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.
tener mala salud
having bad health
The Spanish phrase 'tener mala salud' translates to 'having bad health' in English. This phrase is used to express the current condition of someone's health which is not in good shape. The verb 'tener' means 'to have', 'mala' means 'bad' and salud stands for 'health'. Therefore, when combined together, the phrase stands for the English expression 'having bad health'.
Example sentences with tener mala salud →tener mala suerte
have bad luck
The Spanish term 'tener mala suerte' translates to 'have bad luck' in English. This is a common colloquial phrase used to express the experience of unfavourable or negative outcomes, often due to circumstances outside one's control, such as in games of chance or everyday life situations. It is a verb phrase and 'tener' is the verb 'to have' while 'mala suerte' is the noun phrase for 'bad luck'. This is often used in conversational Spanish.
Example sentences with tener mala suerte →tener mucho carácter
having a lot of character
The Spanish phrase 'tener mucho carácter' translates to 'having a lot of character' in English. This term refers to a person having distinct traits that make them unique. These characteristics may be a combination of various factors including personality, courage, integrity, and determination. 'Tener mucho carácter' implies that a person is strong-willed and has a strong personality.
tener novio
having a boyfriend.
The phrase 'tener novio' in Spanish translates to 'having a boyfriend' in English. This is usually used to describe someone who is in a romantic relationship with a male partner. For example, a woman might use this phrase to disclose that she is currently dating someone. Note that the verb 'tener' means 'to have' in English, while 'novio' translates to 'boyfriend'. This phrase is a straightforward representation of these individual translations put together.
tener pareja
having a couple
The Spanish phrase 'tener pareja' translates to 'having a couple' in English. This phrase is often used in the context of personal relationships, indicating that someone has a significant other or a romantic partner. It isn't strictly referring to a marital partner; it can also refer to a boyfriend, girlfriend, or any romantic partner.
tener poco carácter
having little character
The Spanish phrase 'tener poco carácter' translates to 'having little character' in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who is seen as weak, lacks assertiveness or strength of character. Notably, it does not typically relate to morality or honesty, as the concept of 'character' often does in English, but more with personal strength, determination, or backbone.
tener precios especiales
special prices
The phrase 'tener precios especiales' in Spanish translates to 'have special prices' in English. The verb 'tener' means 'to have', 'precios' translates to 'prices', and 'especiales' means 'special'. Therefore, when these words are combined, it refers to the scenario where special prices are offered, likely in the context of a store or sale.
tener rebajas
have discounts
The Spanish phrase 'tener rebajas' translates to 'have discounts' in English. This can be used in a retail or sales context. When a store 'tiene rebajas', it means they're offering products at lowered prices for a certain period. This can also refer to bargains or sale items in a store.
tener resaca
having a hangover
The Spanish phrase 'tener resaca' translates directly to 'having a hangover' in English. It is commonly used in conversational Spanish to express the feeling of headache, nausea, and general discomfort that often follows after an indulgence in an excessive amount of alcohol. For example, if someone drank too much wine last night and they are feeling ill the next morning, they could say, 'Tengo resaca', which means 'I have a hangover'. However, the severity of 'resaca' can vary from person to person and situation to situation, depending on different factors such as the amount consumed or the individual's tolerance to alcohol.
tener sentido del humor
have a sense of humor
The phrase 'tener sentido del humor' in Spanish translates to 'have a sense of humor' in English. It refers to the ability to perceive, appreciate, or express what is funny, amusing, or ludicrous. This phrase is used in various contexts, usually to describe someone's personality trait. It can denote a positive quality, signifying that the person can understand humor and laugh at things or situations that most people find amusing. This phrase plays a important role in conversation, as it adds to the dynamics of social interaction.
tener sida
Have AIDS
The Spanish phrase 'tener sida' translates to 'have AIDS' in English. It is used to convey that someone possesses or is diagnosed with AIDS, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. It's worth noting however, that terms related to diseases and health conditions should be used with utmost care and respect to avoid causing any offense.
Example sentences with tener sida →tener tiempo libre
having free time
The word 'tener tiempo libre' in Spanish translates to 'having free time' in English.
tener un [número cardinal]
have a [ cardinal number]
The Spanish phrase 'tener un [número cardinal]' translates to 'have a [cardinal number]' in English. In this context, 'tener' means 'to have', 'un' means 'a', and '[número cardinal]' is a placeholder for any cardinal number - these are numbers indicating quantity, such as one, two, three etc. So, if you were to say 'tener un dos' in Spanish, you would be saying 'have a two' in English. This phrase is a simple construction in Spanish language that demonstrates possession or ownership of a specific quantity of something.
tener un accidente
having an accident.
The Spanish phrase 'tener un accidente' translates to 'having an accident' in English. It is used in situations where an unforeseen incident involving injury or damage has occurred. The term is commonly used in daily conversations and involves the verb 'tener' which means 'to have' in English, and the noun 'accidente' which means 'accident' in English.
