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.
ser de clase media
being middle class
The phrase 'ser de clase media' in Spanish translates to 'being middle class' in English. It refers to an individual or family's socio-economic status which indicates whether one is neither very rich nor very poor. It is a lifestyle often associated with the bourgeoisie, where people can afford certain luxuries, yet still have to work to support their lifestyle. The concept of being middle class in different societies may vary, often underlying in the idea of a comfortable modest life that most strive for. In societal context it could also refer to the group of people accounting for most of the consumption patterns, contributing to the economy and often fighting socio-political battles for their rights.
Example sentences with ser de clase media →ser de estatura media
being of average height
The Spanish phrase 'ser de estatura media' translates to 'being of average height' in English. This phrase is typically used to describe a person's height falling within the middle range of a statistical distribution. It can be used in both positive and neutral contexts in either formal or casual conversation. It does not directly indicate shortness or tallness, only that a person's height is in the center of the spectrum when compared to others.
ser de estatura mediana
being of medium height
The Spanish phrase 'ser de estatura mediana' translates to 'being of medium height' in English. In this phrase, 'ser' translates to 'to be,' 'de' means 'of,' 'estatura' equals 'height,' and 'mediana' translates to 'medium.' It is usually used for describing the height of a person in a generic way without specifying exact measurements.
ser de estatura normal
to be of normal height
The Spanish phrase 'ser de estatura normal' translates to 'to be of normal height' in English. It is used when describing a person's physical height as being within the typical or average range. In a sentence, it would serve to clarify an individual's height as not particularly tall or short, but average.
ser de familia humilde
to be of humble family
The Spanish phrase 'ser de familia humilde' translates to 'to be of a humble family' in English. It is often used to describe one's socioeconomic background, indicating a modest upbringing or coming from a family that is not wealthy, but places great value on principles, simplicity, and hard work. The phrase embodies humility and respect towards the economical environment a person comes from and may influence a person's character or perspective.
ser de familia rica
from a rich family
The Spanish phrase 'ser de familia rica' directly translates to 'to be from a rich family' in English. This implies that one's immediate family has substantial wealth or high economic status, influencing their lifestyle and opportunities. However, it's important to remember the context in usage, as cultural views on wealth can differ.
ser de familia trabajadora
to be a working family
The Spanish phrase 'ser de familia trabajadora' translates to 'to be from a working family' in English. This phrase describes the socioeconomic status and work ethics of a family. It often reflects a family where all capable members participate in any kind of work, job or profession, to contribute to the total income of the household. This can be the result of necessity due to the family's financial state or can simply be part of the family values and traditions. This phrase can be a statement of pride in the family's hardwork and self-sufficiency.
ser de un equipo
being of a team
The Spanish phrase 'ser de un equipo' translates directly to 'being of a team' in English. However, in a more natural English phrase context, the meaning of 'ser de un equipo' represents the idea of 'belonging to a team' or 'being a member of a team'. This phrase is commonly used in Spanish to refer to someone's participation or involvement in a specific team, such as in sports or work environments. This phrase implies a sense of belonging and identity within the context of a team.
ser de un partido político
being of a political party
The Spanish phrase 'ser de un partido político' translates to 'being of a political party' in English. It is used to denote the affiliation or the act of belonging to a specific political party. This can be used in various contexts, such as discussing one's political identification or describing someone else's political allegiance. In a sentence, you might say 'Yo soy de un partido político' which means 'I am of a political party'.
Example sentences with ser de un partido político →ser despedido
to be fired
The Spanish term 'ser despedido' translates to 'to be fired' in English. This phrase is commonly used in professional or employment contexts where an individual's formal relationship with a job or organization is terminated. It implies a certain level of permanence, often used when someone loses their job due to reasons that may include a lack of performance, economic difficulties of the company, or restructuring of positions. It's crucial to understand regional differences in language usage, however, as different Spanish-speaking regions may have varying colloquial expressions for job termination.
ser doctor en Empresariales
be a doctor in business
The phrase 'ser doctor en Empresariales' in Spanish translates to 'be a doctor in Business' in English. This typically refers to someone who has achieved the highest academic degree in Business, commonly known as a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in the English-speaking world. The phrase could also be used in a broader context to simply mean someone who is very knowledgeable or an expert in the field of business.
ser doctor en Filología
be a doctor in Philology
The Spanish phrase 'ser doctor en Filología' translates to 'be a doctor in Philology' in English. This implies having a doctorate degree or being a scholar in Philology, which is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.
ser el centro de la fiesta
be the center of the party
The Spanish phrase 'ser el centro de la fiesta' translates to 'be the center of the party' in English. This phrase is used to describe a person who is the focus or main attraction at a social gathering or event. If you 'are the center of the party', it means people's attention is directed towards you, and you are probably engaging, entertaining, or interesting in some manner that draws people in.
ser gratis
be free
The Spanish phrase 'ser gratis' translates to 'be free' in English. This phrase often refers to something being without cost or charge. For instance, if you go to a museum and there's no entrance fee, in Spanish, you might say 'El museo es gratis.' Which translates to 'The museum is free.' It's important to note that 'ser gratis' may also imply certain liberties or freedoms in certain contexts, but it's predominantly used to denote the absence of a financial cost.
