Immigration (AQA A-Level Spanish): Revision Notes
Key Vocabulary Review
Understanding immigration vocabulary is essential for discussing multiculturalism in Hispanic society. This topic requires you to master terms related to migration processes, integration challenges, legal status, and the experiences of immigrants in Spain and the USA. The vocabulary below is organised thematically to help you build a comprehensive understanding of immigration issues.
Immigration in Spain: origin, distribution and integration
This section covers the key vocabulary needed to discuss where immigrants come from, how they settle across Spain, and the integration challenges they face. Understanding these terms will help you articulate the demographic and social aspects of immigration.
Core immigration vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el flujo migratorio | migratory flow |
| la frontera | border |
| huir de (huyo) | to flee |
| la libre circulación | free movement |
| la llegada | arrival |
| el magrebí | Maghrebi, North African |
| el país emisor | country of origin |
| el país receptor | host country |
| la procedencia | origin |
| el censo | census |
| la comunidad | community |
| el/la habitante | inhabitant |
| el/la extranjero/a | foreigner |
| la movilidad | mobility |
| el país de origen | country of origin |
Pronunciation tip: "Magrebí" is stressed on the final syllable (mag-re-BÍ). The accent mark is crucial.
Integration and settlement terms
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| asentarse (me asiento) | to settle |
| atender (atiendo) | to look after, help |
| apoyar | to support |
| abandonar | to leave |
| la diversidad | diversity |
| la discriminación | discrimination |
| la hostilidad | hostility |
| la solidaridad | solidarity |
| la oportunidad | opportunity |
| cualificado | qualified |
| disponible | available |
| el deber | duty |
| la ley | law |
| la mano de obra | workforce |
| sobrevivir | to survive |
Example sentences:
- Los inmigrantes se asientan en las grandes ciudades donde hay más oportunidades laborales. (Immigrants settle in large cities where there are more job opportunities.)
- Es necesario atender las necesidades de los refugiados que huyen de la guerra. (It's necessary to look after the needs of refugees who are fleeing war.)
- La diversidad cultural enriquece la sociedad española. (Cultural diversity enriches Spanish society.)
- Muchos inmigrantes cualificados contribuyen a la economía del país receptor. (Many qualified immigrants contribute to the economy of the host country.)
- El gobierno debe apoyar la libre circulación dentro de la Unión Europea. (The government must support free movement within the European Union.)
Economic and social terms
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la ganadería | cattle breeding |
| la ganancia | earning, profit |
| mejorar | to improve |
| endurecerse | to harden, tighten up |
| triplicar | to treble |
| venir de (vengo) | to come from |
| décimo | tenth |
| apreciar | to appreciate |
| penoso | horrible, pitiful |
| irse (me voy) | to leave |
| moverse (me muevo) | to move, leave |
Example sentences:
- El flujo migratorio hacia España se ha triplicado en las últimas dos décadas. (The migratory flow towards Spain has trebled in the last two decades.)
- Los inmigrantes vienen de diversos países emisores en busca de mejores condiciones de vida. (Immigrants come from various countries of origin in search of better living conditions.)
- Las leyes de inmigración se han endurecido significativamente. (Immigration laws have tightened significantly.)
Life and hardships of undocumented immigrants
This section introduces vocabulary relating to the difficult and often dangerous experiences faced by people without legal documentation. These terms are crucial for discussing human rights issues and border control policies.
Legal status and documentation
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el/la 'sin papeles' | illegal immigrant |
| el/la indocumentado/a | illegal immigrant |
| la legalización | legalisation |
| detener (detengo) | to detain, arrest |
| esconder | to hide |
| jugar al escondite (juego) | to play hide and seek |
| enviar (envío) | to send |
| devolver (devuelvo) | to hand back |
| desaparecido | missing |
| la desesperación | desperation |
Example sentences:
- Miles de sin papeles viven en la clandestinidad por miedo a ser detenidos. (Thousands of illegal immigrants live in hiding for fear of being detained.)
