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.
puzle
puzzle
The term 'puzle' in Spanish translates to 'puzzle' in English. This term is typically used to refer to a game, toy, or problem, that requires ingenuity and often persistence in solving, putting together, or completing. Puzzles can come in many forms, varying from crosswords to jigsaw puzzles, and they often offer a problem-solving challenge that many people find intriguing and enjoyable. Notably, they are not only an entertaining pastime, but also beneficial for mental activity as they can enhance memory, concentration, and cognitive abilities.
quedar ajustado
adjusted
The Spanish phrase 'quedar ajustado' translates to 'adjusted' in English. It is often used to indicate that something has been modified or altered to fit or correspond accurately to something else. It's typically used in the context of making alterations to clothing or adjusting a plan or schedule to suit certain needs.
quedar ancho
wide
The Spanish expression 'quedar ancho' doesn't directly translate to 'wide' in English. However, it is often used in situations where an item is too large or doesn't fit properly, as in the case of clothing. So in the context of 'The shirt is wide on me', you would say 'La camiseta me queda ancha'. It can also be used figuratively in the sense of feeling satisfied or fulfilled.
quedar apretado
tighten
The Spanish phrase 'quedar apretado' can be translated into English as 'tighten'. However, it's a phrase rather than a single word, and it's more commonly used in the context of something becoming tight, fitting tightly, or being tight on space or time. In literal terms, 'quedar' means 'to stay' or 'to remain', and 'apretado' means 'tight', so it can be thought of as something remaining tight or becoming tight.
quedar campeón de copa
become cup champion
The Spanish phrase 'quedar campeón de copa' translates to 'become cup champion' in English. This phrase is often used in the context of sports, and particularly in football (or soccer, as it is known in the US), to refer to the achievement of a team or individual emerging as the victor in a tournament or competition that rewards the winner with a cup or similar trophy. For example, if a football team wins the World Cup, they 'quedan campeones de copa'.
quedar campeón de liga
become league champion
The Spanish phrase 'quedar campeón de liga' translates to 'become league champion' in English. It is often used in the context of sports to describe a team or individual that has won a league championship. The verb 'quedar' can have different meanings, but in this phrase it is used to indicate an outcome or result. 'Campeón' is the Spanish word for 'champion', and 'liga' is a term for a sports league.
quedar campeón del mundo
become world champion
The Spanish phrase 'quedar campeón del mundo' translates to 'become world champion' in English. This phrase is often used in sports and competitive contexts to refer to someone who achieves the highest honor or acclaim in their field on a global scale. It signifies great accomplishment, prestige, and recognition.
quedar flojo
stay loose.
The Spanish phrase 'quedar flojo' is translated as 'stay loose' in English. It is often utilized to describe a situation or condition where something doesn't fit or is not tight enough. For example, this phrase could be used when speaking about clothes that are a bit too big and therefore hang loose on a person, or a knot that wasn't tied tightly and is now loose.
quedar una asignatura pendiente
a pending subject
'Quedar una asignatura pendiente' in Spanish is a phrase that can be translated into English as 'a pending subject'. It is usually used in educational settings when a student has not yet completed a course or an assignment. This phrase can also be metaphorically used to indicate an unfinished business or something that has been left unresolved.
quedar una cicatriz
a scar.
The Spanish phrase 'quedar una cicatriz' translates to 'a scar remains' in English. The verb 'quedar' suggests the idea of something remaining or staying. 'Una cicatriz' directly translates to 'a scar'. Therefore, the phrase can be integrated in sentences to imply the lasting effect of a scar after an incident or to metaphorically discuss the long-term impact of past experiences.
Example sentences with quedar una cicatriz →quedarse agachado
stay crouched
The Spanish phrase 'quedarse agachado' translates to 'stay crouched' in English. It is a verb phrase typically used to instruct someone to remain in a low position close to the ground, often for reasons related to safety or stealth. The tone or context of usage may vary based on the situation.
quedarse de espaldas
stay behind
The phrase 'quedarse de espaldas' in Spanish refers to the action of staying behind or being left behind in a situation. It is usually used when someone or something remains in the same place while others move forward. This phrase might be used in various contexts and can express emotional, physical or metaphorical states of being left behind.
quedarse de rodillas
stay on your knees
The Spanish phrase 'quedarse de rodillas' translates to 'stay on your knees' in English. It is often used in contexts pertaining to physical posture, such as during prayer or while performing certain exercises. However, it can also have a metaphorical meaning, suggesting submission, respect or a plea for mercy.
quedarse dormido
falling asleep
The Spanish term 'quedarse dormido' translates to 'falling asleep' in English. This phrase is often used to describe the action of gradually drifting into a sleep state. For instance, after a long day of work or study, someone might 'quedarse dormido' while sitting on their couch or desk. One common mistake language learners make is confusing this with going to bed, which is expressed differently in Spanish. While both refer to sleep, 'quedarse dormido' typically carries the connotation of unintentionally falling asleep.
quedarse en blanco
stay blank
The Spanish phrase 'quedarse en blanco' directly translates to 'stay blank' in English. However, it's more commonly used to express the feeling of forgetting or being unable to think or recall something, much like the English phrase 'drawing a blank.'
quedarse huérfano
remain orphaned
The Spanish phrase 'quedarse huérfano' translates to 'remain orphaned' in English. It is often used to express the condition where someone loses their parents and is left alone, similar to an orphan. Although it is usually used in the context of a child losing their parents, its usage is not limited to children and can be used metaphorically as well. For example, it can be used in situations when someone drastically loses support or guidance from a crucial source.
quedarse quieto
Stay still
The Spanish phrase 'quedarse quieto' translates to 'stay still' in English. It is often used as a command or a request. It's a combination of the reflexive verb 'quedarse' which implies a sense of remaining or staying, and the adjective 'quieto' which means still or quiet. It can be used in various contexts such as asking someone not to move or stop fidgeting, or even metaphorically, asking someone to be calm and not make drastic decisions.
quedarse sin gasolina
stay out of gas.
