Spanish
Vocab Builder for commonly used words in Spanish.
Cruz Roja
Cruz Roja is a Spanish term that translates to 'Red Cross' in English. The Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in over 180 countries worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering.
cruzar el océano
The Spanish phrase 'cruzar el océano' is translated in English as 'cross the ocean'. This phrase could be used both in a literal sense, such as physically travelling or sailing across an ocean body, or metaphorically to express overcoming a big challenge or making a substantial change in life.
Example sentences with cruzar el océano →cruzar el país
The Spanish phrase 'cruzar el país' translates to 'cross the country' in English. This can be used in various contexts, such as discussing travel plans (e.g., 'I plan to cruzar el país this summer'). It can also be applied metaphorically to convey the idea of experiencing or understanding different aspects or regions of a country.
Example sentences with cruzar el país →cruzar la frontera
The phrase 'cruzar la frontera' comes from Spanish, and it translates to 'cross the border' in English. It describes the act of moving from one side of a geographical boundary (a border) to the other. While primarily used when talking about traveling from one country to another, it could also refer to moving across borders of states, provinces, or similar regions.
Example sentences with cruzar la frontera →cruzar las piernas
The Spanish phrase 'cruzar las piernas' is a command in English that means 'cross your legs'. It is an instruction often given in contexts such as physical wellness classes like yoga or general etiquette. In addition to its literal meaning, the phrase can also colloquially imply the act of waiting patiently or with decorum. Note that 'cruzar' means 'to cross' and 'piernas' means 'legs' in English. Therefore, the literal translation is 'cross the legs'. In Spanish, the whole phrase is more often used, particularly in a formal context.
cruzar los brazos
The Spanish phrase 'cruzar los brazos' translates to 'cross your arms' in English. It is often used to describe the physical action of placing one arm across the other, often done when a person is defensive, doubting, or simply relaxed. It is also used metaphorically in both languages to indicate refusal or resistance to an idea or request.
cruzarse de piernas
The term 'cruzarse de piernas' in Spanish directly translates to 'cross your legs' in English. This is used to describe the physical action of placing one leg on top of the other, typically done while seated. The term is widely used in day-to-day conversations, especially in the context of basic manners or body language discussions.
cuaderno
A book or binder of papers used for keeping notes, especially during a lecture or for personal or professional purposes.
Example sentences with cuaderno →cuadra
The Spanish word 'cuadra' translates to 'block' in English. In urban Spanish-speaking areas, this term often refers to a city block, which is the distance between one street and the next. In other contexts, it could be used to describe a block of items or a block of content. However, it is always important to consider the context in which 'cuadra' is used to understand its exact meaning, as like with many words in many languages, its interpretation can change.
Example sentences with cuadra →cual
The Spanish word 'cual' translates to 'which' in English. It's used in questions as well as in statements where you need to refer to one or more choice from a definite set. For instance, in sentence '¿Cuál es tu número?' it is asking 'Which is your number?'. However, please be cautious, as the usage of 'cual' may change based on the gender, number, and context of the statement or question.
Example sentences with cual →cualificado
The Spanish word 'cualificado' translates to 'qualified' in English. It is often used to refer to a person or entity that has the necessary skills, knowledge, or experience to perform a particular job or task. For example, in a job setting, a 'cualificado' person is someone who meets or exceeds the requirements for a certain position because they have the education, training, certifications, or experience necessary.
cualquier cosa
The Spanish word 'cualquier cosa' translates to 'anything' in English. It can be used in a variety of contexts, but often to indicate that any kind of thing can happen, be achieved, or is possible. Similar to how it's used in English, 'cualquier cosa' can also be used in a negative context to imply that nothing in particular is wanted or acceptable.
Example sentences with cualquier cosa →cualquiera
The Spanish word 'cualquiera' is an equivalent to the English word 'either'. It is generally used as a pronoun or an adjective. It is used to indicate a choice between two alternatives, just like 'either' in English. For example, 'Puedes elegir cualquiera de las opciones' meaning 'You can choose either of the options'. However, it can also be used as 'any' in some cases, depending on the context.
Example sentences with cualquiera →cuando
The Spanish word 'cuando' is used as an adverb, conjunction, or pronoun, similar to the English 'when'. It can be used to ask about or state the time at which something happens, or to introduce a clause indicating the time at which the action in the main clause takes place. For example, '¿Cuando vas a comer?' means 'When are you going to eat?'
Example sentences with cuando →cuarteto
The Spanish word 'cuarteto' translates to 'quartet' in English. A 'quartet' generally refers to a group or set of four people or things. In music, a 'quartet' is a group consisting of four musicians, singers, or performers, or a piece of music designed to be played or sung by four musicians or singers.
