501 Essential Verbs Flashcards
should, to owe, to have to
deber
to declare, to state, to announce, to testify
declarar
to abuse, to take advantage
abusar
to accept, to agree
aceptar
to accuse, to charge
acusar
to act
actuar
to admire, to amaze
admirar
to admit, to allow entry
admitir
to adore, to love, to worship
adorar
to agree, to concur
concordar
ex. Estos datos concuerdan con lo que encontraron mis colegas.
to analyze
analizar
to answer, to reply
contestar
ex. ¿Por qué no contestas la pregunta?
ex. Sería bonito que me contestaras las cartas alguna vez.
to apply, to put into practice
aplicar
to approve, to pass
aprobar
to assemble, to put together, to arm
armar
to attend, to assist
asistir
to attract, to grasp, to get, to gain
captar
ex. La empresa tiene que captar más inversores.
to battle, to fight, to struggle
batallar
ex. En la antigüedad, los generales batallaban junto a sus hombres.
to be fond of, to appreciate, to see
apreciar
to be glad, to be happy
alegrarse
to be quiet, shut up
callarse
to bear, to endure, to tolerate
aguantar
ex. Una presión financiera que difícilmente podemos aguantar.
This financial pressure is difficult for us to endure.
to beat, to churn, to mix
batir
ex. Las bombas batieron la ciudad.
to begin, to start
comenzar
to behave
comportarse
to blame, to accuse
culpar
ex. En su caso, creo que hay alguien a quien culpar./
In their case, I think there was someone to blame.
ex. No puedes culpar al Señor para ocultar tus pecados./ You cannot blame the Lord to hide your sins.
to brush, to plane (wood)
cepillar
to build, to construct
construir
to buy, to purchase, to bribe
comprar
to calm down, to ease off
calmarse
to caress, to stroke
acariciar
to catch
atrapar
to celebrate, to perform
celebrar
to change, to swap
cambiar
to charge, to earn, to cash, to collect
cobrar
ex. ¿A cuánto cobran el corte de cabello en ese salón?
to check
checar
to clarify, to clear up
aclarar
to close, to shut, to turn off
cerrar
to collaborate, to cooperate
colaborar
to collect
coleccionar
to commit- to carry out, to make
cometer
ex. ¿Cómo es posible que alguien pueda cometer tales actos de crueldad?
ex. ¡Uy! Cometí un error en el examen.
to compare
comaparar
to confess, to admit
confesar
to confirm
confirmar
to conjugate, to combine
conjugar
to connect, to link
conectar
to consider, to take into acccount
considerar
to consume
consumir
to continue, to go on
continuar
to contribute
contribuir
to control
controlar
to convince, to persuade
convencer
ex. Estoy tratando de convencer a mi madre que me deje ir al concierto.
ex. Entonces creo que debemos intentar y convencer a usted./ Then I think we ought to try and persuade you.
to cook
cocinar
to cook, to boil, to bake
cocer
ex. Cuece el espagueti por 12 minutos.
ex. ¿Cuánto tiempo tengo que cocer el pay?How long do I need to bake the pie for?
to copy, to imitate, to cheat
copiar
to correct, to grade
corregir
to count, to tell
contar
to crash, to collide, to run into
chocar
ex. El auto chocó violentamente contra el árbol.
to create
crear
to critique
criticar
to cross, to go across
cruzar
to cross, to go through
atravesar
to cure, to heal
curar
to cut, to chop, to break up
cortar
to damage, to harm
dañar
to dance
bailar
to decide
decidir
to deduce, to deduct
deducir
to delete, to erase, to clear
borrar
ex.
Así que le gustaría ayudar a borrar algunos de ellos.
So you would like to help erase some of them.
ex. Tienes dos segundos para borrar esa sonrisa de tu rostro.
to demolish, to knock down, to bring down
derribar
ex. El año pasado decidieron derribar el hospital antiguo.
to demonstrate, to show, to prove
demostrar
to descend, to fall, to go down
decender
to describe
describir
to despair, to get exasperated
desesperarse
ex. Me desespero con tantos plazos y tanta presión.
