Spanish vocabulary

Spanish vocabulary: everyday actions

Common Spanish words for everyday actions, the most frequent first. Each word has its English meaning and a real line from the Lexayo story, so you see it in use.

• tener verb to have

  irregular: tengo, tienes; tener que = have to

  Sí, tengo un vestido rojo.

  Yes, I have a red dress.

• hacer verb to do, to make

  irregular: hago, hice, hecho; hace calor

  Nuria, ¿qué vas a hacer hoy?

  Nuria, what are you going to do today?

• ir verb to go

  irregular: voy, fui; ir a + inf. = going to

  Voy a cenar con Javi.

  I'm going to have dinner with Javi.

• ver verb to see; to watch

  irregular: veo, vi, visto

  No sé. No veo a Javi.

  I don't know. I can't see Javi.

• dar verb to give

  irregular: doy, di, dio

  Nuria, antes del viaje te di un regalo. ¿Lo abriste?

  Nuria, before the trip I gave you a present. Did you open it?

• dejar verb to leave; to let

  ¿No está? ¿Podría dejar un mensaje?

  She is not in? Could I leave a message?

• pasar verb to happen; to pass; to spend (time)

  ¿qué pasa? = what's up?

  ¿Y qué pasó, cariño?

  And what happened, dear?

• poner verb to put

  irregular: pongo, puse, puesto

  Puse el papel, pero no funcionó.

  I put the paper in, but it didn't work.

• encontrar verb to find

  encuentro

  Mira esto, Nuria. Encontré unas huellas.

  Look at this, Nuria. I found some footprints.

• llevar verb to carry, to take; to wear

  llevo dos años aquí = I've been here 2 years

  Nuria lleva una caja al cuarto piso.

  Nuria carries a box up to the fourth floor.

• seguir verb to follow; to carry on, to keep

  sigo; sigue recto = go straight on

  Ah, sí. Sigue recto.

  Ah, yes. Go straight on.

• necesitar verb to need

  Hola, Nuria. ¿Qué necesitas?

  Hi, Nuria. What do you need?

• volver verb to come back, to return

  vuelvo, vuelto; volver a + inf. = do again

  ¿En el bar? ¿Y cuándo vuelves?

  At the bar? When do you get back?

• venir verb to come

  irregular: vengo, vine

  Nuria, ¿quieres venir a la fiesta?

  Nuria, do you want to come to the party?

• esperar verb to wait (for); to hope

  ¿Y el ascensor, Ramón? Lo esperamos desde... ¡mil novecientos ochenta!

  And the lift, Ramón? We have been waiting for it since... nineteen eighty!

• mirar verb to look (at); to watch

  ¡mira! = look!

  Mira, Doña Elena. Mi familia.

  Look, Doña Elena. My family.

• salir verb to go out, to leave

  salgo

  ¿Doña Elena va a salir?

  Doña Elena is going out?

• tomar verb to take; to have (food, drink)

  Buenas tardes. ¿Qué van a tomar?

  Good afternoon. What are you having?

• quedar verb to stay; to meet up; to be left

  me queda bien = it suits me

  Muy bien. ¿A qué hora quedamos?

  Very good. What time shall we meet?

• tratar verb to treat; tratar de = to try to

  se trata de = it's about

  Doña Elena trata a Nuria como a una nieta.

  Doña Elena treats Nuria like a granddaughter.

• usar verb to use; to wear (a size)

  ¿Falta la sartén? ¡Pero si la usa cada día!

  The frying pan is missing? But you use it every day!

• buscar verb to look for, to search

  busqué

  Busco una camisa roja.

  I am looking for a red shirt.

• empezar verb to start, to begin

  empiezo, empecé

  Después empiezo a limpiar el piso.

  Then I start cleaning the flat.

• pedir verb to ask for; to order (food)

  pido; ≠ preguntar (ask a question)

  ¿Y qué están pidiendo las empresas?

  And what are the companies asking for?

• perder verb to lose; to miss (a train)

  pierdo; perderse = to get lost

  ¿Yo? ¡Las perdí ayer!

  Me? I lost them yesterday!

• ayudar verb to help

  Te ayudo. ¿El abrigo?