- El proceso de legalización puede tardar años. (The legalisation process can take years.)
- La policía devolvió a muchos indocumentados a su país de origen. (The police sent back many illegal immigrants to their country of origin.)
- Las familias sufren cuando un miembro está desaparecido durante el viaje. (Families suffer when a member goes missing during the journey.)
Dangerous journeys and survival
The journey to Europe often involves life-threatening risks, with migrants using unsafe vessels to cross dangerous waters. Understanding these terms helps discuss the humanitarian crisis at European borders.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la patera | dinghy, small boat |
| el cayuco | small canoe |
| bordear | to border |
| ahogarse | to drown |
| abarrotado | overcrowded |
| el auxilio médico | medical aid |
| la balsa | raft |
| contabilizar | to count |
| fluctuar (fluctúo) | to fluctuate |
Example sentences:
- Muchas personas arriesgan sus vidas en pateras abarrotadas para cruzar el Mediterráneo. (Many people risk their lives in overcrowded dinghies to cross the Mediterranean.)
- Cada año se ahogan centenares de personas intentando llegar a Europa. (Every year hundreds of people drown trying to reach Europe.)
- Es difícil contabilizar el número exacto de víctimas en el mar. (It's difficult to count the exact number of victims at sea.)
Terms describing hardship
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la miseria | misery |
| la hostilidad | hostility |
| el repunte | rise, recovery |
| el trámite | process, procedure |
| traspasar | to go through |
| la valla | fence |
| Marruecos | Morocco |
| Argelia | Algeria |
| saltar | to jump |
Pronunciation tip: "Marruecos" has a double 'r' which requires a rolled sound. Practice: ma-RRUE-cos.
Example sentences:
- Los migrantes intentan saltar la valla que separa Marruecos de Ceuta. (Migrants try to jump the fence that separates Morocco from Ceuta.)
- La miseria en sus países de origen les obliga a emprender el peligroso viaje. (The misery in their countries of origin forces them to undertake the dangerous journey.)
- Hay un repunte en el número de llegadas durante los meses de verano. (There is a rise in the number of arrivals during the summer months.)
Mexican immigration in the USA
This section focuses on vocabulary specific to the Mexican-American immigration experience, including terms about border crossing, family connections, and the process of building a life in the United States.
Border crossing and entry
The US-Mexico border represents one of the world's most significant migration corridors, with millions of people seeking economic opportunities and family reunification.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el cruce | crossing |
| la frontera | border |
| abrir una vía a | to open the way for |
| cruzar | to cross |
| emigrar | to emigrate |
| el/la hispano/a | Hispanic person |
| el maletero | car boot |
| la patera | dinghy, small boat |
| el/la compatriota | compatriot |
| el/la vecino/a | neighbour |
| traficar | to traffic |
| tratar | to treat |
| correr el riesgo | to run the risk |
Example sentences:
- Muchos mexicanos cruzan la frontera en busca de oportunidades laborales. (Many Mexicans cross the border in search of job opportunities.)
- Los traficantes de personas cobran miles de dólares por ayudar a cruzar. (People traffickers charge thousands of dollars to help people cross.)
- Los inmigrantes corren el riesgo de ser detenidos durante el cruce. (Immigrants run the risk of being detained during the crossing.)
- La comunidad hispana en Estados Unidos ayuda a sus compatriotas recién llegados. (The Hispanic community in the United States helps their newly arrived compatriotas.)
Settlement and integration in the USA
Once in the United States, immigrants face the complex process of integration, including navigating legal systems, building community networks, and establishing economic stability.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la ascendencia | ancestry |
| la ciudadanía | citizenship |
| la legalización | legalisation |
| aparecer (aparezco) | to appear |
| apoyarse en | to be based on |
| arreglar | to fix |
| conceder | to grant |
| conformar | to make up |
| dar lugar a (doy) | to lead to, give rise to |
| divulgar | to divulge, release |
| extorsionar | to extort |
| pedir (pido) | to ask for |
| soportar | to bear |
| sumar | to add up to, come to |
Example sentences:
- Miles de personas de ascendencia mexicana viven en California y Texas. (Thousands of people of Mexican ancestry live in California and Texas.)