I go crazy with so many deadlines and so much pressure.
ex. No veo motivo para desesperarse.
to develop
desarrollar
to disappear, to vanish
desaparecer
to discover, to find out, to uncover, to reveal
descubrir
to dismantle, to disarm, to take apart
desarmar
to dive
bucear
to drink
beber
to drive
conducir
to eat
comer
to faint, to feel faint, to lose heart
desfallecer
to fall
caer
to fasten, to button up, to do up, to buckle
abrochar
to find out
averiguar
ex. Los niños averiguaron dónde sus papás habían escondido los regalos.
to finish, to end
acabar
to fit, to hold (capacity)
caber
to fix, to repair, to arrange, to sort out
arreglar
to fix, to repair, to compose
componer
ex. ¿Crees que podrás componer la computadora ?
ex. Neruda compuso algunos de los versos más hermosos de la poesía en lengua española.
to flirt
coquetear
ex. Mi hermano y tu hermana han estado coqueteando toda la noche.
My brother and your sister have been flirting all night long.
to frighten, to scare
asustar
to fulfill, to accomplish, to carry out, to turn (age)
cumplir
to get better, to be relieved
aliviarse
to get bored
aburrirse
to get closer
acercar
to get infected
contegiarse
to get married
casarse
to give
dar
to go down, to come down, to lower, to download
bajar
to go, to come, to turn to
acudir
ex. No podemos acudir a la fiesta debido a un compromiso previo.
We can’t go to the party due to a prior commitment.
ex. Cada vez que tiene dudas, acude a su madre para consejos.
to grow
crecer
to guess
advinar
to hang, to put up
colgar
ex. Colgaron la bandera en la ventana con orgullo.
ex. Colgaron el teléfono al mismo tiempo.They both hung up at the same time.
to have breakfast
desayunar
to have dinner
cenar
to help
ayudar
to help, to assist
auxiliar
to hug, embrace
abrazar
to hunt
cazar
to jump, to skip
brincar
to keep, to preserve
conservar
to kiss
besar
to know, to meet
conocer
to lack, to be lacking
carecer
ex. Debo carecer de las cualidades de un buen rey.
ex. A veces parecía carecer de sentido común./ Sometimes he seemed to lack common sense.
to land to arrive
aterrizar
to learn
aprender
to leave, to abandon, to let, to stop doing something
dejar
to lie down, to go to bed
acostarse
to limp, to hobble, to wobble
cojear
ex. Tomás llegó a casa cojeando y con un brazo lastimado.Tomás came limping home with an injured arm.
to load, to bear, to charge, to fuel, to carry
cargar
to look for, to search
buscar
to love
amar
to make the most of, to use
aprovechar
ex. Si quieres aprovechar el día, levántate más temprano.
ex. Aproveché el descanso para comprar el periódico.
I used the break to buy the newspaper.
to manage, to administer
administrar
to neglect, to be inattentive
descuidar
ex. Trabaja duro, pero no descuides a tus hijos.
ex. Estos no son aspectos que se puedan descuidar.
These are aspects not to be overlooked.
to notify, to warn, to let know
avisar
ex. Lo único que puedo hacer ahora es avisar a Marco.
ex. Dile que no puede cortar el agua sin avisar.
Tell him he can’t cut off the water without warning.
to open
abrir
to pay attention, to serve, to tend to
atender
to place, to put, to lay
colocar
ex. El mesero colocó los vasos sobre la mesa.
to punish, to penalize,
castigar
to reach, to catch, to achieve, to be sufficient
alcanzar
ex. Necesitábamos el caballo para alcanzar la ciudad de la luz.
ex. A que no me alcanzas./ Bet you can’t catch me.
ex. No alcanzaron la meta que se habían propuesto.
to remember, to agree
acordar
to rent, to lease to, to hire
alquilar
to rest
descansar
to run
correr
to save, to spare
ahorrar
to share
compartir
to shave
afeitarse
to sing
cantar
to spill, to shed-to emit, to spread- to disseminate
derramar
ex. Derramó el jugo sobre la mesa.