  I'll help. The coat?

• acabar verb to finish, to end

  acabar de + inf. = to have just done

  Un poco. Y acabo de escribir un correo muy bonito.

  A little. And I have just written a really nice email.

• terminar verb to finish, to end

  Termino a las siete.

  I finish at seven.

• entrar verb to go in, to come in, to enter

  entrar en (Spain) / entrar a

  ¿Abierta? ¿Ha entrado alguien?

  Open? Has someone come in?

• cambiar verb to change

  Bueno, hizo una llamada. Y cambió una cosa.

  Well, she made one phone call. And she changed one thing.

• conseguir verb to get, to obtain; to manage to

  consigo

  ¡Acabo de conseguir una entrevista, Doña Elena!

  I have just got an interview, Doña Elena!

• intentar verb to try

  Bueno, vuelvo a intentarlo.

  Well, I'll try again.

• abrir verb to open

  abierto (past participle)

  No puedo abrir la caja.

  I can't open the box.

• mantener verb to keep, to maintain; to support

  like tener: mantengo, mantuve

  Nuria mantiene su piso muy limpio.

  Nuria keeps her flat very clean.

• la ayuda noun help

  No. Me duele la espalda. ¡Ayuda!

  No. My back hurts. Help!

• recibir verb to receive, to get

  ¿Una reclamación? Ya recibí tu carta, Nuria.

  A complaint? I already got your letter, Nuria.

• traer verb to bring

  traigo, traje, traído

  ¡Nuria! Te he traído churros.

  Nuria! I have brought you churros.

• unir verb to join, to unite

  unidos = close, united

  El metro une el barrio con el centro.

  The metro links the neighbourhood with the centre.

• sacar verb to take out; to take (photos)

  Buena idea. ¿Y esa cámara? ¿Para sacar fotos?

  Good idea. And that camera? To take photos?

• comenzar verb to begin, to start

  comienzo, comencé

  La clase comienza a las nueve.

  The class starts at nine.

• crear verb to create

  Mientras, voy a crear tu correo electrónico.

  Meanwhile, I'm going to create your email.

• permitir verb to allow, to permit

  Don Ramón no permite perros en el edificio.

  Don Ramón doesn't allow dogs in the building.

• ocurrir verb to happen, to occur

  se me ocurre = I've got an idea

  ¿Qué ocurre, Nuria? ¿Estás bien?

  What's the matter, Nuria? Are you all right?

• el paso noun step; footstep

  Pasos. Pasos en la escalera.

  Footsteps. Footsteps on the stairs.

• caer verb to fall; caérsele = to drop

  caigo, cayó; se me cayó = I dropped it

  ¡Ay! Se me cayó el café.

  Oh! I dropped the coffee.

• funcionar verb to work (machines), to function

  Puse el papel, pero no funcionó.

  I put the paper in, but it didn't work.

• convertir verb to turn into, to convert

  convertirse en = to become

  En invierno, el agua se convierte en hielo.

  In winter, water turns into ice.

• subir verb to go up, to come up; to raise

  Así vemos quién sube y quién baja.

  That way we see who goes up and who comes down.

• acercar verb to bring closer; acercarse = to approach

  Nuria se acerca a la ventana.

  Nuria goes over to the window.

• servir verb to serve; to be useful (for)

  sirvo; ¿para qué sirve? = what's it for?

  ¿Y para qué sirven tantas naranjas?

  And what are so many oranges for?

• suceder verb to happen

  ¿Qué sucede aquí? Hay mucho ruido.

  What's going on here? There's a lot of noise.

• cerrar verb to close, to shut

  cierro

  Tomás, ¿a qué hora cerraste el puesto anoche?

  Tomás, what time did you close your stall last night?

• correr verb to run

  Claro. Vendré corriendo si es necesario.

  Of course. I'll come running if necessary.

• echar verb to throw; to put in, to add

  echar de menos = to miss

  Sí, mucha. Echo de menos el mar.

  Yes, a lot. I miss the sea.

• lograr verb to achieve; to manage to

  Por fin, Nuria logra abrir la caja.

  At last, Nuria manages to open the box.

