Superstitions, Phrases, Health, News, and More Vocabulary

Posted on Mar 10, 2025 in Hispanic Philology

Superstitions

  • If a black cat walks in front of you, you will have good luck.
  • If you walk under a ladder or open an umbrella in the house, you will have bad luck.
  • If you break a mirror, you will have seven years of bad luck.
  • If you carry a lucky charm, like a rabbit’s foot, it will bring you good luck.
  • If you see a shooting star in the sky, you can make a wish.
  • If you want a good thing to continue, you should touch wood.
  • If you spill salt on the table, you should throw it over your shoulder.

Describing People

Appearance:

  • Apariencia
  • Dyed hair: Pelo teñido
  • Shoulder-length hair: Pelo hasta los hombros
  • Straight hair: Pelo lacio
  • Curly hair: Pelo rizado
  • Wavy hair: Pelo ondulado
  • Her hair up: Pelo para arriba
  • Ponytail: Cola de caballo
  • Going bald: Quedarse calvo
  • A dark blue jacket: Una chaqueta azul oscuro
  • A light blue jacket: Una chaqueta clara
  • A striped tie: Una corbata de rayas
  • A flowery dress: Un vestido de flores
  • A plain shirt: Una camisa lisa
  • Glasses: Gafas
  • Jewellery: Joyas

Contacting People

  • Get hold of somebody: Apoderarse de alguien
  • Let somebody know something: Dejar que alguien sepa algo
  • Be in touch with somebody: Estar en contacto con alguien
  • Lose touch with somebody: Perder el contacto con alguien
  • Keep in touch with somebody / Stay in touch with somebody: Mantenerse en contacto con alguien
  • Get in touch with somebody: Ponerse en contacto con alguien

Phrasal Verbs

  • Get out of something: Salir de algo
  • Get over something: Superar algo
  • Go up: Subir
  • Look something up: Buscar algo
  • Point something out: Señalar algo
  • Put something off: Posponer algo
  • Fall out: Pelearse
  • Come up with something: Ocurrirse algo
  • Split up with something: Romper con alguien
  • Come across something: Encontrarse con algo

Health

  • A surgeon: Un cirujano
  • An operating theatre: Un quirófano
  • Asthma: Asma
  • A specialist: Un especialista
  • An allergy: Una alergia
  • A migraine: Una migraña
  • Surgery: Una cirugía
  • A GP: Un médico de cabecera
  • A prescription: Una receta
  • An infection: Una infección
  • A ward: Una sala
  • A runny nose: Una nariz que moquea
  • A rash: Una erupción
  • Hay fever: Fiebre alta
  • Diarrhea: Diarrea
  • Sneeze: Estornudar
  • A virus: Un virus
  • Penicillin: Penicilina
  • Food poisoning: Intoxicación alimentaria
  • A blocked-up nose: Nariz tapada
  • Throw up: Vomitar
  • Flu: Gripe
  • Be sick: Estar enfermo
  • Painkillers: Analgésicos
  • Pills: Pastillas

News Collocations

  • Accept/reject an offer: Aceptar/rechazar una propuesta
  • Discover something new: Descubrir algo nuevo
  • Carry out a survey: Llevar a cabo una encuesta
  • Suffer from an illness: Sufrir de una enfermedad
  • Take someone to hospital: Llevar a alguien al hospital
  • Take part in a demonstration: Tomar parte en una manifestación
  • Publish results/a report: Publicar resultados/un informe
  • Protest against something: Protestar contra algo
  • Meet a target: Cumplir con un objetivo
  • Call off a strike: Suspender una huelga

Weather

  • A storm: Tormenta
  • Thunder: Trueno
  • Lightning: Relámpago
  • A gale: Vendaval
  • A shower: Un chaparrón
  • A hurricane: Un huracán
  • A typhoon: Un tifón
  • Fog: Niebla
  • Humid: Húmedo
  • A heatwave: Una ola de calor
  • A flood: Una inundación
  • A tornado/twister: Un tornado
  • Freezing: Congelación
  • Cold/chilly: Frío glacial
  • Cool: Fresco
  • Warm: Cálido
  • Hot: Calor/Caluroso
  • Boiling: Hirviendo

