SPA101

Elementary Spanish

PRELIM
The Spanish Language
• Spanish Ranks as World's
Number 2 Language
• Spanish Is Spoken Around the
World
• Spanish Is in the Same
Language Family as English
• Spanish Language Dates to at
Least 13th Century
• Spanish Is Sometimes Called
Castilian
The Spanish Language
• If You Can Spell It, You Can
Say It
• Royal Academy Promotes
Consistency in Spanish
• Most Spanish Speakers Are in
Latin America
• Arabic Had a Huge Influence
on Spanish Language
• Spanish and English Share
Large Vocabulary
The Basics Language
1. Learning a language is not
complicated.
2. Set your goal
3. Practice
4. Enhance your accent
5. Make friends
6. Don’t get frustrated
7. Learn more
8. Make Spanish labels
9. Think like a Spanish
10. Cincumlocution and
Contextualize
General Words for You
General Words for You
General Words for You
Activity
Eso es todo!
The Alphabet
1. The Spanish alphabet has 27
letters
2. Same 26 letters as in the
English alphabet… plus an
extra consonant: “ñ”
3. 22 consonants
4. 5 vowels

*watch Abecedario
The Alphabet
The Diphthongs
Stress
Activity
Choose from these words and ask your
seatmate to spell it in Spanish:
• El atico
• El sotano
• El comedor
• La cochera
• Las persianas
• La cerca
• El buzon
• El techo
• La escoba
• La aspiradora
The numbers (Cardinal)

*watch los numeros

The numbers (Cardinal)
The numbers (Cardinal)
The numbers (Cardinal)
The numbers (Ordinal)
Activity

State the number from

30 to 100.
Eso es todo!
Structure of Spanish Word
A Spanish word may be made up of one or two
parts-a lexeme (lexema) and/or a morpheme
(morfema). The lexeme is the word's basic
meaning, so it is generally the word's root. For
example:
cocina (kitchen) cocinar (to cook)
cocinero (cook, chef) precocinado (precooked)
cocineta (kitchenette)
Structure of Spanish Word
A prefix (prefijo) is a morpheme that is attached to
the front end of a word. In the word ''prefix," for
example, the prefix is ''pre-." In Spanish prefijo,
the prefix is the same: pre-.
a- deprivation or negation; may have other
meanings
ateismo (atheism, rejection of theism)
acabar (to end, to finish)
atraer (to attract)
Structure of Spanish Word
ante- previously, beforehand, pre-, fore
anteayer (day before yesterday)
antemano (beforehand)
antebrazo (forearm)

anti- a prefix of opposition, anti

antinatural (unnatural)
antipatia (antipathy)
antisudoral (antiperspirant)
Structure of Spanish Word
auto- self-, auto-, by oneself
autobiografia (autobiography, a biography of
one's own life)
autodefensa (self-defense)
autorizacion (authorization)
Structure of Spanish Word
contra- a prefix of opposition
contracubierta (back cover)
contragolpe (counter-blow)
contrapelo (against the grain, the wrong
way; literally against the hai)
Structure of Spanish Word
con- (also com-or co-) a prefix of addition or
association
conmover (to move, to touch)
consagrar (to consecrate)
consorte (consort, accomplice)
compadecer (to sympathize with)
coautor (coauthor)
Structure of Spanish Word
de- (also des-) downward motion, separation,
origin, opposite of the root meaning,
emphasis
descender (to descend)
denuncio (denunciation)
derivar (to derive from)
decolorado (discolored)
demandar (to demand)
desabrochar (to undo)
Structure of Spanish Word
en- (em- before b .. or .. p) inside, on the
interior; the prefix of connecting, enclosing
en lazar (to link)
enmicar (to cover in plastic)
embarazo (pregnancy)
Structure of Spanish Word
ex- outside of, further (over space or time);
may not have a specific meaning
extraer (extract, draw)
expansivo (expansive)
explicar (to explain)
Structure of Spanish Word
extra- over, outside of, exceedingly
extrafino (superfine)
extranjero (foreigner, outsider)

in- im- before b or p; i- before l or r inside, on the

interior; may carry a meaning of deprivation
incluir (to include)
inaccion (inaction)
importante (important)
Structure of Spanish Word
inter- between, among
internacional (international)
interactivo (interactive)

para- with, to the side of, against

paradoja (paradox)
parafrasear (to paraphrase)
Structure of Spanish Word
per- a prefix of intensity; may signify-badly ..
perjurar (to perjure)
pertinencia (relevance)

