B2 - Upper Intermediate Spanish
Students at the Upper Intermediate B2 level can defend their positions in a debate, and explore opposing views on different topics.
At this level, most students can converse with native speakers naturally and fluently.
clima lluvioso
Rainy weather
The Spanish phrase 'clima lluvioso' translates to 'rainy weather' in English. It is used to describe a type of weather that is characterized by precipitations in the form of rain. The term is made up of two words: 'clima', which means weather, and 'lluvioso', which means rainy. This phrase is typically used in weather forecasts, or to describe the current or predicted meteorological conditions.
Example sentences with clima lluvioso →clima mediterráneo
Mediterranean climate
The term 'clima mediterráneo' refers to a Mediterranean climate, which is characteristically seen in the coastal regions bordering the Mediterranean Sea. This climate type is typified by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Regions with a Mediterranean climate are renowned for their biodiversity and are prime locations for the cultivation of such crops as olives, grapes, and citrus fruits. This climate type has been replicated in several regions around the world such as California, Western Australia, and parts of South Africa and Chile.
Example sentences with clima mediterráneo →clima suave
mild climate
The Spanish term 'clima suave' translates to 'mild climate' in English. This generally refers to a weather pattern that is generally warm, but not too hot, and not too cold. This term is often used in weather forecasts or geography. Countries that experience a 'clima suave' tend to have comfortable and steady environmental conditions throughout the year, without any extreme weather changes or abrupt temperature shifts.
Example sentences with clima suave →clima templado
temperate climate
The Spanish term 'clima templado' translates to 'temperate climate' in English. This climate is generally characterized by mild temperatures and moderate weather conditions, neither too hot like the tropics, nor too cold like the polar regions. Generally, regions with a temperate climate experience four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Examples of countries with temperate climates include parts of the United States, Canada, much of Europe, and parts of China.
Example sentences with clima templado →clima tropical
tropical climate
The term 'clima tropical' in Spanish translates to 'tropical climate' in English. It refers to a type of climate typical of the tropics, which is a region of the Earth within the latitudes 23.5 degrees north and 23.5 degrees south of the equator. The tropical climate is characterized by high temperatures throughout the year with significant precipitation. Depending on the region, the rainfall may be evenly distributed throughout the year or occur more heavily in certain seasons.
Example sentences with clima tropical →clínica veterinaria
veterinary clinic
The Spanish term 'clínica veterinaria' translates to 'veterinary clinic' in English. A veterinary clinic refers to a health care facility that is designed to provide preventative and curative treatments for animals. Often run by qualified veterinarians and veterinary nurses, these clinics may offer a variety of services, from regular check-ups and vaccinations, to emergency care and surgical procedures.
Example sentences with clínica veterinaria →clip
clip
The word 'clip' in Spanish also translates to 'clip' in English. It is often used to refer to a device, usually of metal or plastic, that is used to hold things together or to fasten materials like papers. It can also refer to a short sequence from a movie or a video. Despite the different usages, it carries similar meanings where it is used to denote something that keeps other things tightly secured or fastened.
coartada
alibi
The Spanish word 'coartada' translates to 'alibi' in English. In a legal context, an alibi is a form of evidence that a person accused of a crime can use to show that they were in a different location at the time the crime occurred. In a broader context, the term can also be used to refer to an excuse or reason given to avoid blame or responsibility.
cobarde
coward
The Spanish word 'cobarde' translates to 'coward' in English. A 'cobarde' refers to a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc. and is excessively afraid of such instances. This term is often used to describe someone who runs away from situations rather than dealing with them. Essentially, 'cobarde' is used in Spanish to express an individual's lack of bravery.
cobardía
cowardice
The Spanish word 'cobardía' is translated as 'cowardice' in English. This term is often used to describe the lack of courage or determination to face danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc. In Spanish-speaking cultures, it may be used to identify a personality trait deemed undesirable, akin to its usage in English. It may also appear in other cultural contexts or idioms, adding richness and depth to the language.
cobrar comisiones
receivables
The Spanish phrase 'cobrar comisiones' translates to 'charge commissions' in English. It is used in the context of financial activities where a service, institution, or individual might impose charges for providing certain services, often articulated as a percentage of transactions handled or profits earned. The term 'cobrar' refers to the act of charging or requiring payment, while 'comisiones' means commissions. However, it doesn't translate to 'receivables', which refers to money due to be received by a business or individual, represented in Spanish by 'cuentas por cobrar'.
cobrar el recibo de la luz
collect the light bill
The Spanish phrase 'cobrar el recibo de la luz' translates into English as 'collect the light bill'. It is a common phrase used in Spanish-speaking countries to refer to the action of receiving payment for the electrical services provided. This could refer to a professional who works collecting these payments, or it could also be used in a more general sense to indicate the necessity to pay for your electric bill.
cobrar el recibo del agua
collect the water bill
The Spanish phrase 'cobrar el recibo del agua' translates to 'collect the water bill' in English. It is a verb phrase that's commonly used in many Spanish-speaking countries. Cobrar means to collect, el recibo translates to the bill, and del agua refers to of the water. Therefore, when combined, these words offer the context of collecting payment for the service of water, or simply, to collect the water bill.
cobrar el subsidio de desempleo
the unemployment benefit
The Spanish phrase 'cobrar el subsidio de desempleo' translates to 'to collect the unemployment benefit' in English. In this context, 'cobrar' means 'to collect', 'el subsidio' means 'the benefit', and 'de desempleo' means 'of unemployment'. Essentially, this phrase is commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries to refer to the action of receiving financial support from the government, typically after losing employment. It broadly encapsulates the process and action of claiming this support.
