Cuba: Key Vocabulary and Cultural Concepts in Spanish

acontecimiento (el)

event

acorralar

to corner

aferrar (aferrarse)

to grasp

ajeno

alien, foreign, unconnected

alma

soul

apodo

nickname

arder

to burn/ to sting

billete/s

bill

brillar

to shine

brindar

to toast/ to offer something to someone

búsqueda (la)

search

cadena (la)

chain / network

caña (la)

sugarcane

canela (la)

cinnamon

cantante (el, la)

singer

cantautor (el)/cantautora (la)

singer-songwriter

canto (el)

singing / song / chant

claridad (la)

clarity, brightness

clase media (la)

middle class

concurso (el)

competition

criarse

to grow up / to be raised

declarar

declare, state, announce

desengaño (el)

disappointment, disillusion

deseo (el)

wish

desigualdad (la)

inequality

desvelar

to keep somebody awake

dulzura (la)

sweetness

engaño (el)

trickery/ploy

escasez (la)

scarcity/ shortage

escena (la)

scene

escondido/a

hidden

estrofa (la)

stanza

flotar

to wave

fusionarse

to merge

ganar

to earn/to win

grabar

to record

grito (el)

shout/a scream

influir

to have influence

inscribir

register, enter

lacra/s

scourge/s

lágrima(s)

tear(s)

lidiar

to deal with

llamativo

flashy

lumbre

flame

manto (el)

mantle/blanket

muñeca (la)

doll

onda (la)

(radio) wave

patrocinado

sponsored

pecho (el)

chest

perdurar

to endure / to last over time

periodista (el, la)

journalist

protagonista (el/la)

main character / leading figure

reciedumbre (la)

strength / toughness / resilience

reina

queen

riqueza

wealth

sencillo/a

simple, modest, straightforward

sentimiento (el)

feeling, sentiment

soberano/a

sovereign

sonoro/a

with sound

tararear

to sing to yourself/ to hum

trasfondo (el)

background / underlying context

vengarse

get revenge on

voz (la)

voice