ex. Todos derramaban lágrimas en el funeral.
ex. Derramaron la noticia rápidamente.
to sunbathe
asolearse
to support, to back
apoyar
to sweep, to sweep away
barrer
to take a bath
bañarse
to take care, to look after
cuidar
to take, to pick, to catch, to get
coger
ex. ¿Puedo coger otra galleta?
ex. ¿Puedes coger el teléfono que está sonando en la sala?
to talk, to chat
conversar
to tear up, to rip
desgarrar
ex. l gato desgarró la cortina de seda al subirla.The cat tore the silk curtain when he climbed up it.
ex. Desgarré el vestido cuando me lo estaba sacando.I ripped my dress when I took it off.
to tell, to say
decir
to throw, to fan
aventar
ex. María castigó a su hijo por aventarle una piedra a un coche.
ex. La forma más sencilla de separar el trigo de la paja es aventándolo.The easiest way to separate the wheat from the hay is by winnowing it.
to tie
atar
ex. Voy a atar el perro a ese árbol para que pueda comprar un café. No me tardo.
I’m going to tie the dog to that tree so I can buy a coffee. I won’t be a minute.
to tie, to moor
amarrar
ex. La tripulación amarró el barco en el puerto.The crew moored the boat in the harbor.
ex. Le voy a amarrar un moño al regalo de cumpleaños.
I’ll tie a bow to the birthday present.
to trust, to be confident
confiar
to turn off, to switch off
apagar
to understand, to comprehend, to include, to cover
comprender
to undo, to untie, to break up
deshacer
ex. ¿Me puedes ayudar a deshacer las trenzas que me hicieron en la playa?
Can you help me undo the braids I got done on the beach?
ex. Por favor deshaz la cama para que pueda lavar las sábanas.
to untie, to undo, to unleash
desatar
ex. Es hora de desatar las cuerdas y zarpar.
It’s time to untie the lines and set sail.
ex. No puedo desatar este nudo. ¿Me echas una mano?
to walk
caminar
to walk, to go ahead, to work
andar
to whistle, to boo
chiflar
ex. El concerje chiflaba mientras limpiaba el piso.The janitor whistled as he mopped the floor.
to wish, to desir, to want
desear
to yawn
bostezar
ex. No tengo sueño, pero no puedo parar de bostezar.
to faint
desmayarse
ex. Ella se sintió muy débil y estuvo a punto de desmayarse en el gimnasio esta mañana./ She felt very weak and nearly fainted at the gym this morning.
to say good-bye
despedirse
to waste
desperdiciar
ex. “No podemos desperdiciar el tiempo”, dice.
ex. No deberíamos desperdiciar esta oportunidad.
to wake, to awaken, to arouse
despertar
to look down on, to despise, to reject
despreciar
to unblock, to open, to take a lid off
destapar
to destroy, to ruin, to wreck
destruir
to stay awake
desvelarse
ex. Anoche me desvelé porque hacía muchísimo calor. Last night I was unable to get to sleep because it was really hot.
ex. Mis amigas y yo nos desvelamos en la pijamada.
My friends and I stayed awake at the sleepover.
to stop, to halt, to arrest
detener
to detest, to hate
detestar
to give back, to return, to throw up
devolver
to draw, to sketch
dibujar
to run, to manage, to direct
dirigir
to excuse, to forgive
disculpar
ex. Por favor, discúlpame por haber roto la guitarra. Please, forgive me for breaking the guitar.
ex. Discúlpeme por llegar unos minutos tarde.
to argue, to discuss, to debate
discutir
to dress up
disfrazarse
ex. ¿Te vas a disfrazar para la fiesta de mañana?
ex. La espía se disfrazó de mesera para poder escuchar toda la conversación.
to enjoy, to have a good time
disfrutar
to stipulate, to order, to arrange, to have available
disponer
ex. Hemos dispuesto los libros por género y entonces autor. / We’ve arranged the books by genre and then author.
