English Vocabulary and Phrases: Definitions and Examples
Numbers and Dates
3rd = Third 5th = Fifth 9th = Ninth 12th = Twelfth 13th = Thirteenth
Countries and Cities
England = London Scotland = Edinburgh Wales = Cardiff Northern Ireland = Belfast.
Common Phrases
Getting By and Learning
- Get by (in a language): know just enough of a language for simple communication. (arreglárselas/ pasar)
- Pick up (a language): learn a language by practicing it, rather than by learning it in a class. (aprender a base de practicar).
Assignments and Education
- An assignment: a piece of work given to someone as part of their studies or job. (tarea o encargo)
- A dissertation: a long piece of writing on a particular subject.
- A scholarship: an amount of money paid by a school, university, etc., to a student who has a lot of ability, but not much money. (beca)
Encouragement and Persuasion
- Encourage: talk or behave in a way that gives somebody confidence in something: My uncle encouraged me to become a musician. (incentivar, entusiasmar)
- Persuade: make somebody decide to do something by giving them a reason why they should do it: I persuaded Steve to buy a new car.
Feelings and Reactions
- Resent: feel angry because you have to do something you don’t want to do: No wonder kids resent having to do exams. (resentirse / molestarse)
- End up: finally be in a particular situation or place: I never thought I’d end up being a teacher.
Prepositions and Emotions
- Terrified of (by) = aterrado de (por)
- Fascinated by (with) = fascinado por (con)
- Excited about (by, at) = Entusiasmado sobre (por, en)
- Satisfied with (by) = satisfecho con (por)
- Shocked by (at) = Sorprendido, conmocionado por (en)
- Disappointed in (by, with) = decepcionado en ( por, con)
- Impressed by (with, at) = impresionado por (con, en)
Awareness and Knowledge
- Aware of = ser consciente de
- Famous for = famoso por
- Sure about (of) = seguro sobre (de)
- Sick of = cansado de
- Fond of: like somebody or something very much
Crime and Law
- Robbery: stealing from people and banks.
- Theft: stealing money and things.
- Burglary: stealing from houses and flats. (robar con fractura)
- Mugging: using violence to steal from somebody in a public place. (atraco)
- Shoplifting: stealing things from a shop while it is open. (urto, robo)
- Smuggling: taking things illegally from one country to another. (contrabando)
- Kidnapping: taking a person by using violence, often in order to get money for returning them. (secuestro)
- Fraud: obtaining money illegally, usually by using clever and complicated methods.
- Bribery: trying to make somebody do something you want by giving them money, presents, etc. (soborno)
- Murder: killing somebody intentionally.
- Arson: starting a fire in a building in order to damage or destroy it. (incendio provocado)
- Vandalism: intentionally damaging public property, or property belonging to other people.
- Looting: stealing from shops or homes that have been damaged in a war, natural disaster, etc. (saqueo)
Legal Actions
- Charge sb with a crime
- Take sb to court: take legal action against somebody:
- Give evidence: tell a court of law what you know about a crime
- Guilty: responsible for committing a crime.
- Acquit:/Sentence/ Fine:
Phrasal Verbs and Prepositions
- Name sb/sth after sb/sth (ponerle un nombre a alguien por)
- Base sth on sth = use one thing or idea and develop it into something else.
- Insist on sth = say strongly and forcefully that you want to do something.
- Convince sb of sth
- Protest against sth
- Worry about sb/sth
- Cope with sb/sth = deal with a difficult person, problem or situation.
- Complain to sb about sb/sth
- Succeed in sth
- Reduce sth to sth
- Apologise to sb for sth
- Apply to sb/sth for sth
More Phrasal Verbs
- Pass sth on (to sb) or pass on sth (to sb)
- Make sth up or make up sth
- Turn out:
- Run sb/sth over or run over sb/sth:
- Go off:
- Run away:
- Work sth out or work out sth:
- Get away with sth:
- Knock sb out or knock out sb:
- Come round:
Other Useful Phrases
- Blurb: a brief description of the book contents found on the back cover.
Everyday Actions
- Catch up on: reach the same standard or level as other people. (ponerse al día)
- Cheer up: Start to feel happier than you were. (animarse)
- Fit in with: agree to do what somebody else decides to do. (Conformarse)
- Pass by: go past somewhere. (pasar por un lugar)
- Talk sb into sth: persuade somebody to do something. (convencer)
- Go ahead: proceed with a plan. (seguir adelante con algo)
- Put out or put sb out: when something is inconvenient for somebody. (poner en un compromiso)
Taking Action
- Take responsibility for sth: say that you are responsible for something that has happened.
- Take sb for granted: expected that somebody will always be there and never show them any special attention or care.
- Take sth out on sb: make someone suffer because you are tired or angry.
- Take sth at face value: accept something for what it appears to the rather than studying it more closely. (aceptar algo sin previo análisis)
- Take time to do sth: spend time to do something well or carefully.
- Take an interest in: show an interest in something or someone.
- Take notice of sb/ sth: pay attention to somebody or something and let them influence you.
- Take sides: support one person or group against another in an argument. (tomar partido/ ponerse de lado de)
- Take advantage: treat somebody badly or unfairly in order to get something from them. (aprovecharse de)
- Take sth/sb seriously: consider a person or a situation important.
- Not take no for an answer: not allow someone to refuse what you have offered. (no aceptar un no por respuesta)
Personality Traits
- Strong-willed: people are determined to behave in a particular way, even if other people disagree with them. (de voluntad firme)
- Self-conscious: people are shy and easily embarrassed because they think that everybody is looking at them and judging them. (cohibido, inseguro)
- Laid-back: people are relaxed and appear not to be worried about anything. (relajado and easygoing)
- Open-minded: people are happy to accept ideas and ways of life that are different from their own. (mente abierta)
- Self-centred: people are only interested in themselves and their own activities. (egocentric)
- Narrow-minded: people don’t want to accept new ideas or opinions that are different from their own. (de mente estrecha)
More Personality Traits
- Easy-going: people aren’t easily upset, worried or annoyed by problems or other people’s actions. (despreocupado)
- Big-headed: people think they are more important or clever than they really are. (engreído, arrogante)
- Bad-tempered: people are often annoyed, angry or impatient.
- Absent-minded: people tend to forget things. (despistado, olvidadizo)
- Level-headed: people are calm and able to make sensible decisions in difficult situations. (calm and sensible = juicioso)
- Self-assured: people have confidence in their own abilities. (seguro de sí mismo)