Essential English Vocabulary: Everyday Words and Phrases
Starter Unit: Essential English Vocabulary
Common Words and Phrases
1. Grow Up
Progress to maturity or adulthood. Mature
2. Soft Drinks
Non-alcoholic drinks. Synonyms: soda, pop, coke, soda pop, fizzy drink, tonic, seltzer, mineral, sparkling water, or carbonated beverage.
3. To Own a Pet
To have/possess a domestic animal.
4. To Have a Tattoo
To get a tattoo (hacerse un tatuaje).
5. To Apply For
To subscribe or formally request something.
6. Withdraw
To take (money) out of an account. Synonyms: remove, take away (Retirar dinero).
7. To Make a Will
Making sure it’s valid, to write a legal document outlining the distribution of one’s assets after death (testar).
8. To Join the Army
To enlist in the army (alistarse en el ejército).
9. To Hold a Pilot’s Licence
To have a pilot’s license (tener el carné de piloto).
10. To Be Convicted Of (a Criminal Offence)
To be declared guilty of a criminal offence by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law.
11. To Give Blood
To donate blood (donar sangre).
12. To Complain Against
To express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something or someone (quejarse).
13. To Be Fair
To be just and impartial (ser justo).
14. Right to Vote
The legal right to participate in elections (derecho al voto).
15. To Pay Tax
To pay a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on personal income and business profits or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions.
16. Lift
A ride to a place you want to get to.
17. Danger
Hazard, peligro.
18. Permission
Consent or authorization.
19. Excessive
Over-the-top, exceeding normal limits.
20. Advice
Guidance or recommendations.
21. Naive
Simple or without life experience (ingenuo).
22. Toy With
To consider the possibility of something (darle vueltas a).
23. Take On
To accept or reassume (asumir).
24. Pick On
To repeatedly choose someone or something from a group for unkind treatment or unfair criticism (meterse con).
25. Leave Out
To abandon or exclude.
26. Stick With
To persevere or continue with something.
27. To Raise
To move to a higher position or level.
28. Unfair
Inequitable or unjust.
29. Useless
Worthless, ineffective, serving no purpose.
30. To Rely On
To trust fully, have faith in.
31. Eyesight
A person’s ability to see, vision.
32. Encourage
To give support, hope, or courage to; stimulate (animar).
33. To Drop
To become lower or to let something fall (dejar caer).
34. To Get Rid Of
To dispose of or eliminate something unwanted (deshacerse de).
35. Embarrassed
Ashamed or feeling self-conscious.
36. Row
A quarrel, argument, or a line of things (fila).
37. Nearly
Very close to, almost.
38. Mug
To attack and rob someone in a public place.
39. To Get Locked Out
To be unable to enter a place because you are locked out (dejar fuera al cerrar).
40. Contact Lenses
Lentillas (corrective lenses worn on the eye).
41. To Brighten Up
To become better or more cheerful (mejorar).
42. Rehearsal
A trial performance of a play or other work for later public performance.
43. Hit
To come into contact with (someone or something stationary) quickly and forcefully.
44. To Save Up (Money)
To accumulate money for a specific purpose.
45. To Hire
To obtain the temporary use of something in return for payment (rent, alquiler).
46. A Three-Day Trip
A trip that lasts three days.
47. Hardly
Scarcely, barely, only with great difficulty.
48. Cool
Fashionably attractive or impressive.
49. To Come Down
To move or travel towards or into a place near or familiar to the speaker.
50. To Keep Your Fingers Crossed
To hope for good luck (cruzar los dedos).
More Useful Vocabulary
51. Leather
Cuero (animal hide treated for use).
52. To Refuse To
To indicate unwillingness to do something.
53. To Retake an Exam
To take an exam again.
54. Overcooked
Cooked for too long.
55. Underestimate
To estimate something to be smaller or less important than it really is.
56. Ex-Boss
Former boss (ex jefe).
57. Super-Sized
Extra large.
58. Hypersensitive
Abnormally or excessively sensitive (hipersensible).
59. Ex-Girlfriend
Former girlfriend (ex novia).
60. Underpaid
Paid too little.
61. Hyperactive
Excessively active (hiperactivo).
62. Super-Rich
Extremely wealthy (super rico).
63. Rewrite
To write again in an altered or improved form.
64. Unpack
To open and remove the contents of a suitcase or container.
65. Disapprove
To have or express an unfavorable opinion.
66. Illogical
Lacking logic (ilógico).
67. Immature
Not fully developed, childish.
68. Irrelevant
Not relevant or applicable (irrelevante).
69. Illegal
Against the law (ilegal).
70. Disappear
To vanish or cease to be visible (desaparecer).
71. Impoliteness
Rudeness or lack of courtesy.
72. Indecisiveness
The inability to make decisions.
73. Irregular
Not conforming to a standard pattern (irregular).
74. Ineffective
Not producing the desired effect, incompetent.
75. Uncertainty
Doubt or lack of certainty (incertidumbre, duda).
76. Illiterate
Unable to read or write (analfabeto, ignorante).
77. Irresponsible
Not showing a proper sense of responsibility.
78. Impatient
Having or showing a tendency to be easily annoyed or provoked (impaciente).
79. Unlock
To open a lock using a key.
80. Inefficient
Not achieving maximum productivity; wasting or failing to make the best use of time or resources (ineficiente).
81. Performance
An act of carrying out a play, concert, or other form of entertainment.
82. Entertainment
Amusement or enjoyment (diversión, entretenimiento).
83. Equality
The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.
84. Offense
A transgression or crime (delito, atentado).
85. Approval
The action of approving something (aprobación).
86. Breakages
Instances of things being broken (roturas).
87. Accountant
A person who keeps or inspects financial accounts.
88. Cheerful
Happy and optimistic.
89. Easy-Going
Relaxed and tolerant.
Describing People
90. Tallish
Moderately tall (más o menos alto).
91. Skinny
Unattractively thin (flaco).
92. Plump
Slightly overweight (regordete, rellenito).
93. Overweight
Having more body weight than is considered healthy (exceso de peso).
94. Broad-Shouldered
Having wide shoulders (ancho de espaldas).
95. Pale-Skinned
Having light-colored skin (de piel pálida).
96. Stubbly
Having short, stiff hairs growing on the face when not recently shaved.
97. Freckly
Having small, light brown spots on the skin.
98. Rosy-Cheeked
Having pink cheeks (de mejillas sonrosadas).
99. Fair Hair
Having blonde or light-colored hair (de pelo rubio o claro).
100. Dyed Hair
Hair that has been artificially colored (pelo teñido).
101. Curly
Having hair that forms tight coils or ringlets (rizado).
102. Wavy
Having hair with gentle curves (ondulado).
103. Spiky Hair
Hair styled to stand up in short, stiff strands (pelo de punta).
104. In a Ponytail
Hair tied back and gathered at the back of the head (coleta).
105. Big-Headed
Arrogant or conceited (creído).
106. Good Fun
Enjoyable and entertaining (sana diversión).
107. Good-Natured
Having a kind and pleasant disposition (con buen carácter).
108. Moody
Prone to unpredictable changes in mood.
109. Outgoing
Friendly and sociable (extrovertido).
110. Self-Centred
Preoccupied with oneself and one’s own affairs (egocéntrico).
111. Sensible
Wise and prudent (sensato).
112. Strong-Willed
Determined and resolute (con mucha fuerza de voluntad).
113. Warm-Hearted
Sympathetic and kind (afectuoso).
114. Gap Year
A year taken off between life stages, often for travel or other experiences (año sabático).