Vocab list 2 (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
GCSE Spanish vocabulary - List 2
This vocabulary list covers essential Spanish words for your GCSE exam, focusing on everyday communication and common expressions. The words are organised by themes to help you learn them more effectively.
This vocabulary list is structured thematically to help you build connections between related words and use them in context. Focus on learning words within each theme together for better retention.
Time and frequency expressions
Understanding time expressions is crucial for describing when things happen and how often they occur. These are some of the most frequently used words in Spanish conversation and writing.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| había | there was/were |
| hace (dos años) | (two years) ago |
| habría | there would be |
| hay | there is/there are |
| hasta | until |
| lento/a | slow |
| pasado/a | past |
| pasado (m) | past |
Worked Example: Using time expressions
- Había mucha gente en el parque - There were lots of people in the park
- Hace dos años vivía en Madrid - Two years ago I lived in Madrid
- Hay un problema con mi ordenador - There is a problem with my computer
Actions and daily activities
These verbs describe common actions you'll need for describing daily routines and activities. Mastering these will help you talk about everyday life with confidence.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| hablar | to speak |
| hacer | to do/make |
| intentar | to try |
| interesar | to interest |
| lavar/lavarse | to wash/wash oneself |
| levantarse | to get up |
| limpiar | to clean |
| llamar | to call/phone |
| llamarse | to be called |
| mover(se) | to move |
Worked Example: Daily routine sentences
- Me levanto a las siete todos los días - I get up at seven every day
- ¿Cómo te llamas? - What are you called?
- Necesito lavar la ropa - I need to wash the clothes
Describing people and things
These adjectives and nouns help you describe people, places and objects in detail. Building a strong vocabulary of descriptive words will make your Spanish much more expressive.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| habitual | usual |
| importante | important |
| imposible | impossible |
| increíble | incredible |
| interesante | interesting |
| largo/a | long |
| ligero/a | light |
| limpio/a | clean |
| maravilloso/a | marvellous |
| máximo/a | maximum |
Worked Example: Descriptive sentences
- Es muy importante estudiar para los exámenes - It's very important to study for exams
- La película fue increíble - The film was incredible
- Llevo una camiseta ligera porque hace calor - I'm wearing a light t-shirt because it's hot
Places and directions
Vocabulary for describing locations and giving directions. These words are essential for navigation and describing where things are located.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| jardín (m) | garden |
| izquierda (f) | left/left hand |
| norte (m) | North |
| oeste (m) | West |
| nacional | national |
| internacional | international |
| mexicano/a | Mexican |
| peruano/a | Peruvian |
Worked Example: Location and direction phrases
- El jardín está detrás de la casa - The garden is behind the house
- Gira a la izquierda en el semáforo - Turn left at the traffic lights
Feelings and opinions
Express your emotions and thoughts with these key terms. Being able to communicate feelings and opinions is vital for meaningful conversations in Spanish.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| idea (f) | idea |
| importancia (f) | importance/significance |
| miedo (m) | fear |
| odiar | to hate |
| opinión (f) | opinion |
| pena (f) | shame/sadness |
| pensar | to think |
| preferir | to prefer |
| posible | possible |
| positivo/a | positive |
Worked Example: Expressing opinions and feelings
- ¿Cuál es tu opinión sobre el cambio climático? - What's your opinion on climate change?
- Tengo miedo de las arañas - I'm afraid of spiders
- Prefiero el té al café - I prefer tea to coffee
Communication and media
Vocabulary related to speaking, writing and media. These words help you discuss information sharing and communication in the modern world.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| imagen (f) | image/picture |
| información (f) | information |
| letra (f) | letter/lyrics |
| lista (f) | list |
| palabra (f) | word |
| pregunta (f) | question |
| preguntar | to ask |
| periódico (m) | newspaper |
| presentación (f) | presentation/introduction |
Pronunciation tip: Remember that 'll' in Spanish makes a 'y' sound, so llamar sounds like "ya-mar".
Grammar notes
Understanding these grammatical patterns will help you use the vocabulary correctly and avoid common mistakes.
Critical Grammar Points:
- Gender markers: (f) = feminine, (m) = masculine - always learn nouns with their gender
- Reflexive verbs: Words ending in -se like levantarse need reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se)
- Stem-changing verbs: Preferir changes to prefiero (I prefer), Pensar becomes pienso (I think)
Translation practice
Test your understanding with these translation exercises. Practice regularly to build confidence with these vocabulary words.
Worked Example: Translation Practice
Spanish to English:
- La información es muy importante para el proyecto
- Me levanto temprano y lavo los platos
English to Spanish:
- I think the idea is marvellous
- There were many people in the garden
Answers:
- The information is very important for the project
- I get up early and wash the dishes
- Pienso que la idea es maravillosa
- Había mucha gente en el jardín
Key Points to Remember:
- Gender matters: Always learn nouns with their gender (el/la)
- Verb endings change: Regular -ar verbs follow predictable patterns
- Context clues: Many Spanish words look similar to English but check meanings carefully
- Practice daily: Use these words in sentences to remember them better
- False friends exist: Realizar means 'to carry out', not 'to realise'