Vocab list 3 (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
General vocabulary - Vocab list 3
This vocabulary list contains essential Spanish words and phrases that you'll need for your GCSE exam. These terms cover everyday situations and are frequently used in speaking, listening, reading and writing tasks.
Study Strategy: Focus on learning these words in context rather than as isolated translations. This will help you use them more naturally in your exam responses.
Essential verbs and actions
The following verbs form the backbone of Spanish communication and appear regularly in GCSE exam papers. Master these first as they will help you construct basic sentences and express fundamental ideas.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ser | to be |
| querer | to want/love |
| saber | to know (how to) |
| salir | to leave/depart |
| seguir | to follow/continue |
| venir | to come |
| vivir | to live |
| volver | to return |
| trabajar | to work |
| usar | to use |
Worked Example: Using Essential Verbs in Context
- Quiero salir esta noche. (I want to go out tonight.)
- Mi hermana sabe tocar el piano. (My sister knows how to play the piano.)
- Vamos a trabajar mañana. (We're going to work tomorrow.)
- ¿Puedes venir a mi casa? (Can you come to my house?)
Time and frequency expressions
Understanding time-related vocabulary is crucial for describing when events happen and how often they occur. These expressions are essential for both speaking and writing tasks.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| tiempo (m) | time/weather |
| vez (f) | time (once, twice...) |
| y media (f) | half past |
| siguiente | next/following |
| anterior | previous |
| reciente | recent |
| actual | current |
| anual | annual |
Worked Example: Time Expressions in Practice
- Es la primera vez que visito España. (It's the first time I visit Spain.)
- La reunión es a las tres y media. (The meeting is at half past three.)
- El tiempo está terrible hoy. (The weather is terrible today.)
Describing people and things
These descriptive adjectives allow you to express opinions and make detailed comparisons. They're particularly useful in speaking assessments and creative writing tasks.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| principal | main |
| privado/a | private |
| público/a | public |
| rápido/a | fast/quick |
| real | real/royal |
| simple | simple |
| social | social |
| típico/a | typical |
| único/a | unique/only |
| útil | useful |
Gender Agreement: Remember that adjectives ending in -o/-a must agree with the gender of the noun they describe (e.g., un problema principal but una idea principal).
Worked Example: Descriptive Adjectives in Use
- El problema principal es el dinero. (The main problem is money.)
- Necesito transporte público para ir al trabajo. (I need public transport to go to work.)
- Es una persona muy social y simpática. (He/she is a very social and nice person.)
Communication and technology
This vocabulary covers modern communication and is frequently tested in topics related to technology, media, and information sharing.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| teléfono (m) | telephone |
| anunciar | to announce |
| significar | to mean |
| pronunciar | to pronounce |
| tema (m) | topic/theme |
| versión (f) | version |
| artículo (m) | article |
| revista (f) | magazine |
| búsqueda (f) | search |
| acceso (m) | access |
Worked Example: Translation Practice
Spanish to English:
- Voy a pronunciar las palabras despacio.
- ¿Qué significa esta expresión?
English to Spanish:
- I need access to the internet.
- The magazine has an interesting article.
Answers:
- I'm going to pronounce the words slowly.
- What does this expression mean?
- Necesito acceso a internet.
- La revista tiene un artículo interesante.
Feelings and reactions
These words help you express emotions and personal reactions, which are essential for personal descriptions and opinion-based tasks in your GCSE exam.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| acordarse (de) | to remember |
| apreciar | to appreciate |
| atreverse | to dare |
| sonreír | to smile |
| reír(se) | to laugh |
| triste | sad/unhappy |
| sorpresa (f) | surprise |
| belleza (f) | beauty |
| beneficio (m) | benefit/profit |
Worked Example: Expressing Feelings and Reactions
- Me acuerdo de nuestras vacaciones en Madrid. (I remember our holidays in Madrid.)
- Aprecio mucho tu ayuda. (I really appreciate your help.)
- No me atrevo a hablar en público. (I don't dare to speak in public.)
Useful expressions and phrases
These fixed expressions and phrases will help you sound more natural and fluent in your Spanish. They often appear in listening exercises and are valuable for speaking assessments.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| acabar de (+ infinitive) | to have just + past participle |
| asegurarse de | to ensure |
| basarse (en) | to be based (on) |
| basta (+ infinitive) | it's enough to + verb |
| varios/as | several |
| ambos/as | both |
| solo/a | alone/only |
Worked Example: Using Fixed Expressions
- Acabo de llegar de Londres. (I have just arrived from London.)
- Asegúrate de cerrar la puerta. (Make sure you close the door.)
- La película se basa en una historia real. (The film is based on a true story.)
Exam Tips for Success
- Learn word families together: trabajar (to work), trabajo (work), trabajador/a (worker)
- Pay attention to gender: Most words ending in -a are feminine, most ending in -o are masculine
- Practice with context: Don't just memorise translations - use words in sentences
- Look out for false friends: realizar means "to carry out", not "to realise"
Key Points to Remember:
- Master the most common verbs - ser, querer, sabre, salir, seguir, venir, vivir, volver - as these appear frequently in exams
- Time expressions like "vez", "tiempo", "y media" are essential for describing when things happen
- Descriptive adjectives help you express opinions and make comparisons in speaking and writing tasks
- Communication vocabulary is vital for technology and media topics that often appear in GCSE papers
- Practice using new words in context rather than just memorising isolated translations