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.
plata
silver
The word 'plata' in Spanish is translated to 'silver' in English. It refers to both the precious metal known for its shiny white hue and the color that resembles this metal. In some contexts, it can also denote money or wealth, showing its cultural significance. The term is widely used in various fields such as jewelry, finance, and color description. Understanding this term can help understand many Spanish phrases and idioms.
Example sentences with plata →plaza de toros
Bullring
The Spanish term 'plaza de toros' translates to 'bullring' in English. A bullring is a circular or oval open-air venue, primarily used for bullfighting, a traditional spectacle in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. It can also host other performances or events, similar to how an amphitheater functions in public spaces. The cultural significance of plazas de toros stems from their integral part in the 'corrida de toros' or bullfight, a ritualistic performance rooted in Spain's history.
población
population
The word 'población' is used in Spanish to refer to the total number of people living in a specific geographical area such as a city, country, or the world. It can also refer to a group of individuals of a specific type living in an area. Just like in English, it is used in various contexts, including but not limited to, demography, statistics, and geography.
Example sentences with población →pobreza
poverty
The Spanish word 'pobreza' translates to 'poverty' in English. It is a noun and often used to denote a state of being poor, lack of means, scarcity or insufficiency. It can also be used metaphorically to describe lack of quality or deficiency in certain attributes. For example, 'pobreza de espiritu' translates to 'poverty of spirit', meaning a lack of courage, strength or vitality.
poco hecho
under done / rare
The Spanish term 'poco hecho' is directly translated as 'little made' in English. However, in practical usage, it does not correspond to this direct translation. It's typically used in culinary contexts to refer to food, especially meat, that is cooked for a short period of time, thus leaving it 'underdone' or 'rare'. In a restaurant, if you prefer your steak still red in the middle, you would request it 'poco hecho'. It essentially refers to food that's less cooked and closer to its raw state.
poema
poem
The Spanish word 'poema' translates to 'poem' in English. A poem is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning. Poems can be structured or free-form and can cover a wide range of themes. Poetry is a key part of literature and it is used to express emotions, describe scenes, tell stories, or evoke a certain mood or atmosphere.
Example sentences with poema →poeta
poet
The Spanish word 'poeta' translates to 'poet' in English. A 'poet' is a person who writes poems, which are works of literature that express feelings, ideas or a particular style of writing with the use of language in a rhythmical and emotional way. The term 'poeta' in Spanish is used in a similar context representing an individual who is adept at producing creative writings that may captivate, inspire, or provoke thought in readers.
Example sentences with poeta →policía de tráfico
Traffic police
The Spanish phrase 'policía de tráfico' translates to 'traffic police' in English. The traffic police are law enforcement officers who are responsible for enforcing traffic laws to ensure safety and manage the flow of traffic on the roads. They might be seen at intersections, patrolling highways, or responding to accidents. In some regions, they also conduct inspections or investigations related to vehicular incidents.
político
political
The Spanish word for political is 'político'. This adjective can be used in various contexts related with the art or science of government or governing, especially of a political entity like a country, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs.
Example sentences with político →pollo
chicken
The word 'pollo' translates to 'chicken' in English. Given chicken is a common food item in most meals across Spanish-speaking countries, this word is valuable for beginners learning Spanish.
Example sentences with pollo →poner dinero de la cuenta
put money on the account
The Spanish phrase 'poner dinero de la cuenta' translates to 'put money on the account' in English. This phrase can be used in a variety of settings, most commonly in financial instances or banking situations. For example, you may use this phrase when talking about depositing money into a bank account. Understanding phrases like this can be crucial for navigating simple day-to-day tasks in Spanish-speaking environments.
poner el lavavajillas
put the dishwasher
The Spanish phrase 'poner el lavavajillas' translates to 'put the dishwasher' in English. However, it's typically used in context to mean 'to load the dishwasher'. For instance, someone might tell their child to 'poner el lavavajillas' after dinner, which implies they should clear the table and put the dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
poner la mesa
set the table
The Spanish phrase 'poner la mesa' translates into English as 'set the table'. It is a Spanish idiom used to refer to the process of arranging the table before meal times, for instance, placing the cutleries, plates, and glasses on the table. People often use this phrase in the context of preparing for meals at home, in restaurants, or any dining situation. It is an essential phrase to learn as it forms a big part of the daily household chores in Spanish speaking cultures.
poner los platos
put the dishes
The Spanish phrase 'poner los platos' translates to 'put the dishes' in English. It's typically used in the context of setting the table for a meal. Similar to English, the phrase can vary slightly based on the context. For example, 'poner los platos en la mesa' means 'put the dishes on the table' in English, often referencing the action of preparing the table for eating.
poner un electrodoméstico
put an appliance
The Spanish phrase 'poner un electrodoméstico' translates to 'put an appliance' in English. This phrase involves action such as placing or arranging an appliance (like a refrigerator, oven, microwave, and so on) in a certain spot or position. It is commonly used in everyday scenarios, such as moving furniture or setting up kitchen appliances in homes or workplaces.
poner una copia (oculta) a alguien
put a copy (hidden) to someone
The phrase 'poner una copia (oculta) a alguien' in Spanish translates to 'put a copy (hidden) to someone' in English. This phrase is typically used in the context of emails, where 'poner una copia oculta' means to 'blind copy' or 'BCC' someone on an email. This allows the sender to include someone in the communication without other recipients seeing that person's email. It can be used for privacy or simply to prevent an overly large list of recipients from appearing in the 'To' or 'Cc' fields.
poner una obra de teatro
put a play of theatre
The Spanish phrase 'poner una obra de teatro' translates to 'put on a play' in English. This is an idiomatic expression that refers to the act of presenting or producing a theatrical performance. The verb 'poner' literally translates to 'put', whereas 'una obra de teatro' refers to 'a play'. However, when combined in this specific phrase, it doesn't mean to place a play somewhere, but to perform it in front of an audience, reflecting the unique ways language can be used contextually.