• ocupar verb to occupy, to take up

  ocupado/a = busy

  Mamá, estoy muy ocupada.

  Mum, I'm very busy.

• aparecer verb to appear; to turn up

  aparezco

  Estábamos esperando en la escalera cuando usted apareció.

  We were waiting on the stairs when you appeared.

• mostrar verb to show

  muestro

  Nuria le muestra las fotos a Javi.

  Nuria shows Javi the photos.

• meter verb to put (in)

  meter la pata = to put your foot in it

  Marisa, ¿y luego metiste la masa en el horno?

  Marisa, and then you put the batter in the oven?

• romper verb to break

  roto (past participle)

  ¡Mi ordenador! Creo que lo he roto.

  My computer! I think I have broken it.

• aceptar verb to accept; to take (payment)

  ¿Aceptas... naranjas?

  Do you take... oranges?

• continuar verb to continue, to carry on

  continúo

  Después del café, Nuria continúa trabajando.

  After her coffee, Nuria carries on working.

• ofrecer verb to offer

  irregular: ofrezco

  Don Ramón nos ofrece el piso de su madre.

  Don Ramón is offering us his mother's flat.

• tocar verb to touch; to play (music)

  te toca = it's your turn

  No sé. No toqué el ordenador. ¡Solo la fotocopiadora!

  I don't know. I didn't touch the computer. Only the photocopier!

• utilizar verb to use

  Nuria utiliza el ordenador todo el día.

  Nuria uses the computer all day.

• obtener verb to obtain, to get

  irregular like tener

  Es difícil obtener un piso barato en Madrid.

  It's hard to get a cheap flat in Madrid.

• sentar verb to sit (down); to seat

  sentarse = to sit down; irregular: siento

  Pues el que llegue tarde se sienta con Don Ramón.

  Well, whoever arrives late sits with Don Ramón.

• quitar verb to remove, to take off/away

  quitarse = to take off (clothes)

  Quitamos la parte de Elena con el maquillaje.

  Let's cut the part with Elena and the make-up.

• bajar verb to go down; to lower; to get off

  Es fácil. Luego baja por la calle de la izquierda.

  It's easy. Then go down the street on the left.

• mover verb to move

  irregular: muevo

  Puede ser una pista. No lo muevas.

  It could be a clue. Don't move it.

• incluir verb to include

  Quería saber una cosa: ¿el desayuno está incluido?

  I was wondering: is breakfast included?

• el movimiento noun movement

  Doña Elena ve todos los movimientos del edificio.

  Doña Elena sees every movement in the building.

• evitar verb to avoid

  Nuria evita a Don Ramón en la escalera.

  Nuria avoids Don Ramón on the stairs.

• realizar verb to carry out, to do, to make

  false friend: to realise = darse cuenta

  Lucas realiza un proyecto nuevo en Pixel.

  Lucas is carrying out a new project at Pixel.

• preparar verb to prepare, to get ready

  Tranquilo. Vamos a preparar todo.

  Relax. We're going to get everything ready.

• levantar verb to lift, to raise; (-se) to get up

  levantarse = to get up

  Me levanto a las siete.

  I get up at seven.

• cumplir verb to keep, to fulfil; to turn (age)

  cumplir años = to have a birthday

  ¿Cuántos años cumple, de verdad?

  How old is she turning, really?

• crecer verb to grow

  irregular: crezco

  Para crecer y para trabajar en equipo.

  To grow and to work in a team.

• compartir verb to share

  Ay, qué bonito. Comparten la comida.

  Aw, how sweet. They're sharing their food.

• construir verb to build

  irregular: construyo

  Están construyendo un hotel en la plaza.

  They are building a hotel in the square.

• el uso noun use

  Las instrucciones de uso están en la caja.

  The instructions for use are in the box.

• partir verb to split, to cut; to leave

  a partir de = from (… on)

  ¿Partimos la tarta ya, Doña Elena?

  Shall we cut the cake now, Doña Elena?

• probar verb to try; to taste; to try on

  probarse = to try on; irregular: pruebo

  ¿Me lo puedo probar?

  Can I try it on?

• parar verb to stop

  sin parar = nonstop

  Uf, ayer Doña Elena me paró en la escalera.

