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.
pechugas de pollo
chicken breasts
The Spanish phrase 'pechugas de pollo' translates to 'chicken breasts' in English. This term is commonly used in cooking and culinary discussions. It refers to a specific part of the chicken's body, which is often used as a main ingredient in various recipes. The 'pechuga' is the part of the chicken that is lean white meat and is found on the chicken's breast. 'De' is a Spanish preposition equivalent to 'of' in English, and 'pollo' is the Spanish word for 'chicken'.
pediatra
pediatrician
The Spanish word 'pediatra' translates to 'pediatrician' in English. A pediatrician is a medical doctor specializing in the treatment and care of children's health. They usually handle the health of a child, which includes physical, behavioral, and mental health issues. Pediatricians are proficient in diseases and treatments specific to young and growing bodies, from minor health issues to serious diseases. Hence, 'pediatra' is a very important term in Spanish relating to healthcare professionals.
Example sentences with pediatra →pedir el libro de reclamaciones
order the claim book
The Spanish phrase 'pedir el libro de reclamaciones' generally translates to 'order the claim book' in English. In a commercial context, particularly in a consumer and business relationship, it is a formal request by a customer for a complaints book. This is a standard method of documenting dissatisfaction with a service or product in certain territories. Though the phrase can literally refer to the act of ordering a physical claim book, it is more widely understood and used as an invocation of consumer rights in a situation of dispute or dissatisfaction with a service or product.
pedir la jubilación (anticipada)
ask for retirement (anticipated)
The Spanish phrase 'pedir la jubilación (anticipada)' translates in English to 'ask for retirement (anticipated)'. It is commonly used in the context of employment and labor law. In particular, 'jubilación anticipada' refers to 'early retirement' or 'anticipated retirement'. This phrase reflects the act of an employee requesting to leave their professional life and start their retirement period ahead of the standard or expected retirement age.
pedir la vez
ask the time
The Spanish term 'pedir la vez' is usually not translated as 'ask the time' in English. Instead, it's a phrase used in certain contexts to signify 'to wait one's turn' or 'to ask for the turn'. It is used when, for example, several people are waiting in line for something, but there is no official queue. One would say 'pedir la vez' to make sure everyone knows they arrived and are waiting their turn. Mistaking it for 'ask the time' could lead to misunderstandings, as the correct Spanish expression for 'ask the time' is 'preguntar la hora'.
pedir revisión de examen
request review
The Spanish phrase 'pedir revisión de examen' translates to 'request review of exam' in English. It can typically be used in academic settings, where a student might request their teacher or professor to review or reevaluate an exam they have taken. This could be due to a belief that there may be an error in the marking or grading of the exam, or the student may simply want to understand their mistakes for future improvement.
pedir un anticipo
order an advance
The Spanish phrase 'pedir un anticipo' translates to 'order an advance' in English. This can refer to a financial concept where someone may request an amount of money prior to the completion of a job or service. The phrase can also be used in general contexts where someone requests something in advance.
pedir un ascenso
ask for promotion
In the Spanish language, 'pedir un ascenso' translates to 'ask for a promotion' in English. It is a phrase often used in the business and work environment. 'Pedir' is the verb that means 'to ask', 'un' is an article that means 'a' or 'an', and 'ascenso' is a noun that means 'promotion'. So if you want to express that you are asking for a promotion at work, you can say 'pedir un ascenso'.
pedir un aumento de sueldo
request a salary increase
The Spanish phrase, 'pedir un aumento de sueldo', is an action statement that refers to a professional context. In English, it translates to 'request a salary increase'. This phrase is used when an employee, after careful consideration of their workload, experience, and current industry standards, feels the need to negotiate their income terms with their employer, management, or human resources. It is often used in formal conversations and has a serious tone attached to it.
pedir un crédito
ask for credit
'Pedir un crédito' is a Spanish phrase that translates to 'ask for credit' in English. It can be used in various contexts, particularly financial, where one might need to request a loan or seek financial aid from a bank or another lending institution. As an action, it implies a formal request for monetary assistance based on certain agreed terms and conditions. Its usage might vary slightly based on the region, culture and specific financial system. It's an essential phrase to understand for anyone dealing with finance in the Spanish language.