pre- prior to, priority, beforehand

pretexto (pretext)
prevenido (cautious)
Structure of Spanish Word
pro- by or instead of, before, moving forward,
denial or contradiction, in favor of
pronombre (pronoun)
prologo (prologue)

re- repetition, moving backwards,

intensification, opposition
reeligir (to re-elect)
recapacitar (to reconsider)
Structure of Spanish Word
sub- below; may also indicate inferiority
subarrendar (to sublet)
subcutaneo (subcutaneous, the skin)

uni- one, alone

unido (united)
univoco (one to one)
Structure of Spanish Word
A suffix (sufijo) is a morpheme that is attached
to the end of a root. Suffixes often establish the
word's grammatical role in the sentence---
whether it is a noun, verb, or adjective:
• divertirse (to have fun),
• diversion (fun, a hobby),
• divertido (fun)
Structure of Spanish Word
-aje forms a noun from another noun; English
equivalents are -ship and -age
aprendizaje (apprenticeship)
caudillaje (leadership)

-ancia, -encia suffixes forms nouns; direct English

equivalent is -ancy
corpulencia (stoutness)
tolerancia (tolerance)
Structure of Spanish Word
-anza forms a noun, often from a verb; English
equivalents include -a nee, -ion, and -ity
enseñanza (education)
semejanza (similarity)

-ario a noun suffix that indicates a profession or

place; English equivalents are -er, -ian, and -ry
bancario (banker)
bibliotecario (librarian)
Structure of Spanish Word
-arquia a suffix meaning rule or government; the
English equivalent is -archy
anarquia (anarchy)
jerarquia (hierarchy)

-ble this suffix forms adjectives; it plays the same

role in Spanish as it does in English
deseable (desirable)
increible (incredible)
Structure of Spanish Word
-cida/-cidio another noun suffix meaning
killing; direct English equivalent
is the suffix -cide
homicidio (homicide)
insecticida (insecticide)

-cion a noun suffix; its English equivalent is -tion

informacion (information)
presentacion (presentation)
Structure of Spanish Word
-dad this suffix often turns an adjective into a
noun; the English equivalents are -ty
and -hood
hermandad (brotherhood)
lealdad (loyalty)

-ear a suffix that helps turn a noun into a verb

deletrear (to spell)
parpadear (to blink)
Structure of Spanish Word
-ense a suffix that is added to a country's name to
create the adjective of nationality
canadiense (Canadian)
costarriquence (Costa Rican)

-eria a noun suffix indicating place (often a shop)

lavanderia (laundromat)
panaderia (bakery)
Structure of Spanish Word
-ero/-era may indicate a profession or role;
English equivalents include -era and -or
ingeniero (engineer)
traicionero (traitor)

-esa/-iz/-isa indicates profession in the feminine;

English equivalent is -ess
actriz (actress)
duquesa (duchess)
Structure of Spanish Word
-eza a suffix used to turn an adjective into a
noun; an English equivalent is -ty
belleza (beauty)
pureza (purity)

-icio/-icia a noun suffix; English equivalent is -ice

avaricia (avarice)
novicio (novice)
Structure of Spanish Word
-ificar a suffix that forms verbs and means turn
into; English equivalent is -ify
dignificar (to dignify)
dosificar (to measure out (dose))

-ismo a noun suffix that refers to a theory or

ideology; English equivalent is -ism
comunismo (communism)
racismo (racism)
Structure of Spanish Word
-ista a noun suffix that is often used to indicate
profession or role; English equivalent is -ist
comunista (communist)
dentista (dentist)

-izo an adjective suffix that con notes uncertainty or

incompleteness of a quality (English equivalent is
-ish); signals what something is made of
cobrizo (coppery)
pajizo (made of straw)
Structure of Spanish Word
-mente a common suffix used to turn an adjective into
an adverb; English equivalent is -ly
claramente (clearly)
obviamente (obviously)

-or a noun suffix that is often used to represent a

profession or role; English equivalents include
-er and –or
jugador (player)
pintor (painter)
Structure of Spanish Word
-oso a suffix you can use to turn a noun into an
adjective; English equivalent is -ous
jugoso (juicy)
maravilloso (marvelous)

