Vocab list 1 (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Basic vocabulary - Vocab list 1
Understanding GCSE Spanish vocabulary
Learning basic vocabulary forms the foundation of your Spanish GCSE preparation. This essential word bank covers fundamental terms that appear across all thematic contexts in your exam. Higher tier vocabulary is marked separately - these words are only required for Higher tier students, though Foundation tier students can still use them to enhance their answers.
The vocabulary is organised into subject categories to help you learn systematically. However, remember that Spanish words are versatile - you can apply them across different topics and contexts. Any of these terms might appear in reading comprehension, listening exercises, speaking assessments, or writing tasks.
Spanish vocabulary is highly transferable between different exam contexts. A single word you learn for one topic can often be applied effectively in completely different thematic areas, making your vocabulary learning more efficient and impactful.
Greetings and polite expressions
Mastering basic greetings and courtesy phrases is crucial for both formal and informal communication in Spanish. These expressions form the backbone of everyday interactions and are essential for creating positive impressions in speaking assessments.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| hola | hello, hi |
| adiós | goodbye |
| por favor | please |
| gracias | thank you |
| vale | OK (I agree), OK? |
| señor | Mr / sir |
| señora | Mrs / lady / madam |
| no | no / I'm not |
| perdón | (I am) sorry |
Common Greeting Patterns:
- Hola, señora García. ¿Cómo está? - Hello, Mrs García. How are you?
- Por favour, ¿puede ayudarme? - Please, can you help me?
- Gracias por su tiempo - Thank you for your time
Days, months and seasons
Time expressions are essential for describing events, making plans, and discussing past or future activities. These vocabulary items appear frequently across all skill areas of the GCSE exam.
Days of the week
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| lunes | Monday |
| martes | Tuesday |
| miércoles | Wednesday |
| jueves | Thursday |
| viernes | Friday |
| sábado | Saturday |
| domingo | Sunday |
Months of the year
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| enero | January |
| febrero | February |
| marzo | March |
| abril | April |
| mayo | May |
| junio | June |
| julio | July |
| agosto | August |
| septiembre | September |
| octubre | October |
Seasons and time periods
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| invierno | winter |
| primavera | spring |
| verano | summer |
| otoño | autumn |
| semana | week |
| mes | month |
| año | year |
Using Time Expressions:
- Mi cumpleaños es el martes - My birthday is on Tuesday
- En julio vamos de vacaciones - In July we go on holiday
- El invierno es mi estación favorita - Winter is my favourite season
Numbers
Number vocabulary enables you to express quantities, ages, prices, dates, and times accurately. These are among the most frequently tested vocabulary items in GCSE Spanish.
Basic numbers (0-20)
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| cero | zero |
| uno | one |
| dos | two |
| tres | three |
| cuatro | four |
| cinco | five |
| seis | six |
| siete | seven |
| ocho | eight |
| nueve | nine |
| diez | ten |
Higher numbers
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| once | eleven |
| doce | twelve |
| trece | thirteen |
| catorce | fourteen |
| quince | fifteen |
| dieciséis | sixteen |
| veinte | twenty |
| treinta | thirty |
| cuarenta | forty |
| cincuenta | fifty |
Pronunciation tip: Numbers ending in -teen (trece, catorce, etc.) follow a similar pattern to English, making them easier to remember and pronounce correctly.
Times of day
Time expressions help you describe daily routines and specify when activities occur. These terms are particularly important for speaking and writing tasks about daily life and personal experiences.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| mañana | morning |
| tarde | afternoon / evening |
| noche | night / evening |
| día | day / daytime |
| ayer | yesterday |
| hoy | today |
| mañana | tomorrow |
| mediodia | noon / midday |
| hora | hour, time (specific) |
| momento | moment |
Daily Routine Expressions:
- Por la mañana desayuno en casa - In the morning I have breakfast at home
- Ayer fue mi cumpleaños - Yesterday was my birthday
- ¿Qué hora es? - What time is it?
Colours
Colour vocabulary is essential for describing objects, clothing, and physical appearances. These adjectives are frequently used in both descriptive writing and speaking tasks.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| color | colour |
| negro/a | black |
| azul | blue |
| marrón | brown |
| verde | green |
| gris | grey / gloomy |
| naranja | orange |
| rosa | pink |
| rojo/a | red |
| blanco/a | white |
| amarillo/a | yellow |
Grammar Rule - Colour Agreement: Most colour adjectives change their endings to agree with the gender of the noun they describe (rojo/roja, blanco/blanca), but some like azul, verde, and naranja remain unchanged regardless of the noun's gender.
Describing with Colours:
- Mi coche es azul - My car is blue
- Lleva una camisa blanca - He/she is wearing a white shirt
Practice exercises
Translation Practice:
Translate into English:
- Buenos días, señor López
- Mi cumpleaños es en octubre
Translate into Spanish:
- Thank you very much
- I have two brothers
Answers:
- Good morning, Mr López
- My birthday is in October
- Muchas gracias
- Tengo dos hermanos
Key Exam Tips:
- Learn vocabulary in context - practise using new words in sentences rather than just memorising isolated terms
- Focus on word families - group related vocabulary (days, months, colours) to improve retention
- Use birthdays and special dates as memory aids for practising days and months
- Remember gender agreements - particularly important for colours and numbers when describing nouns
Key Points to Remember:
- Basic vocabulary forms the foundation for all Spanish communication skills
- Higher tier words (marked in your textbook) are only required for Higher tier students
- Words are flexible and can be used across different thematic contexts in your exam
- Regular practice with dates and family birthdays helps consolidate time vocabulary
- Colour adjectives must agreewith the gender of the nouns they describe