ex. La ley dispone que los dueños de carro deben pagar un impuesto anual.
to distinguish, to make out, to honor
distinguir
to have fun, to have good time, to enjoy oneself
divertirse
to fold, to turn, to dub
doblar
to sleep
dormir
to doubt, to hesitate
dudar
to throw, to expel, to put
echar
to produce, to make, to develop, to prepare
elaborar
to choose, to elect
elegir
to raise, to lift, to increase
elevar
to eliminate, to get rid of, to remove
eliminar
to board, to go on board, to undertake
embarcarse
to get drunk
emborracharse
to get excited, to be moved, to get upset
emocionarse
to tie, to get even, to match
empatar
ex. ¿Quién será presidente si los dos candidatos empatan?
to start, to begin
empezar
to employ, to use
emplear
to undertake, to embark on, to set out
emprender
ex. Esta es la tarea que hemos de emprender ahora mismo./ This is the job we have to undertake right now.
ex. Estamos a punto de emprender nuestro viaje a Japón.
to push, to shove, to drive
empujar
to fall in love
enamorarse
to order, to take care
encargar
ex. Los pantalones estaban agotados, pero encargué un par de todos modos./ The pants were out of stock, but I ordered a pair anyway.
ex. El jefe le encargó a ella el proyecto.
to light, to swicth on, to awaken
encender
to plug in, to swicth on, to set up with
enchufar
to find
encontrar
to straighten, to sort out
enderezar
ex. Puedes usar los alicates para enderezar el alambre./
You can use the pliers to straighten the wire.
ex. Tienes muy mala postura. ¡Endereza esa espalda!
ex. Antes que nada, deberías tratar de enderezar tu vida./First of all, you should try and sort your life out.
to sweeten, to soften, to brighten up
endulzar
to fall ill, to get ill, to get sick
enfermarse
to lose weight, to get thin
enflacar
to deceive, to mislead, to cheat on
engañar
ex. Pudo engañar al público con su propaganda.
to put on or gain weight, to fatten, to swell
engordar
to go crazy, to drive insane, to be mad about
enloquecer
ex. Porque me haces enloquecer. Because you drive me crazy.
ex. ¿Puedes dejar de silbar? ¡Me estás enloqueciendo!/ Could you stop whistling? You’re driving me mad!
to get angry, to get mad
enojarse
to rehearse, to try, to test, to practice
ensayar
to teach, to show
enseñar
to get dirty, to sully
ensuciar
to understand, to know
entender
to enter, to go or come in, to start
entrar
to deliver, to give, to turn in
entregar
to train
entrenarse
to grow sad, to become sad
entristecerse
to send, to dispatch
enviar
to make a misake, to be wrong
equivocarse
to climb, to scale,
escalar
to escape, to run away, to get away
escapar
to choose, to pick, to select
escoger
to hide
esconder
to writer
escribir
to listen, to hear
escuchar
to wait, to expect, to hope
esperar
to be
estar
to sneeze
estornudar
to study, to learn, to consider
estudiar
to avoid, to prevent
evitar
to examine, to inspect, to study
examinar
to explain
explicar
to explore, to examine, to scout, to surf (the web)
explorar
to express, to state
expresar
to lose, to misplace
extraviar
to manufacture, to produce, to make
fabricar
to fail, to miss, to rule (legal)
fallar
to miss, to need, to lack
faltar
to feign, to pretend
fingir
to fail, to be unsuccessful
fracasar
to brake, to stop, to slow down
frenar
to smoke
fumar
to earn, to win, to gain
ganar
to spend, to waste
gastar
to turn, to spin, to revolve
girar
to govern
gobernar
to hit, to beat
golpear
to enjoy, to have fun, to take pleasure
gozar
to record, to engrave, to etch
grabar
to shout, to scream, to yell
gritar
to keep, to put away, to save
guardar
to live in, to dwell in
habitar
to do, to make
hacer
to find
hallar