  Ugh, yesterday Doña Elena stopped me on the stairs.

• despertar verb to wake (up)

  despertarse = to wake up; despierto

  Acabo de despertarme y ya echo de menos la playa.

  I've just woken up and I already miss the beach.

• abandonar verb to leave, to abandon; to give up

  Nuria no quiere abandonar su sueño.

  Nuria doesn't want to give up her dream.

• caminar verb to walk

  Caminaba despacio, como muy cansado.

  He was walking slowly, as if very tired.

• destruir verb to destroy

  irregular: destruyo

  ¡El gato destruyó mi planta!

  The cat destroyed my plant!

• salvar verb to save, to rescue

  ¡Gracias, Javi! Me has salvado la vida.

  Thanks, Javi! You've saved my life.

• tirar verb to throw; to throw away; to pull

  Mi madre me aconsejó que nunca tirara nada. ¡Tenía razón!

  My mother advised me never to throw anything away. She was right!

• proteger verb to protect

  protejo

  El paraguas te protege de la lluvia.

  The umbrella protects you from the rain.

• reunir verb to gather, to bring together

  reunirse = to meet

  Doña Elena reúne a todos los vecinos.

  Doña Elena gathers all the neighbours together.

• coger verb to take; to catch; to pick up

  Spain; vulgar in much of Latin America

  ¿Qué es? Voy a cogerlo.

  What is it? I'll pick it up.

• cuidar verb to look after, to take care of

  cuidarse = to look after yourself

  Ay, qué majo es este chico. Nuria, cuídalo.

  Oh, what a lovely boy. Nuria, look after him.

• el golpe noun blow, knock, bang

  Ay, me di un golpe en la cabeza.

  Ow, I banged my head.

• controlar verb to control; to check, to monitor

  Doña Elena controla quién entra en el edificio.

  Doña Elena keeps an eye on who comes into the building.

• desaparecer verb to disappear

  irregular: desaparezco

  Aquel día, desapareció una caja entera.

  That day, a whole crate disappeared.

• formar verb to form, to make up; to train

  Los vecinos forman un buen equipo.

  The neighbours make a good team.

• alcanzar verb to reach; to catch up with

  Nuria no alcanza la caja de arriba.

  Nuria can't reach the box at the top.

• entregar verb to deliver, to hand over/in

  Javi entrega pizzas por la noche.

  Javi delivers pizzas at night.

• recuperar verb to get back, to recover

  recuperarse = to get better

  ¡Listo! ¡Lo recuperé todo!

  Done! I got it all back!

• recoger verb to pick up, to collect; to tidy up

  recojo

  A las nueve. Quiero recoger las maletas rápido.

  At nine. I want to collect the suitcases quickly.

• acompañar verb to go with, to accompany

  Lo sé. ¿Te acompaño?

  I know. Shall I come with you?

• escapar verb to escape

  escaparse = to run away

  ¡El gato se escapó por la ventana!

  The cat escaped through the window!

• arreglar verb to fix, to repair; to tidy

  Javi. Arregló mi ordenador ayer.

  Javi. He fixed my computer yesterday.

• esconder verb to hide

  a escondidas = secretly

  Quizás... los escondiste tú mismo.

  Maybe... you hid them yourself.

• cortar verb to cut

  ¿Y quién cortaba el pulpo?

  And who used to cut the octopus?

• separar verb to separate

  Separa la ropa blanca de la ropa negra.

  Separate the white clothes from the black clothes.

• golpear verb to hit, strike, bang

  La lluvia golpea la ventana toda la noche.

  The rain beats against the window all night.

• organizar verb to organise

  Gracias por organizar todo, Nuria.

  Thanks for organising everything, Nuria.

• cubrir verb to cover

  participle: cubierto

  Cubre la comida, que viene el gato.

  Cover the food, the cat's coming.

• manejar verb to handle, use; to drive (Lat. Am.)

  Carmen maneja muy bien los programas de diseño.

  Carmen is very good with design software.

• lanzar verb to throw; to launch

  Javi lanza la pelota al perro.

  Javi throws the ball to the dog.

• mejorar verb to improve, get better

  Mi inglés mejora poco a poco.

