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.
desarrollo industrial
industrial development
The Spanish phrase 'desarrollo industrial' translates to 'industrial development' in English. When used in context, it refers to the period or process of transitioning to an industrialized economy. Typically, it involves changes in technology and productivity, infrastructure improvements, and potential impacts on environments and societies. 'Desarrollo' individually means 'development' and 'industrial' means 'industrial', but together, they describe the idea of progressing or expanding production, industries, or manufacturing activities within a country or region.
Example sentences with desarrollo industrial →desarrollo sostenible
sustainable development
The Spanish term 'desarrollo sostenible' translates to 'sustainable development' in English. Sustainable development refers to the method or strategy of economic growth which aims to meet the needs of the present population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves creating an equilibrium between three key elements, which are economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.
Example sentences with desarrollo sostenible →desastre natural
natural disaster
The Spanish term 'desastre natural' translates to 'natural disaster' in English. Natural disasters refer to catastrophic events resulting from natural processes of the Earth like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes. They can cause significant damage or loss of life and property, and disrupt the environment and economy. The term is often used in relation to disaster management and planning responses to minimize damage and ensure safety.
Example sentences with desastre natural →describir
describe
In Spanish, 'describir' means 'to describe'. It is used in the same way it's used in English, to give a detailed account in words about a person, event, or process. Like English, it can be used in various contexts, both formal and informal, and accepts the same sort of adverb modifications.
Example sentences with describir →desempleo
unemployment
The Spanish word 'desempleo' translates to 'unemployment' in English. It is often used in a socio-economic context to refer to the state of joblessness. A person is said to be in 'desempleo' when they are actively seeking work but unable to find a job.
desertización
desertization
Desertización is a Spanish term that can be translated into English as 'desertization'. It is a process characterized by the degradation of land, especially in dry areas, due to various factors including climate changes and human activities. This process generally results in a decrease in vegetation and wildlife, making the land resemble a desert.
Example sentences with desertización →desfile
parade
The Spanish word 'desfile' is translated into English as 'parade'. A 'despile' or parade is a procession organized along a planned route, often on a festival or celebration day. People or vehicles move forward in an orderly, formal way. Often, parades are festive occasions with bands, floats, and sometimes people dressed in unusual costumes. They're used for celebration, protest, or commemoration. So, whenever you hear or see the word 'desfile' in Spanish, it refers to what English speakers would call a 'parade'.
deshojar una flor
pluck a flower
The Spanish phrase 'deshojar una flor' literally translates to 'pluck a flower' in English. It's generally used to refer to removing the petals from a flower one by one. The phrase can also be metaphorically used to mean disassembling or breaking down something step by step, much like plucking the petals of a flower.
Example sentences with deshojar una flor →despedirse afectuosamente
to say goodbye affectionately
The Spanish phrase 'despedirse afectuosamente' translates to 'to say goodbye affectionately' in English. This phrase is used when someone wants to express a warm and loving farewell to another person. Often used among close friends and family or between romantic partners, 'despedirse afectuosamente' carries a connotation of care, love, and sincerity. It is more personal than the typical 'adios' or 'hasta luego', denoting a deeper emotional connection between the individuals involved.
despedirse calurosamente
Say goodbye warmly
The Spanish phrase 'despedirse calurosamente' translates to 'say goodbye warmly' in English. This phrase often signifies an affectionate or hearty farewell. In general use, it implies expressing warm emotions, like love or fondness, while departing from someone.
destornillador
screwdriver
The Spanish word 'destornillador' translates to 'screwdriver' in English. It is a tool used to turn (drive or remove) screws, which usually has a thin wedge-shaped tip that can fit into a slot or groove in the screw head. In implementation, it involves using the hand to rotate it in the screw’s head and, therefore, drive the screw into place. It is a common and widely used tool in many industries like construction, carpentry, and more.
detener a un delincuente
stop a criminal
The Spanish phrase 'detener a un delincuente' translates to 'stop a criminal' in English. It is commonly used in law enforcement or in situations where someone is being asked to halt an unlawful activity. 'Detener' means 'to stop' and 'un delincuente' means 'a criminal'. Therefore, the full phrase conveys a feeling of either an imperative order or an ongoing action to stop a person who is committing a crime.
detener a un sospechoso
arrest a suspect
The Spanish phrase 'detener a un sospechoso' translates to 'arrest a suspect' in English. It is used in contexts relating to law enforcement or criminal investigation. 'Detener' means to stop or halt, 'a' signifies direction towards someone/something, 'un' is an indefinite article which means 'a', and 'sospechoso' is a noun that translates to 'suspect'. Together, they form a phrase used when law enforcement officials apprehend a person who is suspected of having committed a crime.
detener por un delito de agresión
arrest for an offence of aggression
The Spanish phrase 'detener por un delito de agresión' translates to 'arrest for an offence of aggression' in English. It describes the act of law enforcement apprehending an individual due to allegations of violent behavior or assault. In a sentence, it can be used to describe scenarios across a variety of legal and law enforcement situations where aggressive conduct has purportedly occurred.
Example sentences with detener por un delito de agresión →detener por un delito de malos tratos
arrest for an offence of ill-treatment
The Spanish phrase 'detener por un delito de malos tratos' translates to 'arrest for an offence of ill-treatment' in English. This phrase might be used in a legal or law enforcement setting, where an individual is being arrested for the act of ill-treatment. The ill-treatment could refer any form of abuse or wrongful treatment inflicted upon another individual. Getting familiar with such phrases could be beneficial in understanding news reports or legal documents in Spanish.