Computers

  • A printer: Una impresora
  • A mouse: Un ratón
  • A monitor: Un monitor
  • A scanner: Un escáner
  • A keyboard: Un teclado
  • A memory stick: Un lápiz de memoria
  • A screen: Una pantalla
  • Delete: Borrar
  • Create: Crear
  • A folder: Una carpeta
  • Reply: Responder
  • An attachment: Un archivo adjunto
  • Download: Descargar
  • Broadband: Banda ancha
  • A back-up: Una copia de seguridad
  • Log on/log off: Acceder/cerrar sesión
  • A password: Una contraseña
  • Click on: Hacer clic en
  • An icon: Un icono
  • Online: En línea
  • A handheld computer: Un ordenador de mano
  • Sat nav (Satellite navigation): Navegación por satélite
  • A dishwasher: Un lavavajillas
  • A washing machine: Una lavadora
  • A hairdryer: Secador de pelo
  • Hair straighteners: Plancha de pelo
  • A hands-free phone: Un teléfono manos libres
  • Air conditioning: Aire acondicionado
  • Central heating: Calefacción central

Make

  • Make a decision: Tomar una decisión
  • Make a mistake: Equivocarse
  • Make money: Ganar dinero
  • Make friends: Hacer amigos
  • Make a noise: Hacer ruido
  • Make dinner: Hacer la cena
  • Make an excuse: Dar una excusa
  • Make someone laugh/cry: Hacer reír/llorar a alguien
  • Make up your mind: Tomar una decisión
  • Make progress: Avanzar
  • Make a cake: Hacer un pastel
  • Make a mess of something: Hacer un lío de algo
  • Make an appointment: Pedir hora

Do

  • Do the cleaning: Hacer la limpieza
  • Do a course: Hacer un curso
  • Do homework: Hacer los deberes
  • Do nothing: No hacer nada
  • Do exercise: Hacer ejercicio
  • Do the washing up: Lavar los platos
  • Do the shopping: Hacer la compra
  • Do some work: Hacer algún trabajo
  • Do the washing: Lavar
  • Do a degree: Hacer un grado
  • Do the housework: Hacer las tareas domésticas
  • Do someone a favor: Hacer un favor a alguien
  • Do an exam: Hacer un examen

Synonyms

  • Choose/pick: Elegir/escoger
  • Satisfied/content: Satisfecho/contento
  • Lucky/fortunate: Con suerte/afortunado
  • Behave/act: Comportarse/actuar
  • Notice/spot: Aviso/anuncio
  • By chance/accidentally: Por casualidad/accidentalmente
  • Attitude/approach: Actitud/enfoque
  • Sure/certain: Seguro/cierto
  • Deal with/cope with: Tratar de/enfrentarse con
  • Show/reveal: Mostrar/revelar
  • Concerned/worried: Preocupado
  • Frightened/scared: Asustado/espantado
  • Make a decision/make up your mind: Tomar una decisión
  • Try to do/have a go at doing: Intentar hacer
  • Talk to someone/chat to someone: Hablar con alguien
  • Nice/pleasant: Agradable
  • Enormous/huge: Enorme
  • Pleased/glad: Agradable/contento
  • Wonderful/brilliant: Maravilloso/brillante
  • Terrible/awful: Terrible/horrible

Essay: Health and Fitness

I’m going to talk about health and fitness. In a nutshell: To enjoy good health, you have to eat healthy food and do physical activities. To stay really healthy and strong, you must work out. Perhaps you can enroll in a gym—also a great opportunity to meet new people—or, if you prefer being alone, stay home and ride a stationary bicycle or use an exercise bench.

Sports are very important for health and are probably a more entertaining way to exercise than doing a workout on your own. My favorite sports are cycling and football, which I love to practice with friends. Almost every weekend, I go with them to ride a bike, and we have a great time doing sports. Exercise helps your body to grow strong.

Eating five fruits a day is a tremendous boost to your health. Also, you should eat more vegetables, and you should cut down on the amount of meat you eat. Above all, stay away from fast food. Eighty percent of the population think that fast food, or junk food, is better because they can buy it anywhere in a minute and eat it without having to wait much longer, while healthy meals are way more expensive, and preparing them takes a lot of time. Businesspersons, college students, and even families choose to eat in places like McDonald’s or Burger King instead of spending some money and time on REAL food.

Caring for yourself will keep you fit and healthy.