A2 - Elementary Spanish
At the A2 level, a student is considered to be at the Elementary stage.
Students at this stage can converse in simple terms about common daily situations, and understands frequently used expressions.
tener el pelo limpios
have clean hair
The Spanish phrase 'tener el pelo limpios' translates to 'have clean hair' in English. This phrase is usually used in the context of hygiene and personal grooming. In Spanish, 'tener' means 'to have', 'el pelo' means 'the hair', and 'limpios' means 'clean'. Therefore, when these words are combined, they form the phrase 'tener el pelo limpios', which English speakers would understand as 'to have clean hair'.
Example sentences with tener el pelo limpios →tener el pelo liso
having smooth hair
The Spanish phrase 'tener el pelo liso' translates to 'having smooth hair' in English. It is derived from 'tener' meaning 'to have', 'el pelo' referring to 'the hair', and 'liso' translated as 'smooth'. Generally, it is used in descriptions of people's appearance. One might say 'Ella tiene el pelo liso' to mean 'She has smooth hair'.
tener el pelo rizado
having curly hair
The Spanish phrase 'tener el pelo rizado' translates to 'having curly hair' in English. This phrase is often used to describe an individual's physical attribute regarding their hair type. 'Tener' is the verb 'to have' in English, 'el pelo' stands for 'the hair', and 'rizado' translates to 'curly'. Therefore, when combined, the phrase means to possess or have curly hair.
tener el pelo sucios
have dirty hair
The Spanish phrase 'tener el pelo sucios' translates to 'have dirty hair' in English. In this phrase, 'tener' means 'to have', 'el pelo' means 'the hair', and 'sucios' means 'dirty'. The phrase is typically used to describe someone's physical appearance, specifically referring to the cleanliness of their hair. It's an example of how literal descriptions can be constructed in Spanish grammar through combining verbs like 'tener' with adjectives like 'sucios'.
Example sentences with tener el pelo sucios →tener fiebre
fever
'Tener fiebre' is a Spanish phrase that translates to 'have a fever' in English. It is commonly used in a medical context or personal conversations to express that someone is sick. This phrase is essential, especially when traveling to Spanish speaking regions or interacting with Spanish speakers.
Example sentences with tener fiebre →tener frío
cold.
The Spanish phrase 'tener frío' translates to 'to be cold' in English. However, this phrase does not denote the temperature of a thing or an environment but the feeling of coldness experienced by a person. It is important to note that in Spanish, people 'have cold', unlike in English where people 'are cold'. Therefore, when a person says 'tengo frío' in Spanish, it means 'I am cold' in English, indicating that they are feeling cold.
tener gripe
having flu
The Spanish phrase 'tener gripe' translates to 'having the flu' in English. It is a common term used in Spanish-speaking regions to describe the state of being sick with the influenza virus. The verb 'tener' means 'to have' and 'gripe' represents 'flu'. So literally, it means 'to have flu'. It is used to indicate that someone is ill with the symptoms associated with the flu, such as a fever, cough, or body aches.
Example sentences with tener gripe →tener hambre
hunger
The Spanish phrase 'tener hambre' directly translates to 'have hunger' in English. However, in usage it is more accurately translated to 'be hungry'. The phrase is used to express hunger or the need for food. For instance, 'Yo tengo hambre' means 'I am hungry'.
tener las manos limpios
have clean hands
The Spanish phrase 'tener las manos limpios' translates to 'have clean hands' in English. It can be used literally to refer to the state of having physically clean hands. Alternatively, it can also be used metaphorically to imply being free from guilt or corruption, similar to the usage of the phrase in English.
Example sentences with tener las manos limpios →tener las manos sucios
have dirty hands
'Tener las manos sucias' is a Spanish phrase, which literally translates as 'to have dirty hands' in English. This phrase can be used to describe someone after they have been working or playing hard, especially in an area where their hands might get dirty. It can also be used metaphorically to say someone is involved in dishonest activities.
Example sentences with tener las manos sucios →tener los dientes limpios
have clean teeth
The Spanish phrase 'tener los dientes limpios' translates to 'have clean teeth' in English. It's used in the context of oral hygiene, encouraging the upkeep of clean teeth. The verb 'tener' means 'to have', 'los dientes' means 'the teeth', and 'limpios' means 'clean'. Therefore, combining the individual meanings of these words gives the full English translation.
Example sentences with tener los dientes limpios →tener los dientes sucios
have dirty teeth
The Spanish phrase 'tener los dientes sucios' translates to 'have dirty teeth' in English. It is typically used to describe someone who has not cleaned their teeth. In a broader context, it can be a reminder or advice for someone to maintain good oral hygiene. This phrase can be seen in both informal conversations and formal writings.
Example sentences with tener los dientes sucios →tener mala letra
to have bad handwriting
The Spanish phrase 'tener mala letra' directly translates to 'to have bad handwriting' in English. This is typically used to describe someone whose handwriting is difficult to read or understand due to its poor quality or style.
tener sed
be thirsty
The Spanish phrase 'tener sed' translates to 'be thirsty' in English. It is often used when someone wants to express that they have a physical need to drink something, typically water or other hydrating beverages. In English, we directly say 'I am thirsty', but in Spanish, the verb 'tener' is used to express a variety of states or feelings, in this case, thirst. Therefore, 'Yo tengo sed' would translate as 'I am thirsty'.
tener tos
have coughs
The term 'tener tos' in Spanish translates to 'have coughs' in English. It is often used to express the physical condition of having a cough, such as during an illness or when experiencing irritation in the throat. Similar to its usage in English, it can be used in a variety of contexts. For instance, to say 'I have a cough' in Spanish, one would say 'Yo tengo tos'.