pedir un día de permiso
order a day of leave
'Pedir un día de permiso' is a Spanish phrase that translates to 'order a day of leave' in English. This phrase is commonly used in work or school settings, where one might need to request a day off for various reasons, such as personal matters, health issues, or even vacations. The verb 'pedir' means 'to ask for' or 'to order', 'un día' means 'a day', and 'de permiso' means 'of leave'. Therefore, when combined, it translates into the act of requesting a leave of absence for a day.
pedir un día libre
order a day off
The Spanish phrase 'pedir un día libre' translates to 'order a day off' in English. It is used when someone is requesting permission to take a day away from work or other daily responsibilities. The verb 'pedir' can be translated as 'to ask for' or 'to order', 'un día' means 'one day', and 'libre' translates as 'free'. So, when combined, 'pedir un día libre' essentially means asking for a free day or ordering a day off.
pedir un préstamo
ask for a loan
The phrase 'pedir un préstamo' in Spanish translates directly into English as 'ask for a loan'. It is used in business or personal contexts when someone is requesting a defined amount of money from a bank, a financial entity, or another person with the intention of paying it back, usually with interest. This phrase is the Spanish equivalent of how you would discuss initiating a process to borrow money in English.
pedir un presupuesto
request a budget
The Spanish phrase 'pedir un presupuesto' translates to 'request a budget' in English. It is usually used in a business or financial context when a company or individual wishes to obtain an estimate of the expected cost of a project or items to be procured. The act of 'requesting a budget' generally involves asking for a detailed breakdown of costs so that they can be adequately planned for in financial planning.
Example sentences with pedir un presupuesto →pedir un recibo
order a receipt
The Spanish phrase 'pedir un recibo' translates to 'order a receipt' in English. This phrase is commonly used in contexts involving purchases or transactions, such as at a restaurant, retail store, or any other place where goods or services are exchanged for payment. When you 'pedir un recibo', you are asking the seller or service provider to provide a document that verifies your purchase or payment. This can be important for record-keeping or in case any disputes arise about the transaction.
Example sentences with pedir un recibo →pedir una factura
order a bill
The Spanish phrase 'pedir una factura' translates to 'order a bill' in English. This phrase is usually used in contexts such as restaurants, shops, or services where you need to request an invoice or receipt for the goods or services you have received. The verb 'pedir' means to ask for or to order something, 'una' is an indefinite article equivalent to 'a' in English, and 'factura' is the Spanish term for a bill or invoice.
Example sentences with pedir una factura →pedir una hipoteca
ask for a mortgage
The Spanish phrase 'pedir una hipoteca' translates to 'ask for a mortgage' in English. This phrase is often used in formal or business settings, particularly when discussing agreements or arrangements involving a financial institution such as a bank. 'Pedir' means 'to ask' or 'to request', 'una' implies the singularity of 'a', and 'hipoteca' translates directly to 'mortgage'. Therefore, when you 'pedir una hipoteca', you're requesting a home loan typically from a bank or another type of lending institution.
pegatina
sticker
The Spanish word 'pegatina' translates to 'sticker' in English. A 'pegatina' can be of various types, shapes and sizes, and are often used for decoration, branding, or conveying information or messages. They are usually adhesive and can be affixed to a variety of surfaces such as paper, wood, metal, glass, etc. Hence, the term 'pegatina' in Spanish can take many forms in everyday application, ranging from a child's decorative sticker to product label in a store.
Example sentences with pegatina →pelearse
Fight
In Spanish, 'pelearse' is a reflexive verb that typically means to fight or quarrel. It's commonly used to denote that two or more individuals are engaging in a physical fight or a heated argument. Unlike the English equivalent 'fight', 'pelearse' instinctively suggests a reciprocal action between two parties, thus often indicating a more mutual involvement in the conflict situation.
pelo brillante
bright hair
The Spanish term 'pelo brillante' translates to 'bright hair' in English. This phrase may be used to describe hair that shines or catches the light in a significant way, often implying that the hair is healthy, clean, or styled in a certain manner. The adjective 'brillante' can be used with other nouns as well, always indicating some kind of brightness or shine.
