Test Your Vocabulary: 10 Spanish Words for Intermediate Learners
Test your Spanish vocabulary with ten words aimed at intermediate learners. Use the lesson to see which words you know and which are worth practising next.
Watch the lesson
Try it yourself
Pause before each answer. For every new word, write one sentence of your own and read it aloud.
Watch the original lesson on YouTube.
Edited lesson transcript and examples
Read the complete substantive lesson in its original order. This readable transcript is edited from the full original manual English captions and original automatic caption track, with Spanish forms and examples checked against the actual video graphics. Caption errors and punctuation are repaired. Contextual English translations and labelled learner notes are additions; the instructor’s coaching, humor and teaching priorities are retained. Chapter timestamps are approximate. Music and the brand bumper are omitted.
All ten original vocabulary questions and answers, and all three original grammar questions and answers, are included. Try each question before reading its explanation. The short comic talking-dog insert is paraphrased rather than reproduced word for word.
- 0:00 — Vocabulary challenge
- 0:26 — 1. Desafío
- 1:26 — 2. Desarrollar
- 2:38 — 3. Delito
- 3:44 — Study guide
- 3:59 — 4. Afrontar
- 5:29 — 5. Desenlace
- 6:16 — 6. Joya
- 7:14 — 7. Deseo
- 8:00 — 8. Despejado
- 8:54 — 9. Sabiduría
- 9:38 — 10. Equivocarse
- 10:22 — Closing
0:00 — Vocabulary challenge
Do you really have an intermediate level of Spanish? If you know these ten essential words, you can call yourself intermediate. If you don’t, it’s time to hit the books! Keep score, pause when you need to, and try the questions before reading their answers. I want to hear how you’re doing in the comments.
Learner note — What the challenge measures: This is the instructor’s vocabulary practice challenge, not a formal CEFR level assessment. Intermediate proficiency also involves understanding and using language in speaking, listening, reading and writing; ten word definitions alone cannot establish a level. This also applies to the closing advanced-vocabulary recommendation. Source: CEFR reference (Instituto Cervantes).
0:26 — 1. Desafío
First word: desafío. Sounds fierce? It sort of is. What does it mean? Think before reading the answer. Here’s a hint: it’s a masculine noun.
El desafío
Example translation: A challenge.
Ya superaste el nivel básico, ahora estás listo para un nuevo desafío
Example translation: You’ve passed the basic level; now you’re ready for a new challenge.
We also have the verb desafiar, to challenge. Here’s my challenge for you:
Desafiar
Example translation: To challenge.
Te desafío a que lleves la cuenta de tu puntuación hasta el final del vídeo
Example translation: I challenge you to keep track of your score until the end of the video.
1:26 — 2. Desarrollar
Desarrollar. What does it mean? The video points to the final r as a clue that it’s a verb. Desarrollar means to develop.
Desarrollar
Example translation: To develop.
Learner note — Recognizing infinitives: Spanish infinitives end in -ar, -er or -ir. Not every word ending in r is a verb: amor and calor, for example, are nouns. Desarrollar is an -ar infinitive. Source: RAE dictionary.
Van a desarrollar una nueva tecnología para hablar con los perros
Example translation: They’re going to develop a new technology for talking with dogs.
Imagine dogs could talk! The comic talking-dog insert protests about losing the power of speech now that it can think rationally. Maybe it was better before the dog could talk…
En el trabajo hemos desarrollado un software de reconocimiento facial
Example translation: At work, we’ve developed facial recognition software.
Original grammar question: identify the subject person and the tense of hemos desarrollado. Pause before the answer: first-person plural, nosotros or nosotras; pretérito perfecto compuesto, the present perfect. The subject pronoun is understood from hemos, not written in this example.
2:38 — 3. Delito
Delito. A noun. What does it sound like to you—delight? No, not at all! What does it mean? A crime or criminal offense. The video also gives felony as an English gloss.
El delito
Example translation: A crime; a criminal offense.
Learner note — Delito and felony: Delito is broader than the English legal category felony. Spanish law distinguishes serious, less serious and minor offenses; penalties can include fines, so a delito does not automatically mean imprisonment. The lesson’s imagined dog crimes remain a joke. Source: RAE dictionary, Spanish Penal Code, Article 13, Spanish Penal Code, Article 33.
Nadie habría podido adivinar que cuando los perros pudieran hablar, comenzarían a cometer delitos
Example translation: No one could have guessed that, when dogs could talk, they would start committing crimes.
You may also know crimen, another word for crime. The video jokes that dogs would go to jail for committing crimes.
Learner note — Crimen: Crimen often refers to a serious crime; it is not a one-for-one equivalent of every delito. The meanings overlap, but the words are not interchangeable in every legal or everyday context. Source: RAE dictionary.
Delito is also used figuratively.
Esa blusa te queda de infarto. Sería un delito que no la usaras esta noche
Example translation: That blouse looks incredible on you. It would be a crime not to wear it tonight.