Example sentences with tener tos →tener un hijo
having a child
The Spanish phrase 'tener un hijo' translates to 'having a child' in English. This phrase is typically used in the context of parenthood and family discussions. The verb 'tener' means 'to have', and 'un hijo' means 'a child', so combined, it refers to the existence of a child in one's life. This can be in a literal sense, as in physically bearing a child, or a more metaphorical sense, such as taking on parental responsibilities for a child.
tener un negocio
having a business
The Spanish phrase 'tener un negocio' translates to 'having a business' in English. It is often used to describe one's possession of a business or to indicate that someone is running or owning a business. This phrase can be used in a variety of contexts, from formal business settings to casual conversations.
tener un seguro de viaje
have a travel insurance
The phrase 'tener un seguro de viaje' in Spanish translates to 'have a travel insurance' in English. It refers to a policy obtained by travelers to cover the costs and losses associated with unexpected events encountered while traveling. This can include trip cancellation, lost baggage, medical emergencies, and other unforeseen situations.
Example sentences with tener un seguro de viaje →tener un trabajo en un banco
have a job in a bank
The Spanish phrase 'tener un trabajo en un banco' translates to 'have a job in a bank' in English. The verb 'tener' means 'to have', 'un trabajo' means 'a job', and 'en un banco' means 'in a bank'. Thus, if you say 'tener un trabajo en un banco' in Spanish, you signify that you work in a banking institution or that you hold a position in a bank.
tener una cita
having an appointment
The Spanish phrase 'tener una cita' translates to 'having an appointment' in English. It could mean a variety of contexts like a professional meeting, a doctor's appointment, or a scheduled meeting with someone. Additionally, it could also translate to 'having a date' in a romantic context.
tener una enfermedad
having a disease
The Spanish phrase 'tener una enfermedad' can be translated into English as 'having a disease'. This phrase is often used in a medical context or when discussing health. The verb 'tener' means 'to have' and 'una enfermedad' means 'a disease'. Therefore, when combined the phrase essentially means being in the state of possessing a health condition or disease.
Example sentences with tener una enfermedad →tener una entrevista (de trabajo)
have an interview (working)
The Spanish phrase 'tener una entrevista (de trabajo)' translates to 'to have an interview (work)' in English. It is used in contexts where one talks about their professional engagements, typically related to job interviews or discussions at the workplace. This phrase can be used both in situations where the interview has already been scheduled ('I will have an interview next week'), and in cases where the individual is expressing their desire or necessity to obtain a job interview ('I need to have an interview to get this job').
tener una peluquería
have a hairdresser
'Tener una peluquería' is a Spanish phrase translating to 'have a hairdresser' in English. This can refer to the action of owning a hairdressing business or having a hairdresser at one's disposal. In possession contexts, it implies ownership. It can also be utilized in other contexts to indicate the act of getting one's hair done by a professional hairdresser. Knowledge of such phrases can enhance your conversation skills in Spanish.
tener una reunión
have a meeting
The phrase 'tener una reunión' in Spanish translates to 'have a meeting' in English. It is usually used in professional and academic contexts when people gather to discuss something much like in English. Consider it in the context of wanting to 'have a meeting' with colleagues or class fellows to work collectively, brainstorm ideas, or make decisions. The verb 'tener' means 'to have', while 'una reunión' translates to 'a meeting'.
tener una tienda
have a store
The Spanish phrase 'tener una tienda' translates to 'have a store' in English. In a business context, it is often used when someone owns or runs a store. In a more casual setting, the phrase could also be used metaphorically to suggest a surplus of something. For example, 'tener una tienda de dulces' could be literally translated to 'have a candy store' but metaphorically it could be used to imply having a lot of candies.
tiempo libre
free time
The Spanish term 'tiempo libre' translates to 'free time' in English. This phrase is typically used to describe one's leisure or downtime outside of their usual commitments such as work or school. Whether it's playing games, reading a book, or simply enjoying the outdoors, all falls under 'tiempo libre'.
tienda de de decoración
Decoration shop
The Spanish term 'tienda de decoración' translates to 'decoration shop' in English. A 'tienda de decoración' is a store where one can purchase items for decorating a home, office, or any other space. These items can range from furniture, art, rugs, and various knick-knacks. Think of places like Pottery Barn, HomeGoods, or IKEA. It literally consists of two words where 'tienda' means 'shop' and 'decoración' means 'decoration'. So, if you find yourself in a Spanish speaking country, look for a 'tienda de decoración' when you want to spruce up your living space.
tienda de de deportes
Sports shop
The Spanish term 'tienda de deportes' translates to 'sports shop' in English. This is an establishment where one can buy sporting gear and equipment, such as clothing, shoes, balls, racquets, clubs, and other items used in various sports activities.
tienda de de discos
record store
The Spanish phrase 'tienda de discos' translates to 'record store' in English. A 'record store' is a shop that sells music recordings, predominantly in vinyl format. This type of store emerged as an essential part of the music industry during the mid-20th century and served as a popular social gathering place for music lovers. Although the advent of digital music has affected their prevalence, record stores remain an important cornerstone of music culture.
tienda de de regalos
Gift shop
The Spanish phrase 'tienda de regalos' translates to 'gift shop' in English. A gift shop is a store primarily selling souvenirs, memorabilia, and other items relating to a particular topic or theme. These might be items that are designed to be gifts for others, or they could be a way to remember a special location or event. Gift shops are often found in areas visited by tourists, such as museums, galleries, parks and destinations of interest.