Essential Spanish Vocabulary: Teach Yourself

Mike Zollo

• Publisher: Teach Yourself
• Year: 2011
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• eBook ISBN:
  9781444130898
• Subtopic: Spanish Language
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Essential Spanish Vocabulary is the course for you if you need help with your study of Spanish. This fully revised edition of our best-selling course now comes with free downloadable audio support containing hints on how to learn vocabulary effectively.Unlike a phrasebook or a dictionary, Essential Spanish Vocabulary will take your existing knowledge and build on it systematically and organically, so that you will increase your vocabulary and at the same time expand your range of expression.At the beginning of the book there is a section to help you with your pronunciation, followed by a short and simple grammar summary.The main part of the book is arranged in topics, such as 'Work', 'Travel and Accommodation' and 'Food and Drink', and concentrates on the vital and most current words and expressions, listing those which you might already know and then extending the coverage to teach you those you probably do not know.Finally, the downloadable audio recording will give you hints on how to increase your vocabulary effortlessly.This is an ideal companion if you are a language student or if you are wanting a systematic, easy-to-use tool to increase the range of your vocabulary and improve your ability to express yourself in a wide variety of situations, either on holiday or on a business trip. Learn effortlessly with a new, easy-to-read page design and interactive features: NOT GOT MUCH TIME?
One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.AUTHOR INSIGHTS
Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience.END-OF-UNIT SUMMARIES AND ONLINE TESTS
Summaries and tests to help you consolidate and keep track of your progress.EXTEND YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Extra online articles at: www.teachyourself.com to give you a richer understanding of the culture and history of Spain.

1

Personal matters

1.1 Titles, greetings and making arrangements

Core vocabulary

Titles	Fórmulas de tratamiento
Mr	señor (Sr)
Mrs	señora (Sra)
Miss	señorita (Srta)
Sir / Mr	Don (D)
Madam / Mrs	Doña (Dª)

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Insight

• Señor is used for both Mr and Sir; the latter is used to a stranger by e.g. a shop assistant, and by a serviceman to a senior officer; señora is used for both Mrs and Madam in the same way, and señorita is always used for Miss. All of these are used with the person’s surname, whether or not their first name is also being used, and are preceded with el or la except when you are speaking directly to him / her:

el señor Juan Ribera; la señora Jiménez; ‘¡Hola, señorita López!’

• Spanish also has two other courtesy titles – don / doña: these are reserved for someone of some status or age, and must be used with the person’s first name. You can also use them with señor(a) and the surname, provided the first name is also used.

el señor don Paco Peña; Señora doña Blanca López Román (on a letter); ‘¡Buenos días, don José!’

• Spanish people usually use doctor(a) when referring to or addressing a doctor, even though the normal word for the profession is médico/a. A lawyer is referred to as abogado/a, and teachers can be addressed as profesor(a). The normal word for boss is jefe / jefa.

Greetings	Los saludos
Hello, hi	¡Hola!
Good morning	¡Buenos días!
Good afternoon, Good evening	¡Buenas tardes!
Good night	¡Buenas noches!
Goodbye	¡Adiós!, ¡chao! (informal)

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Insight

Note that tarde is used both for afternoon and evening, and lasts from lunchtime until dinner time, which is usually around 9 or 10 p.m. Buenas noches can be used when you meet up with someone late in the evening, as well as when you are leaving them to go home or to bed.

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Insight

How to say you

Tutear / hablar de usted / tratar de usted

In Spanish, you need to decide how to address the person you are speaking to. The informal tú is used for family, close friends and a...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Credits
• Meet the author
• Only got a minute?
• Only got five minutes?
• Only got ten minutes?
• Introduction
• Toolbox
• 1 Personal matters
• 2 Family
• 3 Work
• 4 Education
• 5 At home
• 6 Entertaining and food
• 7 In the town
• 8 In the country
• 9 Hobbies and sports
• 10 Clothing
• 11 Travel
• 12 Tourism
• 13 The body and health
• 14 The world
• 15 Government and society
• 16 The media
• Test yourself
• Taking it further
• Copyright