Unidad 1 - Capítulo 1

Question 1

el apellido

Answer 1

surname, last name

Question 2

el apodo / sobrenombre

Answer 2

nickname

In Spanish many nicknames are formed by adding “ito” to the end of a boy’s name: Manuel + ito = Manuelito

Or “ita” to a girl’s name: Ana + ita = Anita

Question 3

la billetera

Answer 3

wallet

Question 4

la despedida

Answer 4

good-bye, farewell

Examples of informal despedidas are:

“Adiós”

“Ciao”

In Argentina people usually say “ciao ciao” to friends and family

Question 5

despedirse

Answer 5

to say goodbye

This verb is reflexive. The reflexive pronoun “se” is attached to the end of the infinitive.

If I wanted to use the verb in a sentence I would say:

• Perdón, yo tengo que despedirme del Presidente.*
• Excuse me, I have to say goodbye to the President.*

Question 6

materno/materna

Answer 6

maternal, mother’s side

(Remember, adjectives must change in gender and number according to the word it describes)

• Don Julio es mi abuelo materno.*
• Don Julio is my mother’s father / Don Julio is my grandfather on my mother’s side.*

Question 7

nacer

Answer 7

to be born

Question 8

el nacimiento

Answer 8

the birth

El nacimiento de mi hermano fue muy alegre.

The birth of my brother was very happy.

Question 9

el nombre completo

Answer 9

full name (includes both first and last names)

• Mi nombre completo es Ana Moreno Rojas.*
• My full name is Ana Moreno Rojas.*

Question 10

paterno/paterna

Answer 10

paternal, father’s side

• Mis tías paternas son muy amables.*
• My paternal aunts are very friendly/ My aunts on my dad’s side are very friendly.*

Question 11

el primer nombre

Answer 11

first name

• Mi primer nombre es Luis.*
• My first name is Luis.*

Question 12

segundo nombre

Answer 12

middle name

Middle names are not as common in Spanish speaking countries. Normally, a person has two last names (one from each parent).

Question 13

saludar

Answer 13

to greet

“un saludo” is a greeting. An example of “un saludo” is “Hola”

Some greetings are shortened in informal situations:

Buenas tardes = “Buenas”

Question 14

ser

Answer 14

to be

Ser is used to express:

Characteristics that don’t change (like the material something is made of; what religion you are; what your job is).

Soy maestra. / I am a teacher

Question 15

encantado/encantada

Answer 15

“charmed”

You say this when you are meeting someone for the first time. It’s like saying “nice to meet you.”

If you are a man use: encantado

If you a woman use: encantada

Question 16

conocer

Answer 16

to know (to be familiar with)

Conocer is used with people, places or things that you are familiar with.

Have you been to New York City? If so, tú conoces Nueva York.

Question 17

encontrarse

Answer 17

to meet (reflexive verb)

Remember, this verb has a reflexive pronoun attached to the end of it. Always place the correct reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) before the verb.

• Nos encontramos en la cafetería.*
• Let’s meet in the cafeteria.*

Question 18

llamarse

Answer 18

to call oneself, to be named

This verb is also reflexive. We use it to express what someone is called.

Me llamo Ms. Taylor.

Question 19

Reunirse

Answer 19

to have a meeting, or to get together

Nos vamos a reunir en la Casa Blanca.

We are going to have a meeting in the White House.

(Notice that the reflexive pronoun went before the verb “vamos”. You can also say: Vamos a reunirnos.)

This construction: ir + a + verb means something is going to happen in the future.

Question 20

saber

Answer 20

to know information

Use saber with things like phone numbers, scores, addresses or other numerical information.

If the teacher asks you a question in class and you DON’T know the answer… say “no sé” which means “I don’t know”

Question 21

“verdad”

Answer 21

Right, True

Use this to ask whether or not your listener agrees with you.

Question 22

sino

Answer 22

“but rather”

This is always used with a negative sentence.

• No compré la leche, sino la gaseosa.*
• I didn’t buy the milk, but rather I bought soda.*

Question 23

ya

Answer 23

now, already

• Ya fui al doctor.*
• I already went to the doctor.*

Question 24

a ver

Answer 24

Let’s see…

This is an expression that buys you time. Someone asks you to look somethign up on Google, for example, you can say: “a ver…” while you are looking.

Question 25

viste

Answer 25

you see…

This is another expression you can use ask your listener if they agree with you.

Question 26

así que

Answer 26

therefore

This expression is used to represent a conclusion.

• No tuve leche, así que fui al mercado.*
• I did not have milk, so I went to the market.*

Question 27

en serio

Answer 27

really

This expression usually means shocked or surprised. It can be used alone as a expression or used in a sentence.

Question 28

parecer

Answer 28

to seem, to appear

Manuel parece muy enojado.

Manuel seems/appears very angry.

Question 29

Bueno

Answer 29

well, actually, “okay”

Listen to the following sound clips to understand the differences:

Bueno, es que no tuve tiempo. / Well, it’s just that I didn’t have time.

Bueno, no quiero ir contigo. / Actually, I don’t want to go with you.

“Bueno, dale. Vamos a comer.” / Okay, sure. Let’s go eat.

Question 30

la solicitud

Answer 30

the application

Think of this as a job application, form or request.

• Por favor, escribe su nombre complete en la solicitud.*
• Please write your full name on the application.*