Spanish Vocabulary Cheatsheet

This phrase is a very common way to express concession or contrast in Spanish, indicating that something happens or is true even when there is an obstacle or a contrary circumstance. It is often followed by a noun, a pronoun, or an infinitive verb (introduced by 'de'). When followed by a conjugated verb, it typically requires the subjunctive mood if the action is hypothetical or not yet realized, though the indicative is used for factual statements. It can also be used idiomatically in phrases like 'a pesar de todo' (despite everything/regardless) or 'a pesar de los pesares' (despite all sorrows/come what may).

See also acordar: to agree, to agree on. While 'recordar' is also used for 'to remember', 'acordarse' often emphasizes the act of bringing something to mind, sometimes implying a conscious effort. It is always used reflexively.

Los/las dos is more common/informal in daily Spanish. Tanto X como Y is more like "X as well as Y" which lines up well with "both".

Aprobar is a stem-changing verb (o → ue): yo apruebo, tú apruebas, él aprueba, etc. It means both 'to approve' (a law, decision) and 'to pass' (an exam, course). The opposite for exams is suspender (to fail).

Aprovechar is a false friend — it does NOT mean 'to approve' (which is aprobar). Aprovechar means to take advantage of or make the most of something. The reflexive aprovecharse de has a negative connotation of exploiting someone.

Aun (without accent) means "even" and is used in phrases like aun cuando (even when), aun con (even with), aun si (even if), and aun así (even so/despite that). Aún (with accent) means "still" or "yet" and indicates an ongoing state or action.

The verb 'caer' is highly versatile and frequently used in both literal and figurative senses. When used reflexively ('caerse'), it often emphasizes an accidental or involuntary fall. It is an irregular verb, especially in the present tense (yo caigo) and preterite (yo caí, él cayó).

Compared with broma, chiste is more like lighthearted story. Broma is something you play on someone.

Notice the o in cuentos, not to be confused with cuentas. Also, synonymous with unos relatos cortos.

Very frequent in administrative and legal language with prepositions: cumplir con + objeto/criterio; cumplir + obligación/promesa; dar cumplimiento a + disposición. In birthday contexts, the direct object can be the number or años. The reflexive cumplirse often frames expectations or prophecies that are realized. Cumplimentar in Spain means ‘to execute/complete a formality’ or ‘to greet formally,’ not a simple synonym of cumplir.

Note the strong association with word 'choice'.

Los demás is invariable in form — it does not change for gender. It always takes the plural article (los/las demás). Las demás is used when referring specifically to a feminine group. It differs from los otros in that los demás implies 'all the rest' while los otros can mean just 'the other ones' (a specific subset).

Derramar is used both literally (spilling liquids) and figuratively (shedding tears or blood). The reflexive derramarse indicates the liquid spills on its own or accidentally. The common expression no llores sobre la leche derramada is the equivalent of 'don't cry over spilled milk.'

The word 'derrota' is predominantly used to mean 'defeat' in modern Spanish. The nautical sense of 'course' or 'route' is less common today and often replaced by 'derrotero' or 'ruta'.

The reflexive form 'destacarse' is commonly used to express the meaning 'to stand out' or 'to excel'. While 'destacar' has a primary sense of emphasizing or highlighting, its use to mean 'to stand out' is very frequent in everyday Spanish.

This idiom is widely used in all Spanish-speaking regions to express the feeling of longing for someone or something that is absent. It is distinct from 'perder' (to lose) or 'faltar' (to be missing), as it specifically conveys the emotional sentiment of missing.

Envidia is commonly used with the verbs tener (tener envidia = to be envious), dar (dar envidia = to make envious), and despertar (despertar envidia = to arouse envy). The related adjective is envidioso/envidiosa.

compare with piensas estar (to think/plan to be)

Fastidiar can mean both 'to annoy/bother' and, in reflexive form (fastidiarse), 'to put up with something' or 'to get damaged/ruined'. In colloquial Spanish, ¡no me fastidies! expresses disbelief or annoyance, similar to 'you've got to be kidding me!'

The reflexive fijarse is extremely common in everyday Spanish. ¡Fíjate! is used as an interjection meaning 'Look!', 'Notice!', or 'Can you believe it!' Fijarse en means 'to notice' or 'to pay attention to.' The non-reflexive fijar means 'to fix/fasten in place' or 'to set/establish' (a date, price, rules).

In modern Spanish, its primary and almost exclusive meaning is 'to fail' or 'to be unsuccessful'. It is often used with the preposition 'en' when referring to failing at something specific, e.g., 'fracasar en el intento' (to fail in the attempt).

Lata literally means 'tin can,' but it is very commonly used figuratively to mean a nuisance, a bore, or something tedious. ¡Qué lata! (What a drag/pain!) is a frequent exclamation. Dar la lata means 'to be a pain/pest' or 'to pester.' A person can also be called un/una lata to mean they are boring or annoying (Ser una lata).