Example sentences with poner una obra de teatro →poner una película
put on a movie
The Spanish phrase 'poner una película' literally translates to 'put a movie', but a more accurate English interpretation is 'to put on a movie'. This phrase is typically used when someone wants to watch a movie, similar to the English mechanism 'let's put on a movie'. In everyday usage, it can refer to the act of selecting, preparing, and starting a movie in a home setting.
ponerse a el teléfono
get on the phone
The Spanish phrase 'ponerse a el teléfono' translates to 'get on the phone' in English. This phrase is used when someone is asked to start using the phone, especially to make a call or answer it. In some contexts, it can also refer to the action of picking up the phone when it rings.
ponerse bien
get better
The Spanish phrase 'ponerse bien' translates to 'get better' in English. This is a common Spanish phrase that is often used to convey someone's wish or expectation for another person's health or situation to improve. It might be used in a situation where someone is ill and you hope they recover, or in a situation that's currently bad but expected to improve.
Example sentences with ponerse bien →ponerse contento
Make yourself happy
The Spanish phrase 'ponerse contento' can be translated into English as 'make yourself happy'. It is often used in a context where someone is advised or chooses to cheer up or to become happy. The verb 'ponerse' in this context means to make oneself or to become, and 'contento' translates to happy. It is a reflexive phrase, indicating a change of state or mood that someone applies to themselves, often as result of an action or scenario.
ponerse de mal humor
get in a bad mood
The Spanish phrase 'ponerse de mal humor' translates to 'get in a bad mood' in English. It is commonly used to express someone's sudden change of mood, typically when something has upset or annoyed them. This phrase can be used in various contexts, such as in personal relationships or to describe someone's reaction to a situation.
ponerse el termómetro
Put on the thermometer
'Ponerse el termómetro' is a Spanish phrase that means 'put on the thermometer' in English. It is often used in healthcare or medical contexts, indicating the act of placing a thermometer, typically on oneself, to measure body temperature. It might be used when someone is feeling ill and needs to check if they have a fever.
Example sentences with ponerse el termómetro →ponerse enfermo
Get sick
The Spanish term 'ponerse enfermo' translates to 'get sick' in English. This is a verb phrase commonly used to express the action of starting to feel ill or unwell. It is typically used in the reflexive form, showing that the subject is performing the action upon themselves. For example, 'Me voy a poner enfermo si sigo trabajando tanto.' translates to 'I'm going to get sick if I keep working so much.'
ponerse malo
get bad
The Spanish phrase 'ponerse malo' is directly translated to 'get bad' in English. However, it is more naturally understood as getting sick or falling ill. 'Ponerse' is a reflexive verb which means 'to put on' or 'to become', and 'malo' is an adjective that means 'bad' or 'sick'. As a phrase, 'ponerse malo' is often used to express that someone is becoming sick or is starting to feel unwell.
ponerse triste
Get sad
The Spanish term 'ponerse triste' translates to 'get sad' in English. It is a reflexive verb phrase that is used to express an emotion of becoming or getting sad. The infinitive verb 'ponerse' indicates a change in state or condition, and 'triste' is an adjective that translates to sad. Therefore, 'ponerse triste' is used when someone is transitioning from a different emotion to a state of sadness.
ponerse una vacuna
Get a vaccine
The Spanish phrase 'ponerse una vacuna' translates to 'get a vaccine' in English. It is often used in the context of healthcare and medicine. Generally, it refers to the act of receiving a medicinal preparation, typically injected, that provides immunity against a specific disease. Vaccines are a significant tool in preventative medicine and public health initiatives worldwide.
Example sentences with ponerse una vacuna →portarse bien
Be good
The Spanish phrase 'portarse bien' translates to 'be good' in English. This phrase is used as an instruction or guidance, usually told by parents to their children implying that they should behave properly, follow the rules, and stay out of trouble. It can be utilized in various contexts to express the same meaning of acting appropriately or behaving in a correct or desired manner.
Example sentences with portarse bien →portarse mal
Been bad.
The phrase 'portarse mal' in Spanish essentially corresponds to 'behaving badly' or 'being naughty' in English. It's used in a variety of contexts to refer to someone who is not acting according to expectations or rules. Notably, it does not inherently label someone as 'bad', but rather refers to their conduct or actions at a particular time.
Example sentences with portarse mal →portero
doorman
The Spanish word 'portero' translates to 'doorman' in English. A doorman is an employee of a building (often a residential building or hotel) who stands at the door, greets residents and guests, and may perform services such as receiving mail or luggage. Similarly, a 'portero' performs the same duties in Spanish-speaking countries.