Vocabulary Flashcards
single words/phrases
It ran out.
Se acabó.
(the accidental “se” so this is a reflexive use)
I want to take the garbage out before my children go to bed.
Quier sacar la basura antes de que mis hijos se acuesten.
When there is no subject change, follow this pattern: antes de + infinitive.
If there is a subject change, antes de que + subjunctive.
Acostarse is the verb.
I’m glad that you’re here.
Me alegro de que estés aquí.
Alegrarse (de) (to be glad, to rejoice)
Reflexive: Yes
Preposition: Yes, requires de before a noun/infinitive or que + subjunctive.
Distinguish from:
Agradecer (to appreciate, to be grateful)
Reflexive: No
Preposition: No direct preposition; use with que + subjunctive or algo/a alguien.
Ejemplo: Agradezco que me ayudes. (I appreciate that you help me.)
not at all (express several ways)
para nada; en absoluto; de ninguna manera; de ningún modo.
No estoy cansado para nada. (I’m not tired at all.)
Eso no me preocupa para nada.
(That doesn’t worry me at all.)
No hay problema en absoluto.
(There’s no problem at all.)
No me gusta en lo absoluto.
(I don’t like it at all.)
No tiene sentido alguno.
(It doesn’t make any sense at all.)
No me importa ni un poco.
(I don’t care at all.)
“Para nada” is a common expression in Spanish that means “not at all” or “by no means.” While “no para nada” might be technically grammatically correct, it’s not a commonly used expression in Spanish. Typically, “para nada” is used on its own to convey the idea of “not at all.”
convincing
The research is very convincing.
convincente
La investigación es muy convincente.
therefore
Así que (casual and commonly used)
Entonces (meaning: “Then” or “so.”) Versatile and widely used in spoken language, especially for cause-and-effect explanations.
por lo tanto Indicates a conclusion or logical result based on the previous statement.
Por eso (“That’s why” or “therefore.”) Common in casual conversations to express causality.
Beer
Cerveza
Chela
Fría (more literally: a cold one)
bridge
el puente
to spoil/go bad (food)
echarse a perder
snacks
las botanas (most common in Mexico; they also say “snacks”)
also: aperitivos, bocadillos (which can refer to snacks or sandwiches)
In Mexico, the most common word for “snacks” is “botanas”. This term is widely used to refer to light, informal foods typically enjoyed between meals or at gatherings, such as chips, nuts, or small appetizers.
Another word you might hear is “antojitos”, but this usually refers to traditional Mexican street foods or small dishes, like tacos or tamales, rather than typical snack items.
as you know (as you well know, as you are well aware)
como bien sabes
Michaelada (name my favorite and say what it contains)
Michaelada cubana.
“cubana” incluye salsa inglesa, salsa picante y jugo de limón;
Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and lime juice;
I turned the light off so my wife could sleep.
Apagué la luz para que mi mujer pudiera dormir.
Para que (+ subjunctive)
shows the purpose of the action in the first clause. “So that” the thing in the second clause would occur or not.
don’t confuse with:
Asi que = so, because of that, as a result of…
shows the result of the action in the first clause
I burned the rice.
Se me quemó el arroz.
(I accidentally burned the rice.) The accidental se:
se + indirect object pronoun + conjugated verb + noun
The conjugated verb will always agree with the noun that follows it, rather than the subject.
- Quemar (transitive) – “to burn (something)”
Used when there is a direct object, meaning someone or something is burning something else.
Quemé la comida. (I burned the food.)
El sol puede quemar tu piel. (The sun can burn your skin.)
Quemaron documentos importantes. (They burned important documents.)
- Quemarse (reflexive) – “to burn oneself” / “to get burned” / “to be overcooked”
Used when the subject is affected by the burning or when something burns on its own.
Me quemé la mano con el sartén. (I burned my hand with the pan.)
El pan se quemó en el horno. (The bread got burned in the oven.)
Nos quemamos en la playa. (We got sunburned at the beach.)
Key Differences
If you actively burn something → Use “quemar” (e.g., Él quemó la carta → He burned the letter.)
If something burns itself or someone gets burned → Use “quemarse” (e.g., La casa se quemó → The house burned down.)
Hurry up/ come on
¡Ándale! – Very common in Mexico, can also mean “Come on!” or “Let’s go!”
¡Apúrate! – Common in many Spanish-speaking countries.
¡Date prisa! – Also widely understood, more formal in tone.
¡Rápido! – Short and simple, like saying “Quick!”
handyman
manitas
purchase receipt
recibo de compra
the whole day ahead
Todo el día por delante
(to run an) errand
To run an errand: hacer un mandado
mandado = errand or groceries
I came up with a brilliant idea.
Se me ocurrió una idea brillante.
Literal translation: “A brilliant idea occurred to me.”
“Se”: Reflexive marker for the accidental or spontaneous action.
“Me”: Indirect object pronoun indicating that the idea occurred to “me.”
“Ocurrió”: Third-person singular form of “ocurrir”, agreeing with “una idea” (the subject).
“Una idea brillante”: The subject of the sentence (the thing that occurred).
This construction is often used when inspiration or thoughts come unexpectedly.
holy moly! No way!
(expresses surprise)
No manches
to focus on
focus/approach
enfocarse en
el enfoque (noun)
I eat more ice cream than Anne.
Como más helado que Anne.
Pattern (when NOT followed by a verb):
más que
menos que
If the sentence is “I eat more ice cream than Anne does”, it doesn’t change the structure. Just leave out translating the “does.”
I ran out of options.
Me quedé sin opciones.
Se me acabaron las opciones.
The “se” in this sentence is an impersonal or accidental “se”, which is used to indicate that something happened unintentionally or passively.
It is often used with verbs like acabar, perder, romper, olvidar, etc.
It shifts focus away from personal responsibility, which is common in Spanish when describing accidental or unintended outcomes.