  My English is improving little by little.

• guardar verb to keep; to put away; to save

  Vale. Guardo el secreto.

  OK. I'll keep the secret.

• saltar verb to jump

  El gato salta a la mesa de la cocina.

  The cat jumps onto the kitchen table.

• huir verb to flee, run away

  huyo, huye

  El gato huye cuando ve a Don Ramón.

  The cat runs away when it sees Don Ramón.

• prestar verb to lend

  prestar atención = to pay attention

  Se lo presté una vez a un amigo.

  I lent it once to a friend.

• devolver verb to give back, return

  o→ue: devuelvo; participle devuelto

  Don Ramón se lo devolvió anoche, ¿recuerda?

  Don Ramón gave it back to you last night, remember?

• atrapar verb to catch, trap

  Doña Elena quiere atrapar al ladrón de plantas.

  Doña Elena wants to catch the plant thief.

• permanecer verb to remain, stay

  permanezco

  Por favor, permanezcan en sus asientos.

  Please remain in your seats.

• faltar verb to be missing, be lacking

  me falta… = I'm missing / I need…

  ¿Y sabe algo de las cosas que faltan?

  And do you know anything about the things that are missing?

• sobrevivir verb to survive

  Una madre en Madrid. Una semana. ¿Sobrevivirá Nuria?

  A mother in Madrid. One week. Will Nuria survive?

• agarrar verb to grab, hold; to catch

  Agarra bien la bolsa, que pesa mucho.

  Hold the bag tight, it's very heavy.

• hallar verb to find

  more formal than encontrar

  Doña Elena halló la planta en el trastero.

  Doña Elena found the plant in the storeroom.

• avanzar verb to move forward, advance

  La cola avanza muy despacio hoy.

  The queue is moving forward very slowly today.

• cargar verb to load, carry; to charge

  Claro, mientras nosotros cargamos con todo lo demás.

  Sure, while we carry everything else.

• contener verb to contain; to hold back

  irregular like tener

  Esta caja contiene las fotos de Mamá.

  This box contains Mum's photos.

• apuntar verb to note down; to point, aim

  apuntarse = to sign up

  Buena idea, mamá. La apunto.

  Good idea, Mum. I'll write it down.

• iniciar verb to start, begin

  more formal than empezar

  Nuria inicia su nuevo trabajo el lunes.

  Nuria starts her new job on Monday.

• colocar verb to place, put

  Coloca los platos en la mesa, por favor.

  Put the plates on the table, please.

• obligar verb to force, oblige

  obligar a alguien a + inf.

  Nadie te obliga a venir, Javi.

  Nobody is forcing you to come, Javi.

• ocultar verb to hide, conceal

  ¿Qué ocultas detrás de la espalda?

  What are you hiding behind your back?

• rechazar verb to reject, turn down

  Javi no rechaza nunca un trabajo.

  Javi never turns down a job.

• perseguir verb to chase, pursue

  El perro persigue al gato por el patio.

  The dog chases the cat around the courtyard.

• marcar verb to mark; to dial; to score

  Marca el número de Javi, por favor.

  Dial Javi's number, please.

• quemar verb to burn

  ¿No? Ayer se te quemó el agua del café.

  No? Yesterday you burnt the water for your coffee.

• aprovechar verb to make the most of, take advantage of

  ¡que aproveche! = enjoy your meal!

  Nuria aprovecha el sol para pasear.

  Nuria makes the most of the sun to go for a walk.

• sostener verb to hold; to support

  irregular like tener

  ¿Puedes sostener la escalera un momento?

  Can you hold the ladder for a moment?

• rodear verb to surround

  El pueblo de Nuria está rodeado de montañas.

  Nuria's village is surrounded by mountains.

• vencer verb to defeat, beat; to expire

  Al final, Nuria vence su miedo.

  In the end, Nuria overcomes her fear.

• retirar verb to remove, withdraw; to retire

  retirarse = to retire

  Voy a retirar dinero del cajero.

  I'm going to withdraw money from the cashpoint.

• encargar verb to order; encargarse de = to take care of

  ¿Y quién se encarga de fregar el suelo?

  And who takes care of mopping the floor?

