General vocabulary (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
General vocabulary - Vocab list 4
This comprehensive vocabulary list contains essential Spanish words and phrases that frequently appear in GCSE exams. These terms cover everyday situations, academic contexts, and general communication needs.
Academic and abstract concepts
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| concepto (m) | concept |
| conclusión (f) | conclusion |
| consecuencia (f) | consequence |
| control (m) | control/test |
| desarrollo (m) | development |
| discusión (f) | discussion/argument |
| explicación (f) | explanation |
| figura (f) | figure |
| principio (m) | principle |
| representación (f) | representation |
Understanding abstract vocabulary is crucial for expressing complex ideas in Spanish. These terms often appear in exam questions about society, education, and current affairs.
Example sentences with academic vocabulary:
- El concepto de libertad es muy importante. (The concept of freedom is very important.)
- La consecuencia de esta decisión será grave. (The consequence of this decision will be serious.)
Actions and processes
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| comprobar | to check |
| conseguir | to acquire/get |
| considerar | to consider |
| contestar | to answer |
| continuar | to continue |
| criticar | to criticise |
| desarrollar | to develop |
| descubrir | to discover |
| experimentar | to experience |
| explicar | to explain |
These action verbs are fundamental for describing processes and experiences. They're particularly useful in writing tasks and speaking assessments.
Example sentences with action verbs:
- Necesito comprobar mi respuesta. (I need to check my answer.)
- Vamos a continuar con la lección. (We're going to continue with the lesson.)
- Es importante considerar todas las opciones. (It's important to consider all the options.)
Feelings and opinions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| deseo (m) | desire/wish |
| duda (f) | doubt |
| interés (m) | interest |
| impresión (f) | impression |
| sentir/sentirse | to feel |
| soñar | to dream/sound |
| sonrisa (f) | smile |
| suficiente | enough/sufficient |
| superior | superior/higher |
| universal | universal |
Expressing emotions and opinions accurately is essential for achieving higher grades in GCSE Spanish speaking and writing assessments.
Example sentences expressing feelings:
- Tengo dudas sobre esta decisión. (I have doubts about this decision.)
- Su sonrisa es muy bonita. (Her smile is very pretty.)
Time and frequency
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| década (f) | decade |
| empezar | to begin/start |
| frecuencia (f) | frequency |
| ocasión (f) | occasion |
| plazo (m) | deadline/instalment |
| saludo (m) | greeting/regards |
| sesión (f) | session |
| universal | universal |
Time-related vocabulary helps you discuss schedules, deadlines, and temporal relationships in your responses.
Translation practice
Translation Practice Exercise:
Spanish to English:
- La colección completa está en el museo.
- Es evidente que necesita más práctica.
English to Spanish:
- The expert will explain the concept.
- We need to avoid making mistakes.
Answers:
- The complete collection is in the museum. / It's evident that he/she needs more practice.
- El experto explicará el concepto. / Necesitamos evitar cometer errores.
Key grammar patterns
Essential Grammar Patterns:
Several vocabulary items follow important grammatical patterns that you must master:
- Reflexive verbs: conocerse (to meet), sentirse (to feel), equivocarse (to be wrong)
- Verbs with prepositions: consistir en (to consist of), contar con (to count on)
- Gender patterns: Most words ending in -ción are feminine (conclusión, explicación)
Pronunciation tips
Pronunciation Guidelines:
- Double 'r' sound: desarrollar, error - roll your tongue
- Silent 'h': hermoso/a (beautiful)
- 'j' sound: reflejar (to reflect) - like English 'h' in 'house'
Exam tips
Critical Exam Success Strategies:
- Learn vocabulary in context rather than isolated words
- Practice using these terms in different tenses
- Look for cognates (words similar to English) to aid memory
- Focus on high-frequency words that appear across multiple topics
Key Points to Remember:
- Abstract vocabulary like concepto and consecuencia helps you discuss complex topics in essays and speaking tasks
- Action verbs such as considerar and desarrollar are essential for describing processes and changes
- Opinion vocabulary including duda and interés allows you to express personal views effectively
- Time-related terms help structure your responses chronologically
- Practice using new vocabulary in sentences rather than memorising isolated translations