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15 Spanish Words to Test Your Vocabulary

By Lucia Published:

11 min video

How strong is your everyday Spanish vocabulary? In this lesson, Lucía challenges you to recognize 15 words and use what you know in context. Treat it as a quick check of the words you can recall without hints, then revisit the ones that slow you down.

Watch the lesson

Try it yourself

Play the video once without pausing and jot down the words you already know. Watch again, pause after each word, and say your own short Spanish sentence aloud. Keep a small list of the unfamiliar words and test yourself again tomorrow.

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 automatic English caption track, with Spanish forms and instructional 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 fifteen original vocabulary challenges, forms, example sentences, meanings and synonym lists are included. The instructor’s encouragement and study-guide promotion remain; a learner note explains the limited meaning of the score. The redondeé example keeps its original Spanish and corrects the on-screen English translation.

0:00 — A fifteen-word vocabulary challenge

Do you think your Spanish is advanced? Let’s put your Spanish level to the test. I’ve picked fifteen advanced Spanish words that I describe in the video as “from level C2”. If you know some of these, I really have to give you a big round of applause. If you don’t, this is a great opportunity to learn new vocabulary. Master these and you’ll impress Spanish speakers. Are you ready to test your skills?

Learner note — What the score tells you: This is the instructor’s fifteen-word vocabulary challenge, with encouraging comments about an advanced level. Recognizing these words, or knowing more than five, does not by itself establish a CEFR level. The CEFR describes broader listening, reading, speaking and writing abilities. Keep your score as vocabulary feedback. Source: Council of Europe CEFR scale.

0:25 — 1. Contrincante

First word. Do you know what it means? It’s a noun that can be masculine or feminine. I’ll use it in a sentence to give you a hint.

El contrincante / La contrincante
Example translation: The male opponent / the female opponent.

María venció a su contrincante y ganó la medalla
Example translation: María defeated her opponent and won the medal.

How is it now? Contrincante means opponent or rival. Spanish synonyms:

Rival, adversario
Example translation: Rival, adversary; opponent.

Note the words you know, and share your score out of fifteen in the comments later.

1:07 — 2. Matiz

Second word: matiz. What does it mean? It’s a masculine noun. Let’s use it in a sentence.

El matiz
Example translation: The nuance; the tint or shade.

Esa palabra tiene un matiz negativo
Example translation: That word has a negative nuance.

Does it ring a bell? The example says that word has a negative nuance. Synonyms in Spanish:

Tono, tinte
Example translation: Tone, tint; shade, depending on context.

In English: nuance, tint, shade. Let’s go with the next word.

1:38 — 3. Efímero

What can it be? It’s an adjective.

Efímero / Efímera
Example translation: Ephemeral; fleeting; short-lived.

El partido fue efímero y solo duró 20 minutos
Example translation: The match was short-lived and only lasted twenty minutes.

Some Spanish synonyms:

Fugaz, breve
Example translation: Fleeting, brief.

If you know the next one, your vocabulary is so rich.

2:14 — 4. Inefable

What is it? It’s an adjective. Let’s see it in a sentence.

Inefable
Example translation: Ineffable; inexpressible.

Recuerdo su inefable perfume de flores
Example translation: I remember his or her ineffable floral perfume.

You have the same word in English, I see—but that’s very advanced English, huh? A Spanish synonym:

Inexpresable
Example translation: Inexpressible.

It means something you cannot explain with words. I have to confess I didn’t really know what it meant! But I know what the next one means.

2:57 — 5. Comparecer

A Spanish verb. What is it? Let’s hear a sentence.

Comparecer: yo comparezco, tú compareces…
Example translation: To appear: I appear, you appear…

Uno de los testigos se negó a comparecer ante el tribunal
Example translation: One of the witnesses refused to appear before the court.

Some Spanish synonyms:

Personarse, presentarse
Example translation: To appear in person; to present oneself.

In English: to appear. In this example, I’m talking about appearing before a judge in court.

Learner note — The court context: Comparecer is especially used for appearing before a judge or public body, as here, but it is not limited to court: the dictionary also gives appearing before an authority or another person. Source: RAE definition.

I would say that if you know more than five of these, you’re advanced—so don’t give up, and watch until the end. I believe in you!

3:44 — 6. Esporádico

It’s an adjective. What does it mean?

Esporádico / Esporádica
Example translation: Sporadic; occasional.

Trabajé de modo esporádico para esta empresa
Example translation: I worked sporadically for this company.

Oh, the English word is similar! Did you already know the meaning? Some Spanish synonyms:

Ocasional, eventual
Example translation: Occasional; happening from time to time.

In English: sporadic, occasional.

