. It can be used in formal and informal conversations, and is a common word in spoken and written Spanish.
llevar barba
have a beard
The Spanish phrase 'llevar barba' translates to 'have a beard' in English. It refers to the act of growing and maintaining facial hair on one's chin, cheeks, and jawline. Usually, the term is used to describe men who have chosen to grow their facial hair, but it can be used for anyone capable of doing so. The phrase is typically used in general conversation and descriptions of a person's physical appearance.