3:44 — Study guide
If you’re finding this challenging, download My Daily Spanish’s free study guide. It gives you a step-by-step process for learning Spanish faster. Scan the QR code in the video or use the link in its description.
3:59 — 4. Afrontar
Afrontar. What does it mean? To face or deal with something. It’s a practical, versatile word for discussing problem-solving situations.
Afrontar
Example translation: To face; to deal with.
Tienes que afrontar la situación en vez de evitarla
Example translation: You have to face the situation instead of avoiding it.
Think of frente, front—or forehead. You face a problem head-on. We also use hacer frente.
Hacer frente
Example translation: To face; to deal with.
Original grammar question: what tense is afrontaron in this example?
Las autoridades afrontaron el problema abriendo cárceles para perros
Example translation: The authorities dealt with the problem by opening prisons for dogs.
Answer: pretérito perfecto simple, the preterite, third-person plural. Afrontaron corresponds to ellos or ellas in a conjugation table. The subject here is las autoridades. You can also say:
Las autoridades hicieron frente al problema
Example translation: The authorities dealt with the problem.
5:29 — 5. Desenlace
Desenlace. What does it mean? An ending, outcome or conclusion. It’s useful for storytelling, films and discussion of events, and also for real-life situations.
El desenlace
Example translation: The ending; the outcome.
El desenlace de la película fue totalmente inesperado
Example translation: The ending of the movie was completely unexpected.
Aún no sabemos cuál será el desenlace de los delitos perrunos en la sociedad
Example translation: We still don’t know what the outcome of dog crimes in society will be.
6:16 — 6. Joya
Joya. What does it mean? A jewel, gem or treasure. It can refer to a physical jewel or something valuable in a figurative sense.
La joya
Example translation: A jewel; a gem.
Encontré una joya en esa tienda de antigüedades
Example translation: I found a gem in that antiques shop.
Este libro es una joya oculta, deberías leerlo
Example translation: This book is a hidden gem. You should read it.
Another word is tesoro, treasure, which can also be a term of endearment.
Mi exnovio siempre me decía: Eres mi tesoro
Example translation: My ex-boyfriend always used to tell me: You’re my treasure.
Learner note — Spelling of exnovio: The video writes ex novio. The prefix ex- is joined to a single-word base in standard spelling: exnovio. Source: RAE dictionary.
Then he changed his mind…
7:14 — 7. Deseo
Deseo. Sounds beautiful, right? Is it a noun? What does it mean? A desire, wish or longing.
El deseo
Example translation: A desire; a wish.
¡Una estrella fugaz! Tengo que pedir un deseo
Example translation: A shooting star! I have to make a wish.
It can also be a verb form, first-person singular present of desear: I wish or I desire.
Deseo viajar por el mundo
Example translation: I wish to travel around the world.
8:00 — 8. Despejado
Despejado. What does it mean? Clear, cloudless or unobstructed, depending on what you’re describing.
Despejado
Example translation: Clear; cloudless; unobstructed.
El cielo está despejado hoy
Example translation: The sky is clear today.
Después de dormir bien, me siento más despejado
Example translation: After sleeping well, I feel clearer-headed.
La carretera estaba despejada, así que llegamos rápido
Example translation: The road was clear, so we arrived quickly.
From a clear head, let’s move on to wisdom.
8:54 — 9. Sabiduría
Sabiduría. A noun, a beautiful and elevated word. What does it mean? Wisdom or knowledge. It’s also used in philosophical or inspirational contexts.
La sabiduría
Example translation: Wisdom.
La sabiduría no viene solo con la edad, sino con la experiencia
Example translation: Wisdom doesn’t come only with age, but with experience.
Busco la sabiduría en los libros y en las personas que admiro
Example translation: I look for wisdom in books and in the people I admire.
Wisdom can come from mistakes. That leads to our last word.
9:38 — 10. Equivocarse
Equivocarse. What does it mean? To make a mistake or be wrong. It’s a pronominal verb: the infinitive includes se, and the pronoun changes with the subject. Anyone can make a mistake, and that’s okay.
Equivocarse
Example translation: To make a mistake; to be wrong.
Cualquiera puede equivocarse en un examen
Example translation: Anyone can make a mistake in an exam.
Original grammar question: identify the tense of me equivoqué.
Si me equivoqué contigo, lo siento mucho
Example translation: If I was wrong about you, I’m very sorry.
Answer: pretérito perfecto simple del indicativo, the indicative preterite, first-person singular: yo me equivoqué. With this pronominal verb, use me, te, se, nos or os as appropriate to the subject; pronominal does not mean that every example literally describes doing an action to yourself.
10:22 — Closing
How did you do? Are you intermediate yet? If you want a tougher vocabulary challenge, watch the recommended video with fifteen advanced Spanish words. If you know those, you are very advanced. See you there!