The Spanish phrase 'quedarse sin gasolina' translates to 'stay out of gas' in English. It is often used in the context of vehicles running out of fuel. In a broader sense, it can also be used metaphorically to describe exhaustion or a lack of resources or support in other areas of life.
Example sentences with quedarse sin gasolina →quedarse viudo
remain widowed
The Spanish phrase 'quedarse viudo' translates to 'remain widowed' in English. This is typically used to describe someone whose spouse has passed away and they have not remarried.
quemarse la espalda
Burn your back
The Spanish phrase 'quemarse la espalda' translates to 'burn your back' in English. It can be used literally, to denote the act of one's back being physically burned, perhaps as a result of exposure to high heat or sunburn. However, it might also be used figuratively in the Spanish language, implying a betrayal, in a similar context to the English expression 'stab in the back'. It's a versatile phrase that can be used in various contexts, depending on its intended meaning.
Example sentences with quemarse la espalda →quemarse los hombros
burn your shoulders
The Spanish phrase 'quemarse los hombros' translates to 'burn your shoulders' in English. It doesn’t necessarily mean to literally burn your shoulders. It can often be used metaphorically. For example, in the context of sun exposure, it is very common to use during summer to caution people against sunburn.
Example sentences with quemarse los hombros →queso azul
Blue cheese
Queso azul is a Spanish term that translates to 'blue cheese' in English. This is a general term for cheeses that have had cultures of the mold Penicillium added so that the final product is spotted or veined throughout with blue, blue-grey or blue-green mold, and carries a distinct smell. Such cheeses can range from mild to sharp in flavor, and are often enjoyed with fruits, like pears and apples. Within this category, there are many specific kinds of blue cheese, each with their own distinct flavors, including but not limited to Gorgonzola, Roquefort and Stilton.
queso de cabra
goat cheese
The Spanish term 'queso de cabra' refers to a type of cheese produced using goat's milk. It is commonly enjoyed in a variety of dishes for its unique and tangy flavor. Goat cheese can range in taste from strong and pungent, to delicate and mild. It is considered a delicacy in many cultures worldwide.
queso de oveja
sheep cheese
The phrase 'queso de oveja' comes from Spanish and is translated into English as 'sheep cheese.' This refers to cheese that is made from the milk of sheep. This type of cheese is very popular in various parts of the world and can have a diverse range of flavors and textures, depending on many factors such as the breed of the sheep, the diet of the sheep, the production process, and the age of the cheese.
queso fresco
fresh cheese
The Spanish term 'queso fresco' directly translates to 'fresh cheese' in English. 'Queso fresco' is soft, moist, and crumbly, which makes it perfect for sprinkling over a wide variety of dishes. White in color, this popular variety of cheese usually doesn't melt when heated, but it becomes somewhat creamy while still retaining its overall shape. It is quite mild in flavor, which makes it versatile in culinary applications.
quirófano
operating room
The Spanish word 'quirófano' translates to 'operating room' in English. It is often used in medical contexts to refer to the specific area within a hospital where surgical procedures are performed. These rooms are specially designed and equipped with advanced technology to promote sterilization and enable various types of surgeries to be performed effectively. The term 'quirófano' originates from the Greek words 'cheir' meaning 'hand', and 'ergon' meaning 'work', thus it is literally the place where 'handwork' or 'surgery' occurs.
quitar el polvo
remove the dust
The Spanish phrase 'quitar el polvo' translates directly to 'remove the dust' in English. It is usually used in the context of cleaning, like dusting furniture or objects. 'Quitar' is the verb that means 'to remove', while 'el polvo' is the noun phrase that means 'the dust'. Both combined form the action phrase that indicates the removal or cleaning of dust.
quitar la sed
remove the thirst
The Spanish phrase 'quitar la sed' translates to 'remove the thirst' in English. This expression is often used to mean satisfying a thirst or quenching a thirst. An equivalent phrase in English might be 'to quench one's thirst'. This could be literally, such as by drinking water when you're thirsty, or figuratively, such as satisfying a deep desire or need.
rabino
Rabbi
The Spanish word 'rabino' translates to 'rabbi' in English. The term is used to denote a religious leader or teacher in Judaism, who is educated in Jewish law, tradition and practices. 'Rabino' is commonly used in religious contexts where the rabbi may lead community services, give sermons or interpret religious texts.
Example sentences with rabino →ración
ration
The Spanish word 'ración' translates to 'ration' in English. A ration is a fixed amount of something, often food, that is allowed to each person during a time of shortage. Therefore, 'ración' in Spanish refers to a particular portion or share, especially of food, that is allotted to a person.