• involucrar verb to involve

  No me involucres en tus planes, Tomás.

  Don't involve me in your plans, Tomás.

• limitar verb to limit; to border

  Tenemos que limitar los gastos este mes.

  We have to limit our spending this month.

• alejar verb to move away; alejarse = to go away

  El pueblo está muy alejado de la ciudad.

  The village is a long way from the city.

• rendir verb to perform; rendirse = to give up

  ¡No te rindas, Nuria! Solo quedan dos pisos.

  Don't give up, Nuria! Only two floors to go.

• pegar verb to stick, glue; to hit

  no pegar ojo = not sleep a wink

  Nuria pega una foto en la nevera.

  Nuria sticks a photo on the fridge.

• escoger verb to choose, pick

  escojo = I choose

  Escoge la fruta que quieras, guapa.

  Pick whichever fruit you like, love.

• surgir verb to arise, come up

  Lo siento, me ha surgido un problema.

  Sorry, a problem has come up.

• marcharse verb to leave, go away

  marchar = to march; to go (well)

  ¡Se acabó! ¡El actor se ha marchado!

  It's over! The actor has left!

• señalar verb to point (at/out); to indicate

  Elena señala la ventana de Don Ramón.

  Elena points at Don Ramón's window.

• el vistazo noun glance, look

  echar un vistazo = to have a quick look

  ¿Puedes echar un vistazo a mi ordenador?

  Can you have a look at my computer?

• aplicar verb to apply

  apply for a job = solicitar

  Aplica la crema dos veces al día.

  Apply the cream twice a day.

• impedir verb to prevent, stop

  e→i: impido

  La lluvia no nos impide salir.

  The rain doesn't stop us going out.

• llenar verb to fill

  ¿Puedes llenar la jarra de agua?

  Can you fill the jug with water?

• fijar verb to fix, set; fijarse = to notice

  ¡fíjate! = just imagine! / look!

  Fíjate en el sombrero de Doña Elena.

  Take a look at Doña Elena's hat.

• colgar verb to hang; to hang up (phone)

  o→ue: cuelgo; colgué

  Mamá habla mucho y nunca quiere colgar.

  Mum talks a lot and never wants to hang up.

• generar verb to generate, to create

  Este trabajo genera mucho estrés.

  This job creates a lot of stress.

• atraer verb to attract

  irregular like traer: atraigo, atraje

  El olor de los churros atrae a Doña Elena.

  The smell of churros attracts Doña Elena.

• apagar verb to turn off, to switch off; to put out

  ¡Shhh! ¡Ya viene! ¡Apaga la luz!

  Shhh! She's coming! Turn off the light!

• ignorar verb to ignore; not to know

  Nuria ignora los mensajes de Don Ramón.

  Nuria ignores Don Ramón's messages.

• explotar verb to explode; to exploit

  Mamá, déjalo. Va a explotar.

  Mum, leave him alone. He's going to explode.

• fallar verb to fail; to let down; to miss

  Javi nunca me falla.

  Javi never lets me down.

• armar verb to put together, to assemble; to arm

  armar lío = to make a fuss

  Javi arma el armario nuevo de Nuria.

  Javi puts together Nuria's new wardrobe.

• asistir verb to attend; to assist

  asistir a = to attend

  Nuria asiste a una clase de cerámica.

  Nuria attends a pottery class.

• extender verb to spread (out); to extend

  e→ie: extiendo

  Extiende la masa en la mesa.

  Spread the dough out on the table.

• montar verb to ride; to set up, to assemble

  montar en bici = to ride a bike

  ¿Ahora? ¿Antes de montar en bici?

  Now? Before riding a bike?

• añadir verb to add

  Añade un poco de sal a la sopa.

  Add a little salt to the soup.

• arrancar verb to start (engine); to pull out

  Y la traje... pero no dije que arrancaría.

  And I brought it... but I didn't say it would start.

• encerrar verb to lock up, to shut in

  e→ie: encierro

  El gato se quedó encerrado en el baño.

  The cat got shut in the bathroom.

• acostarse verb to go to bed

  o→ue: me acuesto

  ¿Y a qué hora te acuestas?

  And what time do you go to bed?

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