-tud a noun suffix that often refers to a state of

being; English equivalent is -ude
actitud (attitude)
latitud (latitude)
Activity
Practice making a new form of word by adding the prefix or suffix:
1. rico + (-eza)
2. zapato + (-eria)
3. monarco + (-arquia)
4. kilometro + (-aje)
5. secuencia + (con-)
6. judicial + (extra-)
7. lenguaje + (para-)
8. comunion + (ex-)
9. relativo + (inter-)
10. campana + (-ario)
Structure of Spanish Word
Diminutives and Augmentatives
There are two groups of suffixes that deserve
special attention-they are the suffixes that form
diminutives and augmentatives. These are suffixes
that can be added to a whole range of words and
the resulting words don't require a dictionary
definition-the suffixes don't change the word's
meaning, they simply signal additional
information like size or the speaker's emotional
attitude.
Structure of Spanish Word
Diminutive-Small
"Diminutive" means "small"; diminutive
suffixes indicate small size, cuteness, or the
attitude of endearment.
-cito (-cita) ratoncito (little mouse)
-illo(-illa) chiquillo (little boy)
-zuelo (-zuela) jovenzuelo (youth)
Structure of Spanish Word
Augmentative-large
The word "augmentative" means
"enlarging" (to augment is to enlarge).
-ote (-ota) grandote (very big)
-on (-ona) barracon (a big hut)
-azo (-aza) buenazo (really good)
Structure of Spanish Word
Recognizing Cognates
Another way to improve your vocabulary is by
learning how to recognize cognates-word pairs
that look alike or are very similar in English and in
Spanish. True cognates are cognates that also
share a common or very similar meaning. For
example:
attention = atencion
exterior = exterior
Structure of Spanish Word
Commonly Misused Cognates
Although paying attention is your advantage,
it's important to keep in mind that not all cognates
are true cognates-that is, not all cognates actually
have a common or similar meaning in English and
Spanish.
• asistir (to attend) ≠ to assist (ayudar)
• atender (to serve) ≠ to attend (asistir)
• idiom (a language) ≠ idiom (modismo)
• largo (long) ≠ large (grande)
Activity
Diminute or augment the following Spanish terms:
1. Silla (diminute)
2. Caja (diminute)
3. Casa (augment)
4. Parque (augment)
5. Pastel (augment)
6. Gato (diminute)
7. Abuela (diminute)
8. Plato (diminute)
9. Libro (augment)
10. Cabeza (augment)
Activity
Put an equal sign (=) if the Spanish and English words are cognates and
not equal (≠) if it is false cognates:
1. Pre-occupied___preocupado
2. Pretend___ pretender
3. Success ____suceso
4. Sensible ____sensible
5. Fabric____frabrica
6. Paper______papel
7. Communicate ______comunicar
8. Balcony_______balcon
9. Bald________balde
10. Fish______pez
Eso es todo!
Building Your Vocabulary
Asking time.

*watch the video

Building Your Vocabulary
It's noon. It's 7:25.
Es el medio dia. Son las siete y veinticinco.

It's midnight. It's 8:30.

Es la media noche. Son las ocho y media.

It's 1:00. It's 9:35.

Es la una. Son las diez menos veinticinco.

It's 3:05. It's 12:50.

Son las tres y cinco. Es la una menos diez.
Building Your Vocabulary
in the morning por la manana
in the afternoon por la tarde
in the evening por la noche
At what time? ¿A que hora?
Since what time? ¿Desde que hora?
Since two. Desde las dos.
A half-hour ago. Hace media hora.
a second un segundo
a minute un minuto
an hour una hora
Building Your Vocabulary
Building Your Vocabulary
Building Your Vocabulary
Building Your Vocabulary
To talk about the weather, you'll use the verbs
hacer, ''to do" or ''to make," and estar. You'll also
use the word hay, an adverbial expression that
means ''there is/are.“

How's the weather? ¿Que tiempo hace?

It's cold. Hace frio.
It's cool. Hace fresco. /Esta fresco.
It's windy. Hay viento./Esta ventoso.
Building Your Vocabulary
It's bad weather. It's cloudy.
Hace mal tiempo. Esta nublado.

It's hot. It's raining.

Hace calor. Esta lloviendo.

It's humid. There's lightning.

Hay humedad. Hay relampagos.

It's sunny. There's thunder.

Hace sol. Hay trueños.

It's nice weather. It's snowing.