Example sentences with cuarteto →cuartos de final
The Spanish phrase 'cuartos de final' translates to 'quarter final' in English. This phrase is used predominantly in the context of sports or any other kind of competition where the participants are divided into four final stages before the semi-finals and the final. It is a direct indication of the stage in a tournament or competition, referring to the round of the last eight teams or participants.
cuatro
The Spanish word 'cuatro' is the equivalent of the English number 'four'. It usually comes after 'tres' (three) and before 'cinco' (five). It is used in similar contexts to English, such as denoting a quantity of objects or a rank/order. For example, 'hay cuatro manzanas' means 'there are four apples'.
Example sentences with cuatro →cubertería
The term 'cubertería' is used in the Spanish language to refer to a collection of tools colloquially known as 'cutlery' in English. This can usually be found in a dining setting and primarily includes spoons, forks, and knives. It is considered an essential part of dining etiquette and a requirement for eating a majority of meals.
cubismo
Cubismo, or 'cubism' in English, is an early twentieth-century style and movement in art, especially painting, in which perspective with a single viewpoint was abandoned and use was made of simple geometric shapes, interlocking planes, and, later, collage. The term is broadly used in association with a wide variety of art produced in Paris (Montmartre and Montparnasse) or near Paris during the 1910s and extending through the 1920s.
Example sentences with cubismo →cubrir
The Spanish word 'cubrir' is used to denote covering, concealing or protecting something. It does not only pertain to physical things, but it can also refer to abstract concepts like covering a topic in a discussion. Its use is similar to the English word 'cover'.
Example sentences with cubrir →cubrir una vacante
The Spanish term 'cubrir una vacante' translates into English as 'to fill a vacancy'. It is often used in the job market and professional fields. When there is an empty position in a company or organization that needs to be filled with a suitable candidate, they are said to 'cubrir una vacante'.
cuchara
The word 'cuchara' is a noun in Spanish language which translates to the word 'spoon' in English. It is widely used in the household, dining, or kitchen context and refers to the utensil commonly used to stir, serve, or consume food. The plural form is 'cucharas'.
cucharilla
The word 'cucharilla' in Spanish translates to 'teaspoon' in English. This is a diminutive form of 'cuchara', the basic Spanish term for a spoon. In a kitchen context, 'cucharilla' typically refers to a small spoon often used for stirring coffee or tea, much like the usage of 'teaspoon' in English.
cucharón
'Cucharón' is a Spanish word referring to a large long-handled spoon with a cup-shaped bowl, used for serving soup, stew or sauce. In English, this tool is known as a 'ladle'. Its everyday use makes it a commonly known household item. Understanding this word could be particularly useful for conversations around cooking or meals.
cuchilla de afeitar
The Spanish term 'cuchilla de afeitar' translates to 'razor blade' in English. This is a blade used typically in shaving equipment like razors, which help remove unwanted hair from the face or body. Due to its sharpness, it's essential to use a razor blade carefully to avoid cuts or nicks. It's a common item found within bathroom supplies or personal grooming tools.
Example sentences with cuchilla de afeitar →cuchillo
The Spanish word 'cuchillo' translates to 'knife' in English. It is commonly used for a tool or weapon with a cutting edge or blade, often attached to a handle or hilt. One of the earliest tools used by humanity, knives appeared at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools. The 'cuchillo' is used in the kitchen for food preparation, or as a utensil.
cuello
The Spanish word 'cuello' translates to 'neck' in English. It refers to the part of the body that connects the head to the rest of the body. This term is used in various contexts, such as anatomy, clothing, and phrases. In anatomy, 'cuello' refers to the physical body part. In clothing, 'cuello' might refer to the neck or collar of a shirt or top. In phrases, an example is 'romper el cuello', a Spanish idiom referring to straining one's neck.
cuello chimenea
The Spanish term 'cuello chimenea' translates to 'chimney collar' in English. It is often used to refer to an area or part of clothing. Specifically, it's a type of high, close-fitting neckline on a garment that resembles a chimney in shape or a collar that folds over to create a similar effect. It can also refer to an actual piece on a chimney which helps regulate smoke dispersion. The exact usage can vary based on context.
cuello de la botella
The Spanish term 'cuello de la botella' translates to 'bottleneck' in English. It can be used both literally, to denote the narrow part of a bottle, and metaphorically, to refer to a point of congestion or blockage in a system or process that inhibits progress.
cuello de pico
The Spanish term 'cuello de pico' translates to 'V-Neck' in English. This term is often used in reference to clothing, particularly shirts or dresses, to describe a style of neckline that dips down in the shape of the letter 'V'. This type of neckline is popular for its ability to elongate the neck and draw attention to the chest. It can be worn by anyone but is particularly flattering on individuals with larger chests, shorter necks or rounder faces as it can create a more balanced silhouette.