B1 - Intermediate Spanish
At the B1 Intermediate level, students can understand and express themselves in higher level discussions.
Example situations might include expressing your opinion, asking for clarification, and understanding longer texts about familiar topics.
pájaro
bird
A warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate distinguished by the possession of feathers, beaks, and typically by being able to fly.
Example sentences with pájaro →pantalla
screen
The Spanish word 'pantalla' translates to 'screen' in English. It can be used in many contexts such as computer screen, phone screen, TV screen, or even a movie screen. It's a very useful word to know as we commonly use screens in our everyday life. For example, you can say 'La pantalla de mi computadora está rota' which translates to 'The screen of my computer is broken'.
Example sentences with pantalla →papel de impresora
printer paper
The Spanish term 'papel de impresora' translates to 'printer paper' in English. Printer paper is a type of paper designed specifically for use with a printer, including inkjet and laser printers. It commonly comes in standard sizes, such as A4 or Letter, and can vary in weight, brightness, and quality. It's often used in a variety of settings, from schools and offices to homes, for activities such as printing documents, photos, reports, essays, and more.
papel reciclado
recycled paper
The Spanish term 'papel reciclado' directly translates to 'recycled paper' in English. This term is widely used in environmental spheres and refers to paper materials that have been reprocessed and turned into fresh paper products for reuse. 'Papel reciclado' involves the process of collecting used paper products, processing them into a pulp, and reconstituting them into new paper. This term grandly symbolizes the greater movement for environmental sustainability and waste reduction.
para llevar
to carry
The Spanish term 'para llevar' is a common phrase used in various contexts. In English, it literally translates to 'for carry', but it's commonly used to mean 'take away' or 'to go' in the context of food orders. For example, if you're at a restaurant and you want to order food to go, you would say 'para llevar'. However, please note that while 'to carry' can be a direct translation, the phrase 'para llevar' may not be used to describe carrying items in general.
para tomar (aquí)
to take (here)
The Spanish phrase 'para tomar (aquí)' can be translated to English as 'to take (here)'. It's an instruction often used in various contexts. It can mean 'to take' in the sense of consuming something such as a meal or a drink. For instance, 'para tomar aquí' could be used in a restaurant to indicate you're having your order at the venue. Additionally, it can also mean 'to take' in the sense of choosing or selecting something. The word 'aquí' simply means 'here', indicating a specific location or place.
paraguas
umbrella
The Spanish word 'paraguas' translates to 'umbrella' in English. This is a common object used to shield oneself from rain or sun. Its structure usually includes a pole or handle that is manually or automatically extendable, with a top part made of material designed to resist water or reflect sunlight. 'Paraguas' is a compound word in Spanish, derived from the words 'para' meaning 'for' and 'aguas' meaning 'waters', which paints a vivid picture of its purpose - for the waters.
parapente
paragliding
The Spanish word 'parapente' translates to 'paragliding' in English. Paragliding is a recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness or lies supine in a cocoon-like 'speed bag' suspended below a fabric wing. It is a popular activity and offers a sense of freedom and excitement.
Example sentences with parapente →parecerse a su hermano
to look like his brother
The Spanish phase 'parecerse a su hermano' translates to 'to look like his brother' in English. It refers to the similarity in physical appearance between two individuals, specifically, between siblings. It can be used in contexts where there is a need to describe or express resemblances in families. This phrase is usually reflective of hereditary features passed down which leads to members of the same family looking alike.
parecerse a su padre
to look like his father
The Spanish phrase 'parecerse a su padre' translates to 'to look like his father' in English. It is typically used when someone shares physical characteristics or behaviors with their father, indicating a strong resemblance between them. For example, someone might say 'Juan se parece a su padre en su manera de hablar,' which means 'Juan looks like his father in his way of talking.' This phrase indicates kinship, similarity, and often invokes a sense of continuity between generations.