Hace buen tiempo. Esta nevando.
Activity
Activity
Building Your Vocabulary
Building Your Vocabulary
¿Como te ves? What do you look like? To answer,
you can use the verb ser (to be) and tener (to
have), plus a series of adjectives that describe your
stature, hair and eye color, and so on.

Yo soy alto y delgado. Tengo el pelo corto de color

castaño y los ojos azules.
I am tall and thin. I have chestnut-colored hair and
blue eyes.
Building Your Vocabulary
Height and Size
alto tall
bajo short
mediano medium
gordo, corpulento fat
delgado, flaco thin
Building Your Vocabulary
Hair
corto short pelirrojo red
largo long castaño chestnut
liso straight moreno brown
rizado curly negro black
cañoso gray
rubio blond
Building Your Vocabulary
Eyes
azul blue
pardo, marron brown
negro black
verde green
color de avellana hazel
claro light
oscuro dark
Building Your Vocabulary
Skin
White skin Blanco
Brown skin Moreno
Black skin Piel oscura, raza negra
Asian Asiático
Albino Albino, albina
Pale Palido
Building Your Vocabulary
On the face
Big eyes Ojos grandes
Small eyes Ojos pequeños
Asian eyes Ojos asiáticos
Small/Big nose Nariz pequeña / grande
Big / small lips Labios grandes / pequeños
Big/small ears Orejas Gradnes / pequeñas
Long nose Nariz alargada
Building Your Vocabulary
Other physical characteristics
Tattoos Tatuajes
Scar, Scars Cicatriz – Cicatrices
Mole, moles Lunar, lunares
Freckles Pecas
Birthmark Marca de nacimiento or Lunar
Beard Barba
Moustache Bigote
Building Your Vocabulary
Other physical characteristics
Sideburns Patillas
Warts Verrugas
Wrinkles Arrugas
Lame Cojo
One-eyed Tuerto
One-handed Manco
Activity
Eso es todo!
Building Your Vocabulary
Family
The family (familia) is the most
important aspect of most Spaniard’s
lives. Spaniards tend to manage their
personal problems through their family,
relying on relatives (parientes) for
support when in difficult situations.
This family network of support was
particularly crucial during the financial
crisis and recession when many
Spaniards lost their jobs. Some people
had to move back into their family
home after years of independent living.
Building Your Vocabulary
Building Your Vocabulary
Family
cuñado brother-in-law
esposa wife
gemelo identical twin
hermana menor younger (youngest) sister
hermano mayor older (oldest) brother
hermanastro step-brother
huérfano orphan
madrastra step-mother
Building Your Vocabulary
Family
madrina godmother
mellizo twin
novia bride, fiancé, girlfriend (serious)
novio groom, fiancé, boyfriend (serious)
nuera daughter-in-law
padrastro step-father
padrino godfather
Building Your Vocabulary
Family
suegra mother-in-law
suegro father-in-law
vecinos neighbors
viuda widow
viudo widower
yerno son-in-law
Activity
Me llamo Jorge. Soy ingeniero. Mis padres son Juan y
Renata. Mi padre es medico; mi madre es enfermera.
Yo estoy casado con Maria. Ella es una actriz de
teatro. Mi esposa y yo tenemos dos hijos: Elena y
Daniel. Elena es estudiante en la escuela secundaria.
Daniel asiste a la universidad. Tambien tengo una
hermana, Marta. Ella vive en Colombia. Trabaja en un
banco. Marta tiene un hijo, Cristobal. A Elena y
Daniel les gusta visitar a su tia y a sus primos en
Colombia.
Activity