Example sentences with pelo brillante →pelo graso
greasy hair
The Spanish term 'pelo graso' translates to 'greasy hair' in English. This phrase is commonly used to talk about hair that has an oily appearance and texture. Glands in the skin, known as sebaceous glands, typically produce an oil called sebum that keeps our hair healthy. However, these glands can sometimes produce too much oil, resulting in 'pelo graso' or greasy hair.
Example sentences with pelo graso →pelo sano
Healthy hair
The phrase 'pelo sano' in Spanish translates to 'healthy hair' in English. This term is commonly used to describe hair that is in good condition, which means it is strong, shiny, and free from damage like split ends or dryness. In other words, 'pelo sano' refers to hair that is well-maintained and nourished, demonstrating a good level of care and attention.
Example sentences with pelo sano →península
peninsula
The Spanish word 'península' translates to 'peninsula' in English. A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. The peninsula concept is used in its literal sense in geography, and also metaphorically in various contexts. It can be used to refer to a portion of a geographical area, a projecting part of a larger structure or area or even a condition or state being isolated or projected from a mass.
Example sentences with península →percha
hanger
The Spanish word 'percha' translates to 'hanger' in English. It is a common household item used for hanging clothes in a closet or wardrobe to prevent them from getting wrinkled. The word 'percha' is a feminine noun in Spanish, therefore, it is used in contexts like 'la percha' meaning 'the hanger'. It is a simple, yet essential item in everyday life, widely used across different cultures and countries.
perder (las) elecciones
loss (the elections)
The Spanish term 'perder (las) elecciones' can be translated into English as 'lose (the) elections'. It is usually used in a political context referring to a candidate who does not win a political competition such as presidential, congressional, or local elections. The term 'perder' means 'to lose', and 'elecciones' means 'elections'. The parentheses around 'las' indicate that the word may be omitted depending on the context of the sentence in which the phrase is used.
Example sentences with perder (las) elecciones →perder a los padres
losing parents
The Spanish phrase 'perder a los padres' translates to 'losing parents' in English. This is a tangible or literal translation which means a person's loss of their mother and/or father. This phrase is mostly used when talking about tragic circumstances such as death. The verb 'perder' generally means 'to lose', and 'a los padres' means 'the parents'. Therefore, 'perder a los padres' carries a heavy emotional weight, signifying a lifelong loss.
perder a un hermano
lose a brother
The phrase 'perder a un hermano' in Spanish translates to 'lose a brother' in English. This phrase is often used in a context where a person has lost their sibling due to unfortunate circumstances like death. It can also metaphorically mean when the bond between siblings is damaged or broken due to some reason, leading to them feeling the sense of losing their brother.
perder a un hijo
lose a child
The Spanish phrase 'perder a un hijo' translates to 'lose a child' in English. This can refer to multiple situations, including the tragic occurrence of a child's death, which is an intense form of grief experienced by parents. It can also mean misplacing or not being able to find a child in a geographical location, like at a public event or park. The phrase's exact interpretation depends upon its context within a conversation or text.
perder clientes
lose customers
The Spanish term 'perder clientes' translates to 'lose customers' in English. This phrase is often used in a business context and refers to the situation where a business loses its clients, typically due to unsatisfactory products/services, high rates, better competition, etc. It implies a reduction in business revenue and customer base, and is widely seen as unfavorable for business growth and sustainability.
perder el apetito
losing appetite
The Spanish phrase 'perder el apetito' translates to 'losing appetite' in English. This expression is commonly used to describe a situation where someone does not feel like eating because of various reasons, which could be illness, stress, or lack of appealing food. It's important to understand that this is not necessarily associated with deliberate dieting or fasting.
Example sentences with perder el apetito →