parecerse entre ellos
to look among them
The Spanish term 'parecerse entre ellos' is more accurately translated to English as 'to resemble each other'. This phrase is often used to highlight similarities or shared characteristics among a group of individuals or objects. This idiomatic expression is commonly applied in both descriptive and analytic contexts.
pareja de hecho
de facto couple
The Spanish term 'pareja de hecho' translates to 'de facto couple' in English. This usually refers to a couple that lives together and shares a domestic life, but is not married or in a registered civil partnership. Despite not having a formal recognition, de facto couples often have many of the same responsibilities and rights as married couples. In many jurisdictions, certain legal consequences are enjoyed by people living as a de facto couple, which can include property settlement and maintenance rights.
parlamento
parliament
The Spanish word 'parlamento' translates to 'parliament' in English. It is a noun that refers to the highest legislature, typically made up of elected representatives, in a government. For example, in many countries, the parliament is the sovereign legislative body and it may be bicameral or unicameral. Its primary roles often include passing laws, creating budgets, and making important decisions for the country.
Example sentences with parlamento →parque de bomberos
fire station
The term 'parque de bomberos' translates to 'fire station' in English. This is a location where firefighters are stationed and where firefighting equipment, such as fire trucks and other apparatus, are stored. Here, firefighters wait until they are called to an emergency, at which point they will rush to the scene to extinguish fires, rescue individuals, and help in other emergencies. Fire stations are critical parts of every community, providing an essential public safety function.
Example sentences with parque de bomberos →parque natural
nature park
The Spanish term 'parque natural' translates to 'nature park' in English. A 'parque natural' is a legally declared area, set aside for the purpose of preserving the natural environment, wildlife, and cultural heritage. It may be established in areas that are representative of diverse biomes, ecological regions and landscapes. These parks are often open to the public for purposes of outdoor recreation, education, and tourism, but subject to rules and regulations designed to preserve the natural values of the park.
partido de baloncesto
basketball game
The Spanish phrase 'partido de baloncesto' translates into English as 'basketball game'. It is used to refer to an event where two teams play the sport of basketball against each other, typically in a structured competition. This might be in a formal setting, such as a professional league or tournament, or a casual context, like a community game or school sports event. The length of the game can vary, but it is typically composed of four periods or quarters of game time.
partido de centro
centrist party
The Spanish term 'partido de centro' translates to 'centrist party' in English. This term typically refers to a political organization or party that avoids leanings towards the far-left or far-right, instead favoring moderate, middle-of-the-road stances on most political issues. Centrist parties often work towards balancing social equality and social order, aiming to combine elements of both liberal and conservative ideologies.
Example sentences with partido de centro →partido de derechas
right-wing party
The term 'partido de derechas' in Spanish directly translates to 'right-wing party' in English. A 'right-wing party' is a political organization or group that follows the principles of right-wing politics, such as limited government intervention, free market capitalism, and traditional societal values. These parties can exist within many different political systems and countries, and their specific policies can vary widely. However, they generally advocate for individual liberties and economic freedoms.
Example sentences with partido de derechas →partido de fútbol
football game
The Spanish term 'partido de fútbol' translates to 'football game' in English. It implies a competitive event where two teams play against each other in the game of football. Each team tries to score more goals than the other during a prespecified duration.
partido de izquierdas
left-wing party
The term 'partido de izquierdas' in Spanish translates to 'left-wing party' in English. This phrase is typically used to describe a political party that advocates for social equality and opposes the social hierarchy. The left-wing parties often endorse policies aimed at addressing issues such as inequality, climate change, social justice, and labor rights. However, the specific ideologies and policies may vary significantly between different left-wing parties.
Example sentences with partido de izquierdas →partido de la oposición
opposition party
The phrase 'partido de la oposición' in Spanish translates to 'opposition party' in English. It is used in a political context to refer to a party in the lower house which is not in government and contests the decisions of the party in power. Similarly, in an election, an opposition party is one that competes against the party currently holding power. The main role of an opposition party involves scrutinizing government policies and providing an alternative government for voters if they are not satisfied with the current government.