Example sentences with detener por un delito de malos tratos →detener por un delito de tráfico de drogas
arrest for a drug trafficking offence
The Spanish phrase 'detener por un delito de tráfico de drogas' translates to 'arrest for a drug trafficking offence' in English. In this phrase, 'detener' means 'to arrest', 'por un' means 'for a', 'delito' means 'offence', 'de tráfico de drogas' means 'of drug trafficking'. This phrase is generally used in legal or law enforcement contexts, particularly in reports or discussions pertaining to drug crime.
Example sentences with detener por un delito de tráfico de drogas →detergente
detergent
The Spanish word 'detergente' translates to 'detergent' in English. Detergent is a water-soluble cleaning agent which combines with impurities and dirt to make them more soluble, and differs from soap in not forming a scum with the salts in hard water.
detestar
detest
The Spanish word 'detestar' translates to 'detest' in English. It is a verb that is used to express a strong dislike or hate for someone or something. Similar to its English equivalent, 'detestar' is usually used in more extreme situations, where a simple dislike is not strong enough to convey the feeling, and a stronger term is needed.
devorar
devour
'Devorar' is a verb in Spanish that translates to 'devour' in English. It can be used in the context of consuming food quickly and eagerly. But it's not only used to talk about food, it can be used metaphorically as well. For instance, to devour a book would mean to read it rapidly and enthusiastically. Similar to the usage in English, 'devorar' conveys a sense of passion and eagerness.
diabetes
diabetes
The word 'diabetes' in Spanish directly translates to 'diabetes' in English. It is a term used to describe a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar, or glucose. Diabetes is a long-lasting medical condition that leads to high levels of sugar in the blood. The cause of diabetes depends on your genes, family history, ethnicity, health and environmental factors.
Example sentences with diabetes →diagnosticar
diagnose
The Spanish verb 'diagnosticar' translates to 'diagnose' in English. It refers to the process of identifying a disease or condition from its signs and symptoms. In the medical field, when a doctor examines a patient to determine which illness or condition they may have, they are 'diagnosing' them. So, in Spanish, a doctor would 'diagnosticar' a patient.
Example sentences with diagnosticar →diagnóstico
diagnosis
The Spanish word 'diagnóstico' is translated into English as 'diagnosis'. It is often used in the medical field, meaning the identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.
Example sentences with diagnóstico →diario
daily
The Spanish word 'diario' translates to 'daily' in English. It is used to describe something that happens, appears or is done every day. For instance, it can be used in contexts such as daily tasks or routines ('tareas diarias' or 'rutina diaria'). This term can also be used to refer to a diary or a newspaper, which are objects often associated with everyday use or reference.
dibujar un esquema
drawing a scheme
The Spanish phrase 'dibujar un esquema' translates to 'drawing a scheme' in English. This phrase can be broken down into 'dibujar' which means 'to draw', 'un' meaning 'a', and 'esquema' translating to 'scheme'. Therefore, the phrase 'dibujar un esquema' is generally used to express the idea of creating a plan or a diagram, particularly in a creative, academic or professional context.
Example sentences with dibujar un esquema →dibujar un plano
drawing a plane
The phrase 'dibujar un plano' in Spanish literally translates to 'draw a plane' in English. However, contextually it could mean drawing a flat, two-dimensional diagram, or a draft of a structure or model. For instance, in architecture or engineering contexts, 'dibujar un plano' will imply drafting a blueprint or plan. The phrase encompasses the action of creating a visual or diagrammatic representation of a structure or object in a planar or two-dimensional approach.
Example sentences with dibujar un plano →dibujar un proyecto
draw a project
The Spanish phrase 'dibujar un proyecto' translates directly into English as 'draw a project'. This can refer to the literal action of creating a sketch or design for a particular project. For instance, an architect might 'dibujar un proyecto' when they create a blueprint for a new building. However, it can also have a metaphorical meaning, referring to the process of planning out the steps and details of a project. For instance, a teacher might 'dibujar un proyecto' when they outline the curriculum for a new class they are teaching.
Example sentences with dibujar un proyecto →dictador
dictator
The Spanish word 'dictador' translates to 'dictator' in English. It refers to a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained power by force. The term is usually associated with a negative connotation, implying a lack of democracy, violation of human rights, or the use of military force to seize power.
Example sentences with dictador →dientes amarillentos
yellow teeth
The Spanish word 'dientes amarillentos' literally translates to 'yellow teeth' in English. This term is used to describe the color of teeth when they are not white, often due to various factors such as diet, smoking, or lack of proper oral hygiene. It's not a term commonly found in day-to-day conversation but may be used in a dental or medical context.
Example sentences with dientes amarillentos →dientes blancos
white teeth
The Spanish term 'dientes blancos' translates to 'white teeth' in English. This phrase could be used in contexts such as dental hygiene or aesthetics, referring to the colour and cleanliness of someone's teeth.
Example sentences with dientes blancos →dientes sanos
healthy teeth
The Spanish term 'dientes sanos' translates to 'healthy teeth' in English. This phrase could be used in various contexts, particularly in health or dental care scenarios. When broken down, 'dientes' translates to 'teeth' and 'sano' translates to 'healthy'. Therefore, maintaining 'dientes sanos' would be an objective for someone looking to preserve good oral health.
Example sentences with dientes sanos →