yo
Building Your Vocabulary
School
Whether you're in high
school, college, or just
taking a class to learn
some Spanish, you can
really impress your
instructor if you are
comfortable with some
classroom vocabulary.
Building Your Vocabulary
School
bote de la basura, el papelera waste can
buenas notas, malas notas etc. good grades, bad grades etc.
calificaciones, grados, notas grades
detención, castigo detention, punishment
el borrador chalk eraser
el colegio, la secundaria privada private high school
el corredor, el pasillo hallway, aisle
el cuaderno notebook
el director, el principal principal
Building Your Vocabulary
School
el escritorio desk
el globo, esfera globe
el lápiz pencil
el libro book
el mapa map
el papel paper
el premio prize, award
el profesor, el maestro male teacher
Building Your Vocabulary
School
el pupitre, el banco student desk
el reloj clock
el sacapuntas pencil sharpener
el suelo, el piso (nivel*) floor (*floor as in first or second floor)
el tablón de anuncios bulletin board
el techo ceiling
el trofeo trophy
escolar scholastic, school (adjective)
la asignatura, sujeto subject
la aula, la salón classroom
la bandera flag
Building Your Vocabulary
School
la caja box
la calculadora calculator
la clase class
la clase de español Spanish Class
la computadora computer
la fila row
la gis chalk (Mexico)
la goma, borrador eraser (pencil)
la hoja de papel sheet of paper
la lección lesson
Building Your Vocabulary
School
la libreta small notebook
la mesa table
la mochila, portafolio backpack, book bag
la oficina dirección the principal’s office
la oficina mayor, la oficina central the main office
la página page
la pantalla screen (projector)
la pared wall
la pizarra chalkboard
Building Your Vocabulary
School
la pluma pen
la profesora, la maestra female teacher
la puerta door
la sala de clase classroom
la secundaria, la escuela secundaria high school
la silla chair
la tarea assignment, homework
la tele, la televisión, TV TV
la tiza chalk
Building Your Vocabulary
Building Your Vocabulary
School
Frases importantes si clase es en español.

¿Como se dice "grades'‘ en castellano?

Senor Blanco, ¿puede usted repetir su pregunta, por favor?

¿Cuando tendremos el exam en final?

No entiendo como conjugar el verbo ser. Expliquemelo, por favor.

¿Podemos usar el diccionario durante la prueba?

¿Puedo ir al baño, por favor?

Building Your Vocabulary
School
Frases importantes si clase es en español.

Ella tiene un curso de inglés.

Lograr el doctorado no es fácil.

El edificio no está lejos.

La escuela es muy grande.

El examen no es fácil..

La facultad es muy inteligente.

Building Your Vocabulary
School
Frases importantes si clase es en español.

El año académico termina pronto.

Español es mi asignatura favorita.

Eva tiene su bachillerato.

Los estudiantes reciben su certificado.

Mi hermana está en el colegio.

La clase es de tres créditos.

Building Your Vocabulary
School
Frases importantes si clase es en español.

Voy a la graduación en mayo.

El laboratorio tiene veinte computadoras.

Tengo una licenciatura en la educación

Quiero obtener la maestría.

Yo tengo buenas notas en mis clases.

La universidad es muy prestigiosa.

Activity
Building Your Vocabulary
Getting around Ejemplos:
Ir: to go
Yo voy Voy a Madrid.
I'm going to Madrid.
Tu vas
El, Ella, usted va Sara va al hotel.
nosotros vamos Sara goes to the hotel
vosotros vais
ellos, elias, Los niños van a la escuela.
ustedes van The children go to school.
Building Your Vocabulary
Getting around Ejemplos:
Andar: to walk
yo ando Yo ando al museo.
I walk to the museum.
tu andas
el, ella, usted anda Carla y yo andamos juntos.
nosotros andamos Carla and I walk together.
vosotros andais
ellos, ellas, Las niñas andan en bicicleta.
ustedes andan The girls ride bicycles.
Building Your Vocabulary
Getting around Ejemplos:
Caminar: to walk
yo camino En Miami caminamos por la
playa.
Tu caminas We walk on the beach in
el, ella, usted camina Miami
nosotros caminamos
vosotros camináis Yo prefiero caminar por la
ellos, ellas, tarde.
I prefer walking in the
ustedes caminan afternoon.
 Building Your Vocabulary
Getting around Ejemplos:
Conducir: to drive
yo conduzco Tu conduces muy bien.
tu conduces You drive very well.
el, ella, usted conduce
nosotros conducimos Es dificil conducir en una
vosotros conducís ciudad nueva.
ellos, ellas, It's difficult to drive in a
new city.
ustedes conducen
 Building Your Vocabulary
Getting around Ejemplos:
Tomar: to take
yo tomo Tomamos un taxi al
restaurante.
tu tomas We toke a taxi to the
el, ella, usted toma restaurant.
nosotros tomamos
vosotros tomais Yo nunca tomo agua fria.
ellos, ellas, ustedes toman I never drink cold water.
 Building Your Vocabulary
Getting around Ejemplos:
Viajar: to travel
Ellos viajan juntos a Espana.
yo viajo They travel to Spain together.
tu viajas
el, ella, usted viaja ¿Cuando vas a viajar
conmigo?
nosotros viajamos When are you going to travel
vosotros viajáis with me?
ellos, ellas, ustedes viajan
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El fin de prelim