Example sentences with partido de la oposición →pasar el aspirador
pass the vacuum
The Spanish phrase 'pasar el aspirador' refers to the action of using a vacuum cleaner on a surface. This can be translated to 'pass the vacuum' in English. Typically, the phrase is used in household contexts and indicates the cleaning of floors or carpets using a vacuum cleaner. It literally suggests the movement of the vacuum cleaning machine across a certain space to remove dirt, just like one would pass a comb through hair to remove tangles. The phrase may also metaphorically indicate a thorough and meticulous examination or search, like a vacuum cleaner suctioning up all that it comes into contact with.
pasar por (la) caja
proceed to checkout
The Spanish phrase 'pasar por (la) caja' translates to 'proceed to checkout' in English. This is commonly used in retail settings, like supermarkets or clothing stores, where after selecting the desired items, you are instructed to 'pasar por la caja', which signals that it's time to go to the cashier or checkout counter to pay for your purchases.
Example sentences with pasar por (la) caja →pasar(se)lo bien
spend it well
'Pasar(se)lo bien' in Spanish translates to 'have a good time' in English. It is a common phrase used to express the act of enjoying oneself or making the most out of a situation. It can be used in many contexts like during social gatherings, outings, vacations, etc. It doesn't literally translate to 'spend it well' but provides more of the feeling that you should enjoy or get most out of the experience or time at hand.
pasear por la orilla
stroll along the shore
The term 'pasear por la orilla' in Spanish translates to 'stroll along the shore' in English. This phrase is commonly used in contexts involving walks along a beach or river, portraying a calm and peaceful activity. It is a combined form of the verb 'pasear', which means to walk, 'por la', which means along the, and 'orilla', that represents the shore.
Example sentences with pasear por la orilla →pasillo
corridor
The word 'pasillo' in Spanish translates to 'corridor' in English. It is a noun that denotes a long, narrow passage in a building, typically with rooms that open into it. Corridors or 'pasillos' are common in buildings such as schools, hospitals, hotels, and offices. They can be inside a building, leading between different rooms, or outside providing a covered pathway.
paso de cebra
crosswalk
The Spanish phrase 'paso de cebra' directly translates to 'zebra crossing' in English, but it is used to mean 'crosswalk'. It is a designated point on the road where pedestrians can cross safely. The term 'zebra' is associated with the white and black stripes painted on the road, which somewhat resemble a zebra's stripes. This is commonly used in Spain and many Latin American countries.
Example sentences with paso de cebra →paso de peatones
pedestrian crossing
The Spanish term 'paso de peatones' refers to a specific area where pedestrians in traffic are allowed to safely cross the street or road. The phrase is a compound of the words 'paso' (step), 'de' (of), and 'peatones' (pedestrians), directly translating to 'step of pedestrians' but understood and referred to in English as 'pedestrian crossing'. It usually designates a marked part of the road where drivers are expected to allow pedestrians to cross, often displaying distinctive markings or traffic signals for added safety.
Example sentences with paso de peatones →pastilla de jabón
bar of soap
The Spanish phrase 'pastilla de jabón' translates to 'bar of soap' in English. It is a common item in hygiene and daily routine, especially in the bathroom where it is used for washing hands or body. It exists in various kinds, colors, shapes, and scents in the market.
Example sentences with pastilla de jabón →pecho
chest
The Spanish word 'pecho' translates to 'chest' in English. It can refer to the front part of a person's body from the neck to the abdomen. It is also used in different contexts, like 'chest pain' translating to 'dolor de pecho'. It can also refer to the upper front part of a bird's body or other animals. The term 'pecho' is used in various idioms and phrases as well which means learning this word can provide you with a deeper understanding of Spanish language and culture.