cobrar la factura de la luz
charge the electricity bill
The phrase 'cobrar la factura de la luz' in Spanish directly translates to 'charge the electricity bill' in English. It's commonly used in the context of financial matters, indicating the action of collecting payment for the electric utilities or services provided. The verb 'cobrar' implies the act of receiving or demanding payment. 'La factura de la luz' stands for the electricity bill.
cobrar la factura del agua
collect water bill
The Spanish phrase 'cobrar la factura del agua' translates to 'collect water bill' in English. This is typically used in a context where a person or entity is responsible for gathering or accepting payment for the water services provided. For instance, it can be used when a landlord collects the water bill from their tenants or when a utility company is seeking payment for water usage.
cobrar un anticipo
collect an advance
The Spanish phrase 'cobrar un anticipo' translates as 'collect an advance' in English. This term is often used in a business or work context and refers to the action of receiving a partial payment or advance on a salary or for goods or services that will be provided in the future. For example, a contractor might 'cobrar un anticipo' before beginning a piece of work.
cobrar un sueldo razonable
reasonable salary
The phrase 'cobrar un sueldo razonable' in Spanish can be translated to English as 'to earn a reasonable salary'. It refers to receiving a fair amount of money or benefits for the work, often used to talk about wages that can adequately cover a person's basic needs and expenses.
cobrar un sueldo ridículo
pay a ridiculous salary
The Spanish phrase 'cobrar un sueldo ridículo' translates to 'pay a ridiculous salary' in English. This phrase can be used in situations to describe an income that is considered absurdly low and not enough to cover one's living costs. It can be used both literally, in the context of employment and salary discussions, and metaphorically, to describe exploitation or underestimation of someone or something.
cobrar una hora extra
charge an extra hour
The Spanish phrase 'cobrar una hora extra' translates to 'charge an extra hour' in English. It is often used in a workplace context to indicate that you will be charging an additional fee for working an hour beyond the stipulated working hours. This could be applicable to various professions such as freelance work, consulting, or any service-based job that calculates revenue based on working hours. In general, 'cobrar' means to charge or collect, 'una hora' means an hour, and 'extra' means additional or excess.
cobrar una minuta
cash
The phrase 'cobrar una minuta' in Spanish does not directly translate to 'cash' in English. Instead, it refers to the act of billing or charging for a small service or job. It is often used in legal and professional contexts where services are detailed and billed. In these cases, 'minuta' refers to the itemized bill or invoice for the services rendered. The verb 'cobrar' means to collect or charge, so 'cobrar una minuta' means to charge or bill for a service or to collect payment for a service rendered.
cobrar una nómina
payroll
'Cobrar una nómina' in Spanish can translates to 'collect a payroll' in English language. This phrase is commonly used in business and employment settings, and refers to the process in which an employee receives their financial compensation, often on a fixed schedule, for the work they have performed during a specific period of time.
cobrar una paga extra
charge an extra pay
The Spanish phrase 'cobrar una paga extra' translates to 'charge an extra pay' in English. This phrase could be used in a business or work employment context, where an individual might charge or gain an additional amount of money beyond their regular payment. This might occur for working overtime, taking on extra responsibilities, or perhaps during holiday seasons when extra pay rates may apply.
cobro
Collection
The Spanish word 'cobro' translates to 'collection' in English. It's widely used in terms of monetary collection or payment. For instance, in a financial context, if someone is in charge of 'cobro', they are responsible for collecting payments or debts. This word can be used in various scenarios including banks, businesses, or individual transactions where money is being collected.
cocer a fuego lento
Cooking slowly
The Spanish phrase 'cocer a fuego lento' is a culinary term that translates to 'cooking slowly' in English. It refers to the method of preparing food over a low heat for a protracted period of time, often to tenderize tough cuts of meat or meld flavors in a dish. This slow-cooking method is commonly used in a multitude of different cultures and cuisines worldwide.
cocer al baño María
cook in a bain-marie
The Spanish phrase 'cocer al baño María' directly translates to 'cook in a bain-marie' in English. It is a culinary term describing a method of cooking delicate foods. Bain-marie, named after the medieval-Latin term for a hot water bath, is used to cook foods gently or to keep cooked foods warm. This technique ensures the dish being prepared is not in direct contact with heat hence preventing it from overheating or drying out. Commonly it's used for custards, mousses, sauces, and melting chocolate.
cocer al vapor
steaming
The phrase 'cocer al vapor' in Spanish refers to the cooking method known in English as 'steaming'. This method involves the use of steam heat to cook or prepare certain types of food, typically vegetables, dumplings or rice. This is usually done in a closed pan where the food is not in direct contact with the water, but rather is cooked by the heat of the steam.
coche de carreras
racing car
The Spanish phrase 'coche de carreras' translates to 'racing car' in English. The phrase is composed of two parts: 'coche', which means 'car', and 'de carreras', which translates to 'racing'. Thus, it refers to a fast, high-powered car that's specially designed for racing competitions. Such cars are generally equipped with advanced features for accelerating, braking, and maneuvering, and their performance far exceeds that of ordinary road cars.
Example sentences with coche de carreras →coche oficial
official car
The Spanish term 'coche oficial' can be translated to 'official car' in English. This phrase is often used in reference to a vehicle that is used by government officials or dignitaries in an official capacity. These cars are typically paid for and maintained by the government or a governmental department, and may have certain protocols and privileges associated with their use.
Example sentences with coche oficial →coche particular
private car
The Spanish term 'coche particular' translates to 'private car' in English. This phrase is mostly used in the context of a car that is owned for personal use, unlike a taxi or a bus. 'Coche' refers to a car in Spanish while 'particular' denotes private. This term can be utilized in various situations like indicating that one has a private car, referring to someone else's private car or in circumstances involving transportation and commuting.
Example sentences with coche particular →