Equality (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Equality
Key vocabulary for discussing equality
Understanding vocabulary related to equality and social issues is essential for expressing opinions and discussing fairness in society. These terms will help you talk about different groups of people and social challenges.
Mastering this vocabulary is crucial for discussing complex social topics in Spanish. These words frequently appear in conversations about contemporary issues and are essential for intermediate-level Spanish communication.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la vida | life |
| la sociedad | society |
| el hombre | man |
| la mujer | woman |
| los medios | media |
| el tema | theme, topic |
| igual | equal |
| la empresa | company, firm |
| el éxito | success |
| el jefe / la jefa | boss |
Example sentences using equality vocabulary
- La mujer trabaja en la empresa. (The woman works at the company.)
- El tema de la igualdad es importante. (The topic of equality is important.)
- Los medios hablan del éxito. (The media talk about success.)
Social issues vocabulary
When discussing equality and social justice, you'll encounter vocabulary that addresses sensitive but important topics. Learning these terms respectfully helps you engage in meaningful conversations about social progress.
These terms address sensitive social issues. When using this vocabulary, always approach these topics with respect and cultural awareness, as attitudes towards these subjects may vary across different Spanish-speaking communities.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el presidente / la presidenta | president |
| el género | gender |
| la religión | religion |
| la discapacidad | disability |
| con discapacidad | disabled |
| el racismo | racism |
| el sexismo | sexism |
| la silla de ruedas | wheelchair |
| gay | gay |
| heterosexual | straight |
| bisexual | bisexual |
| la discriminación | discrimination |
Example sentences with social issues vocabulary
- La discriminación es un problema grave. (Discrimination is a serious problem.)
- Una persona con discapacidad usa la silla de ruedas. (A person with a disability uses the wheelchair.)
- El racismo todavía existe en la sociedad. (Racism still exists in society.)
Using "de" to show belonging and possession
Spanish doesn't use apostrophes like English does. Instead of saying "my friend's job", Spanish uses the word de (of) to show possession. This is a fundamental grammatical structure that differs significantly from English.
Critical Grammar Point: Spanish NEVER uses apostrophes for possession. Always use the "de" structure. This is one of the most common mistakes that English speakers make when learning Spanish.
Pattern: [thing] + de + [owner]
Worked Example: Converting English Possession to Spanish
English: "The company's president" Step 1: Identify the owner (company) and the thing owned (president) Step 2: Reverse the order: "president of the company" Step 3: Translate: "la presidenta de la empresa"
English: "My brother's wheelchair" Step 1: Owner (my brother), thing owned (wheelchair) Step 2: Reverse: "wheelchair of my brother" Step 3: Translate: "la silla de ruedas de mi hermano"
Examples of possession with "de"
- el trabajo de mi amigo/a = my friend's job
- la presidenta de la empresa = the company's president
- la religión de una persona = a person's religion
- la silla de ruedas de mi hermano = my brother's wheelchair
- el éxito del club = the club's success
Remember: "del" is a contraction of "de + el" (of the). This contraction is mandatory - you cannot say "de el" separately.
Expressing opinions about equality
These phrases help you discuss whether equality has improved or if problems still exist in society. Learning to express nuanced opinions is crucial for advanced Spanish communication.
Positive changes
- Creo que la situación ha mejorado bastante / mucho / un poco. (I think that the situation has improved quite a lot / a lot / a bit.)
Awareness and ongoing issues
- Hoy somos más conscientes de... (Today we are more aware of...)
- Sin embargo, todavía existen ejemplos de... (However, there are still cases of...)
Example in Context:
Creo que la situación ha mejorado mucho, pero todavía existe discriminación. (I think the situation has improved a lot, but discrimination still exists.)
This sentence structure shows contrast using "pero" (but) and demonstrates how to acknowledge progress while recognising ongoing challenges.
Understanding exam questions
In listening exercises, you might not hear exact vocabulary matches. Developing contextual understanding is more important than memorising individual words.
Exam Strategy: Don't panic if you don't hear the exact words you expect. Focus on understanding the general context and connecting related concepts. This skill is essential for success in Spanish listening comprehension.
For example:
- fútbol might lead you to sport
- grandes empresas connects to management
- jefes relates to employment
Always listen for context clues rather than just individual words.
Translation practice
Translation Practice Exercise
Spanish to English:
- Todavía no tenemos igualdad en el mundo del fútbol.
- Las personas con discapacidad tienen dificultades.
English to Spanish:
- The company's president is a woman.
- I think racism still exists in society.
Answers
Spanish to English:
- We still don't have equality in the world of football.
- People with disabilities have difficulties.
English to Spanish:
- La presidenta de la empresa es una mujer.
- Creo que el racismo todavía existe en la sociedad.
Key Points to Remember:
- Use de instead of apostrophes to show possession in Spanish
- Learn vocabulary for different social groups and equality issues
- Practice opinion phrases like "Creo que..." and "Sin embargo..."
- Listen for context clues in exam questions, not just exact word matches
- del = de + el (contraction you must use)
- Approach social issues vocabulary with cultural sensitivity
- Focus on understanding context rather than memorising isolated words