Note: review the differences between andar, caminar, and marchar. Marchar: to march; commonly “depart/leave.” Caminar: to walk, literally. Andar: broader “go/walk,” like wandering; e.g., “Anda y me compras un helado.”

Related to the adjective mezquino/mezquina (petty, mean, stingy). Can refer to moral smallness (pettiness/meanness) or material stinginess.

Mismo has three main uses: (1) same — always with a definite article before it: el mismo, la misma, los mismos, las mismas; (2) -self (emphatic) — placed after a pronoun or noun: yo mismo, ella misma, el director mismo; (3) right/very (intensifier) — placed after adverbs of time or place: ahora mismo (right now), aquí mismo (right here), hoy mismo (this very day). The expression dar lo mismo means 'to not matter' or 'to be all the same'.

While 'modo' is the singular form, 'modos' often takes on specific connotations, especially when referring to 'manners' or 'resources'. The phrase 'tener buenos modos' (to have good manners) is very common.

Notarse is very common in daily Spanish. Se nota means 'it's noticeable/obvious' or 'you can tell.' ¿No se nota? is used rhetorically to mean 'Isn't it obvious?' Note that notar does NOT mean 'to note down' (which is anotar or apuntar).

The verb 'ocultar' is often used reflexively ('ocultarse') to mean 'to hide oneself' or 'to be hidden'. While 'esconder' is a very close synonym and often interchangeable, 'ocultar' can sometimes imply a more deliberate or secretive act of concealment, or a more abstract 'hiding' of information or feelings.

While 'ola' refers to a single wave, 'oleaje' refers to the general state or movement of the waves.

El paro is commonly used in Spain to mean unemployment (estar en el paro = to be unemployed). In Latin America, el desempleo is more common for this meaning. Paro can also mean a work stoppage or strike in some contexts.

La pena has several distinct meanings: sorrow/grief (sentir pena), pity/shame (dar pena, qué pena), legal punishment (pena de muerte = death penalty), and worth/value (valer la pena = to be worth it, merecer la pena = to be worthwhile). The expressions valer la pena and merecer la pena are extremely common in everyday Spanish.

persona => countable, gente => folks, uncountable, collective/general

compare with estar pensado (to be designed/intended for)

Common collocations: ajustar el presupuesto (to adjust the budget), pedir un presupuesto (to ask for a quote), partir del presupuesto de que... (to start from the assumption that...).

Quejarse is always reflexive. It is typically followed by de (quejarse de algo = to complain about something). The noun form is la queja (complaint). Compare with regañar, which means 'to scold' or 'to grumble' but is not reflexive.

Sobrar is the opposite of faltar (to be lacking/missing). While sobras (noun, always plural for leftovers) refers specifically to leftover food or materials, the verb sobrar is broader: it can mean 'to be left over', 'to have more than enough', or even 'to be unwanted/superfluous' (e.g., aquí yo sobro = I'm not wanted here / I'm in the way here).

The verb 'soler' is typically used in the present or imperfect tenses to describe recurring actions or habits. It is not generally used in the future tense or imperative mood. It is always followed by an infinitive verb. It is a common and idiomatic way to express habitual actions in Spanish, often translated with 'usually', 'tend to', or 'used to' (in the imperfect tense).

Superar is versatile: it means 'to overcome' (obstacles, fears), 'to surpass/exceed' (expectations, records), and 'to get over' (a breakup, a loss). ¡Supéralo! is a common colloquial expression meaning 'Get over it!' The reflexive superarse means 'to better oneself' or 'to push past one's limits.'

Tras is a preposition meaning 'behind' (spatial) or 'after' (temporal). It is more formal/literary than detrás de (behind) or después de (after), but appears frequently in written Spanish and news. The expression día tras día (day after day) and uno tras otro (one after another) are very common.

The verb 'tratar' is highly versatile in Spanish, encompassing a wide range of meanings related to handling, dealing, and interacting. Its specific sense often depends on the prepositions used with it, such as 'tratar de' (to try, to be about), 'tratar con' (to deal with, to associate with), or 'tratar a' (to treat someone in a certain way).

As a reflexive verb, 'tratarse' implies that the action of 'tratar' (to treat, to deal with) is performed by the subject upon itself, or mutually between subjects. Its most common impersonal use is 'se trata de' meaning 'it is about' or 'it concerns'.

Umbral is used both literally (the bottom part of a doorway, doorstep) and figuratively (the brink or threshold of something, such as a new era, a limit, or a turning point). Common expressions include umbral de dolor (pain threshold) and en el umbral de (on the brink/threshold of).

Valer is extremely common in daily Spanish. Key expressions: valer la pena (to be worth it), más vale que + subjunctive (you'd better...), más vale + infinitive (it's better to...), ¡vale! (OK! / alright! — very common in Spain as agreement), no vale (it's not fair/allowed — common among children). It is irregular: yo valgo, valdré, valdría.

The meaning 'to expire' or 'to become due' is an important and common usage, especially in financial or legal contexts, and for perishable goods. While 'vencer' often implies a struggle or challenge, its usage for deadlines and expiration dates is quite neutral.