Example sentences with tener un accidente →tener un carácter débil
having a weak character
The Spanish phrase 'tener un carácter débil' translates to 'having a weak character' in English. This phrase is used to describe an individual who lacks strong willpower, determination or moral courage. It is commonly used in contexts where a person's personality traits or behavioral patterns are being evaluated or criticized, and it paints a picture of someone who is easily influenced, submissive or lacking in assertiveness.
tener un carácter difícil
having a difficult character
The Spanish phrase 'tener un carácter difícil' translates to 'having a difficult character' in English. It is used to describe a person who is challenging to understand or deal with. This could be due to moodiness, unpredictability, or stubbornness. In many instances, this phrase is not necessarily connected to the individual's morality or goodness, but rather their complexity and how demanding it could be to interact with them.
tener un carácter fácil
having an easy character
The Spanish phrase 'tener un carácter fácil' directly translates to 'having an easy character' in English. It is used to describe a person who is easy to get along with, not complicated, and generally pleasant. It suggests a personality that is approachable, understanding, and amiable, often leading to favorable social interactions. This phrase may be used in daily conversations, and serves as a compliment when used to describe a person.
tener un carácter fuerte
having a strong character
The Spanish phrase 'tener un carácter fuerte' translates to 'having a strong character' in English. This refers to someone who is determined, assertive, and is able to withstand difficulties or adversity. The individual generally possesses qualities such as resilience, courage, and a firmness of mind or spirit. This phrase is commonly used to describe a person's personality or temperament.
tener un compromiso
to have a commitment
The Spanish phrase 'tener un compromiso' translates to 'to have a commitment' in English. This phrase is often used to indicate that an individual has a promise or obligation to do something. It can also suggest a moral responsibility. The verb 'tener' translates to 'to have' and 'un compromiso' translates to 'a commitment'. This phrase can be used in various contexts, such as work, personal relationships, or social obligations.
tener un control
have control
The Spanish phrase 'tener un control' translates to 'have control' in English. This usually refers to having power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events. The phrase can be used in a variety of contexts, both formal and informal. While 'tener' is a verb meaning 'to have', 'un control' refers to 'a control'. Put together, they express possession or dominance over a situation or a thing.
tener un descuento
have a discount
The Spanish phrase 'tener un descuento' translates to 'have a discount' in English. This phrase is primarily used in the context of sales and transactions, when a buyer receives a reduction in the item or service's original price. It can be used both literally, when speaking about concrete purchases, and figuratively, in the sense of getting a metaphorical advantage in various situations.
tener un documento
have a document
The Spanish phrase 'tener un documento' translates to 'have a document' in English. In Spanish, 'tener' translates to 'have', 'un' translates to 'a', and 'documento' translates to 'document'. Therefore, when these words are combined, it forms the phrase 'tener un documento', which is used when one is in possession of a document or needs to express the need to have a document.
tener un examen oral
have an oral examination
The Spanish phrase 'tener un examen oral' translates to 'have an oral examination' in English. In an educational context, an oral examination involves speaking rather than writing, often face-to-face with an examiner. This can be used as a method of assessment in many academic subjects including language learning, where learners' proficiency in speaking a language can be evaluated through this method.
tener un máster
have a master
The Spanish phrase 'tener un máster' translates to 'have a master' in English. This phrase is generally used in an educational context to refer to a person who has attained a master's degree in a specific field of study at a university.
tener un sueldo
having a salary
The Spanish phrase 'tener un sueldo' translates to 'having a salary' in English. This typically refers to the fixed regular payment that an individual receives, usually on a monthly or biweekly basis, from their employer in exchange for their work. In different contexts, it can refer to different forms of remuneration. For example, it is frequently used in discussions on job compensation, income levels, work contracts, and labour disputes.
tener un test escrito
have a written test
The Spanish phrase 'tener un test escrito' translates to 'have a written test' in English. This can be used in various contexts including educational settings where exams or assessments are conducted. The verb 'tener' means 'to have', 'un' is an indefinite article equivalent to 'a' in English, 'test' is a cognate in both languages as 'test', and 'escrito' is the past participle of 'escribir', meaning 'written'. Hence, when combined, it means 'to have a written test'.
tener una buena actitud
having a good attitude
The Spanish phrase 'tener una buena actitud' translates to 'having a good attitude' in English. It is used to express the importance of positivity and optimism. One often uses this phrase to motivate or encourage others in situations that require perseverance or a tough mindset. The word by word translation is 'tener' meaning 'have', 'una' meaning 'a', 'buena' meaning 'good', and 'actitud' meaning 'attitude'
Example sentences with tener una buena actitud →tener una carrera
having a career
The Spanish phrase 'tener una carrera' translates to 'having a career' in English. This phrase encompasses not just having a job, but pursuing a long-term professional path, in a field one is usually trained for or skilled in. It often implies making progressive strides towards growth and advancement in this chosen field.
tener una duda
having a doubt
The Spanish phrase 'tener una duda' translates to 'having a doubt' in English. It is usually used when someone is unsure about something and has questions or uncertainties. This can be regarding any subject or situation. When using 'tener una duda', the individual is expressing their need for clarification or further information.
tener una mala actitud
having a bad attitude
The Spanish phrase 'tener una mala actitud' translates to 'having a bad attitude' in English. In Spanish, 'tener' means 'to have', 'una' means 'a', 'mala' translates to 'bad', and 'actitud' stands for 'attitude'. Therefore, when combined together, the phrase represents a negative disposition or approach towards situations or tasks. This phrase is commonly used in everyday conversation to describe someone who is generally negative, pessimistic, or unfriendly.
Example sentences with tener una mala actitud →