- El proceso para obtener la ciudadanía estadounidense es largo y complejo. (The process to obtain US citizenship is long and complex.)
- Las reformas migratorias pueden dar lugar a la legalización de millones de indocumentados. (Immigration reforms can lead to the legalisation of millions of undocumented people.)
- Muchos hispanos se apoyan en redes familiares para establecerse. (Many Hispanics rely on family networks to settle.)
Threats and challenges
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| amenazador | threatening |
| decapitado | decapitated, beheaded |
| desmayarse | to faint |
| el restante | remaining |
| la camioneta | truck |
| la subida | rise |
| confesar (confieso) | to confess |
| poner en contacto con (pongo) | to put in touch with |
| provenir (provengo) | to come from |
Example sentences:
- El viaje es amenazador debido a la presencia de grupos criminales. (The journey is threatening due to the presence of criminal groups.)
- Algunos migrantes se desmayan por el calor durante el cruce del desierto. (Some migrants faint from the heat during the desert crossing.)
- Han puesto a las familias en contacto con organizaciones de ayuda. (They have put families in touch with aid organisations.)
- La mayoría de los trabajadores agrícolas provienen de México. (The majority of agricultural workers come from Mexico.)
Common mistakes and tips
Gender confusion: Remember that la frontera (border) is feminine, not masculine. Students often say "el frontera" incorrectly. Similarly, la patera (dinghy) is feminine.
Irregular verbs: Many key verbs are irregular in the present tense. Pay attention to stem-changing verbs:
- huir (to flee): huyo, huyes, huye...
- atender (to help): atiendo, atiendes, atiende... (e→ie)
- pedir (to ask): pido, pides, pide... (e→i)
- devolver (to send back): devuelvo, devuelves, devuelve... (o→ue)
"Sin papeles" vs "indocumentado": Both terms mean "illegal immigrant" or "undocumented person". "Sin papeles" literally means "without papers" and is commonly used in Spain, while "indocumentado/a" is more formal and widely understood across Spanish-speaking countries. Never say "ilegal" to refer to a person – this is considered derogatory.
Confusing "emigrar" and "inmigrar":
- Emigrar = to leave one's country (emigrate FROM)
- Inmigrar = to arrive in a new country (immigrate TO)
Example: Emigró de México e inmigró a Estados Unidos. (He emigrated from Mexico and immigrated to the United States.)
Pronunciation: The letter 'g' before 'e' or 'i' sounds like English 'h'. So "extranjero" sounds like "ex-tran-HEH-ro", not "ex-tran-JEH-ro".
False friends: "Soportar" means "to bear/endure", not "to support". For "to support" use "apoyar". Similarly, "actualmente" means "currently/nowadays", not "actually" (which is "en realidad").
Key Points to Remember:
-
Master the two terms for undocumented immigrants: "sin papeles" and "indocumentado/a" are both acceptable, but never use "ilegal" to describe a person.
-
Know your irregular verbs: Key verbs like huir, atender, pedir, and devolver have stem changes. Practice conjugating them regularly.
-
Understand the different contexts: Vocabulary for Spanish immigration focuses on North African migration and integration, while Mexican immigration vocabulary centres on US border issues and Hispanic communities.
-
Gender matters: Many immigration terms are feminine (la frontera, la patera, la ciudadanía, la legalización). Learn the gender with each noun from the start.
-
Use appropriate register: Terms like "la mano de obra" (workforce), "el país receptor" (host country), and "el flujo migratorio" (migratory flow) are formal and excellent for essays, while "sin papeles" and "huir" are more commonly used in everyday discussion.