Example sentences with ser gratis →ser idénticos
be identical
The Spanish phrase 'ser idénticos' translates to 'be identical' in English. This phrase is often used to denote that two or more objects, people, or concepts share an exact likeness or similarity in some or all aspects. The verb 'ser' depicts permanence, equating to the English 'be', and 'idénticos' translates directly to 'identical'. Therefore, the phrase implies a permanent or inherent similarity or sameness.
ser indigesto
to be unworthy
The Spanish phrase 'ser indigesto' does not translate directly to 'to be unworthy' in English. Rather it carries a literal translation of 'to be indigestible.' It's a term typically used to indicate that something is hard to accept or understand, quite like a food that's hard to digest.
ser justo
be just
The Spanish phrase 'ser justo' translates to 'be just' in English. This phrase is used to express fairness or justice in actions or decisions. For instance, it can be utilized in a context where someone is being encouraged or expected to make a decision that is fair and balanced, or to behave in an ethically upright manner. Its usage is broad and can apply in diverse situations where fairness, justice, or equality must be underscored.
Example sentences with ser justo →ser licenciado en Empresariales
be licensed in Businesses
The Spanish phrase 'ser licenciado en Empresariales' translates to 'be licensed in Businesses' in English. This phrase is often used to denote someone who has obtained a degree or formal education in business studies, typically from a university or other higher education establishment. It's worth noting that 'licenciado' in this context refers to a degree, similar to Bachelor's degree, but it also often used for lawyers.
ser licenciado en Filología
be licensed in Philology
The phrase 'ser licenciado en Filología' in Spanish translates to 'be licensed in Philology' in English. This implies a person has finished university studies specific to Philology, gaining a degree and license in this academic area. Philology generally refers to the study of language in oral and written historical sources, involving a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.
ser objeto de análisis
to be the subject of analysis
The Spanish phrase 'ser objeto de análisis' translates to 'to be the subject of analysis' in English. This is often used in academic or professional contexts, when a person or a topic is being examined or studied in depth. The phrase can apply to a variety of situations, such as a piece of artwork being analyzed in a critique, a business decision being examined for its potential outcomes, or a scientific concept being explored in a research study.
Example sentences with ser objeto de análisis →ser objeto de estudio
to be studied
The Spanish term 'ser objeto de estudio' translates to 'to be studied' in English. This phrase is often used in academic and formal contexts. When something, such as a subject or topic, is 'ser objeto de estudio', it is the primary focus of research, examination, or inquiry. The objective of 'ser objeto de estudio' is to analyze, understand, and learn more about the particular topic or field of study.
Example sentences with ser objeto de estudio →seriedad
seriousness
The Spanish word 'seriedad' translates to 'seriousness' in English. This term can be utilized to describe the quality or state of being serious, earnest, or sincere. It depicts solemn, grave, or sober behavior, attitude, or character, often devoid of humor or frivolity. In other instances, it may also convey the weightiness or importance of a situation or matter. Similar to its English counterpart, 'seriedad' plays a versatile role in Spanish conversation and literature, serving to describe people, situations, and discussions.
servicio de limpieza
cleaning service
The Spanish phrase 'servicio de limpieza' translates to 'cleaning service' in English. This could refer to a professional business or an individual service that is hired to maintain cleanliness in various environments such as a home, office, or public space. They perform tasks like dusting, vacuuming, washing surfaces, and removing trash.
servicio de recogida de basura
garbage collection service
The phrase 'servicio de recogida de basura' in Spanish translates to 'garbage collection service' in English. It represents the service provided by public or private entities to collect and dispose of waste produced by households, commercial establishments, industries and other sectors. This phrase is commonly used in public administration and residential contexts, varying in scope depending on the country or city.
servicio militar (obligatorio)
military service (obligatory)
The Spanish term 'servicio militar (obligatorio)' translates to 'military service (obligatory)' in English. It refers to a government policy which mandates all qualifying citizens to serve in the nation's armed forces for a certain period of time. The obligation to perform military service often comes at a certain age and may involve training and active duty. In some countries, military service may be voluntary, but in others, it continues to be compulsory.
Example sentences with servicio militar (obligatorio) →servidor
server
The Spanish word 'servidor' translates to 'server' in English. It could refer to a person or a piece of technology. In a restaurant setting, a 'servidor' or server is the person who brings you your food. In a technology context, a 'servidor' or server is a computer or system that manages access to centralized resources or services in a network.
servir una comida
serving a meal
The Spanish phrase 'servir una comida' translates to 'serving a meal' in English. The verb 'servir' means 'to serve'. It is normally used in a context relating to the action of providing food or drink to someone. The counterpart 'una comida' means 'a meal'. This phrase can be used in different contexts such as at home, in restaurants, special events, etc. It's common to hear this phrase when referring to the act of setting food on the table for people to eat.
servir una mesa
serve a table
The Spanish phrase 'servir una mesa' translates to 'serve a table' in English. This expression can be used in a variety of contexts, most commonly in the foodservice industry. Waitstaff are often tasked with 'serving a table' — this does not only mean bringing food and drinks to the table, but also preparing the table for the meal, checking in on the customers during the meal, cleaning up after the meal, and providing overall excellent customer service. In this language, verbs like servir often change depending on who is doing the action, so it's important to conjugate it appropriately.
sesión de cine
cinema session
The Spanish phrase 'sesión de cine' translates to 'cinema session' in English. This phrase can refer to a specific showing or a time slot at a movie theater where a particular film is playing. It is commonly used in discussions about movie scheduling or planning a time to go to the cinema. It points to the scheduled arrangement of film screenings in a day.
seta
mushroom
The Spanish word 'seta' translates to 'mushroom' in English. 'Seta' is a generic term for any mushroom-like fungi, and is used across many Spanish-speaking regions. As with English, there are more specific words for different types of mushrooms. The word 'seta' can be used in various contexts, such as in cooking recipes, outdoor activities, and science descriptions.
Example sentences with seta →