Spanish Honors 2 Spring Comprehensive Study Guide

Vocabulary for Dining and the Restaurant Experience

  • Menu and Ordering: Before placing an order, a customer typically reads the restaurant menu (el menú).
  • Specific Orders:
    • A young person who is hungry might order a plate of french fries (un plato de papas fritas).
    • Beverages and dishes may be accompanied by various items. In Spanish culture, specifically in Spain, it is common to put many different things on the same plate rather than just one item.
    • In Caribbean Latin countries, it is noted that many dishes are not necessarily accompanied by corn (maíz).
  • Steak Preferences: When ordering a steak (bistec), one might request it to be cooked medium-rare (a término medio).
  • Service Interactions:
    • The waitstaff (los meseros) are responsible for serving meals in a restaurant.
    • It is customary for a customer to leave a tip (una propina) for the waiter.
    • Waiters do not always provide exactly what is requested; for instance, a customer might order potatoes, but the waiter provides rice instead.
  • Table Setting and Utensils:
    • A table is covered with a tablecloth (un mantel).
    • To eat meat, a person requires a fork and a knife (un tenedor y un cuchillo).
    • Food is served on a plate (un plato).
    • Condiments frequently found on the table include salt (la sal) and pepper (la pimienta).
  • Snacks and Socializing:
    • If someone wants a snack (merienda), they can go to a café.
    • The term sobremesa is considered a synonym for dessert (postre) in some countries.
  • Seafood: Mussels (los mejillones) and clams (las almejas) are categorized as seafood (mariscos).

Vocabulary for Holidays, Traditions, and Life Transitions

  • The Day of the Dead and Funerary Terms:
    • The deceased: El muerto is synonymous with el difunto.
    • Masks and costumes: La máscara is associated with a costume (un disfraz).
    • Burial sites: El cementerio is also known as el camposanto.
    • Tombs: El mausoleo corresponds to the grave or sepulcher (la sepultura).
    • Anatomy: El cráneo is the skull, also referred to as la calavera.
  • New Year's Eve (La Nochevieja):
    • In Spain, the final day of the year is known as la Nochevieja.
    • At the Puerta del Sol, the chiming of a large bell announces the arrival of the New Year.
    • With every chime of the bell, it is tradition for each person celebrating to eat one grape (una uva).
  • Holiday Gifts:
    • A Christmas bonus or gift (aguinaldo de navidad) is simply a gift (el regalo).
    • El aguinaldo is equivalent to el regalo.
  • General Celebrations:
    • A celebration is a party (fiesta).
    • Fireworks (fuegos artificiales) are a staple at all parties and are often described as very beautiful (muy bonitos).

Technology and Communication Vocabulary

  • Hardware and Devices:
    • A computer can be called la computadora or el ordenador.
    • A mobile phone is referred to as el movil or el celular.
  • Digital Actions:
    • To download is descargar or bajar.
    • To press a button or key is pulsar or oprimir.

Verbs and Action Synonyms

  • Crafting and Movement:
    • To make or prepare (confeccionar) is to elaborate or develop (elaborar).
    • To decorate is also related to elaborar.
    • To walk in a line (caminar el fila) is to parade (desfilar).
    • To move backward (retroceder) is to return or go back (regresar).
  • General Actions:
    • To exit: salir.
    • To go up: subir.
    • To sleep: dormir.
    • To cut: cortar.

Grammar: Present Perfect Tense

  • The present perfect is used to describe actions that have happened. Examples include:
    • Andrés no ha llegado todavía (Andrés has not arrived yet).
    • Él ha tomado el tren (He has taken the train).
    • No he dicho nada (I haven't said anything).
    • Ellos siempre han venido en carro (They have always come by car).
    • Creo que ese ha sido el problema (I think that has been the problem).
    • Jose lo ha abierto (Jose has opened it).
    • Muchos lo han visto (Many have seen it).

Grammar: Imperfect Tense

  • The imperfect is used for ongoing or habitual past actions. Examples include:
    • Estudiabas mucho (You used to study a lot).
    • Luisa quería asistir (Luisa wanted to attend).
    • Muchos amigos iban (Many friends used to go).
    • Mis amigos asistían (My friends used to attend).
    • Tú estabas en la clase (You were in the class).
    • Nos levantábamos temprano (We used to get up early).
    • En todas las fiestas habíamos fuegos artificiales (In all the parties there were fireworks).
    • Los fuegos artificiales eran muy bonitos (The fireworks were very beautiful).
    • Él sacaba notas malas (He used to get bad grades).

Grammar: Pronouns and Object Usage

  • Direct Object Pronouns:
    • Tú no tienes mi número nuevo becomes Tú no lo tienes.
    • Leo muchas revistas becomes Las leo.
    • Tengo los mensajes becomes Los tengo.
  • Double Object Pronouns: When indicating to whom and what an action is done:
    • \±Te abrió la puerta? Sí, me la abrió (Did he open the door for you? Yes, he opened it for me).
    • \±Te subió el equipaje el mozo? Sí, me lo subió (Did the bellhop bring up the luggage for you? Yes, he brought it up for me).
    • \±Le pediste las toallas a la camarera? Sí, se las pedí (Did you ask the maid for the towels? Yes, I asked her for them).

Grammar: Commands and Present Tense Conjugations

  • Imperative (Commands):
    • Sube las escaleras (Go up the stairs).
    • Duerme en la casa (Sleep in the house).
    • Don't use the mouse: No lo usa.
    • Don't put the phone in water: No lo pon.
    • Don't look at the website: No lo mira.
    • Don't make a new folder: No la hagas.
    • Ven conmigo (Come with me).
    • Corta la tarjeta (Cut the card).
  • Present Tense Stem-Changing Verbs:
    • Yo pido carne (I order meat).
    • Ellos lo repiten (They repeat it).
    • Tú sirves el postre (You serve the dessert).