4:23 — 7. Contribuir

A verb. Do you want to hear a sentence? Yes?

Contribuir: yo contribuyo, tú contribuyes, ella contribuye…
Example translation: To contribute: I contribute, you contribute, she contributes…

La lluvia contribuyó a apagar el fuego
Example translation: The rain helped put out the fire.

Some Spanish synonyms:

Ayudar, colaborar
Example translation: To help, to collaborate.

In English: to contribute, to help.

4:59 — Free study guide

When you see these example sentences, do you feel a little lost with the Spanish grammar? Don’t worry. Download our free study guide: it guides you step by step through Spanish grammar, from beginner to advanced. The link is in the video’s description. Let’s have a look at the next advanced word.

5:16 — 8. Primordial

It’s an adjective. Let’s hear a sentence.

Primordial
Example translation: Main; essential; very important.

La preocupación primordial era su salud
Example translation: The primary concern was his or her health.

Some Spanish synonyms:

Principal, fundamental, esencial
Example translation: Main, fundamental, essential.

5:49 — 9. Acontecimiento

This is a masculine noun. What does it mean? Let’s see a sentence.

El acontecimiento
Example translation: The event; the happening.

La boda de Ana ha sido el gran acontecimiento del año
Example translation: Ana’s wedding has been the big event of the year.

Do you know the meaning now? Some Spanish synonyms:

Evento, suceso, hecho
Example translation: Event, occurrence, happening.

Don’t give up. This is a great way to test the vocabulary you know or learn more and work toward a higher Spanish level. Let’s go with the next word.

6:30 — 10. Vacilar: two meanings

This is a verb. It has various meanings. Let’s see the two meanings I’m teaching.

Vacilar: yo vacilo, tú vacilas…
Example translation: To hesitate, or to tease/fool someone: I hesitate, you hesitate…

Tras vacilar un momento, él continuó la historia
Example translation: After hesitating for a moment, he continued the story.

Here, vacilar has these synonyms:

Titubear, dudar
Example translation: To hesitate, to doubt.

Let’s see another meaning, with the negative nuance shown here.

¿Me estás vacilando?
Example translation: Are you kidding me?

Engañar, burlarse
Example translation: To fool or deceive someone; to make fun of someone.

I don’t know why, but I love this next word.

7:31 — 11. Espejismo

This is a masculine noun. What is it? It sounds like espejo, which means mirror, but it’s not that. Let’s hear a sentence.

El espejismo / El espejo
Example translation: The mirage or illusion / the mirror.

Alberto pensó que la había visto, pero solo había sido un espejismo
Example translation: Alberto thought he had seen her, but it had only been a mirage.

Alberto—mysterious! Synonyms:

Ilusión, fantasía
Example translation: Illusion, fantasy.

8:13 — 12. Redondear

This is a verb. What does it mean? Let’s see a sentence.

Redondear: yo redondeo, tú redondeas…
Example translation: To round: I round, you round…

Redondeé el precio a mil euros
Example translation: I rounded the price to a thousand euros.

Learner note — Who rounded the price?: The video’s on-screen English says “She/he rounded”, but redondeé is the first-person singular past form: “I rounded”. She/he rounded would be redondeó. The original Spanish model is retained and its English translation is corrected. Source: RAE definition and conjugation.

It means to make something round, or round a price up or down. For example, if something is 1.95, you round it up to 2. It can also mean to complete something. Did you know this word? Wait for the last one—but first…

8:50 — 13. Menguante

This is an adjective. What’s its meaning? One second…

Menguante
Example translation: Diminishing; decreasing; waning.

Hay que hacer algo para aumentar la menguante población
Example translation: Something must be done to increase the shrinking population.

Do you know what it means? We also use it for the Moon:

Luna menguante
Example translation: Waning moon.

Decreciente, en descenso
Example translation: Decreasing; in decline.

If you know the last one, you’re at a very, very, very advanced level—really! Let’s see the second-to-last word first.

9:40 — 14. Añejo

It’s an adjective. Let’s hear a sentence.

Añejo / Añeja
Example translation: Aged; old.

Era un excelente vino añejo
Example translation: It was an excellent aged wine.

Some Spanish synonyms:

Viejo, antiguo, envejecido
Example translation: Old, ancient/old, aged.

10:10 — 15. Irrisorio

Finally, the last one—the definitive test! It’s an adjective. Do you know what it means?

Irrisorio / Irrisoria
Example translation: Derisory; ridiculously small or insignificant.

La vendían a un precio irrisorio
Example translation: They were selling it at a ridiculously low price.

Some Spanish synonyms:

Insignificante, ridículo, mínimo
Example translation: Insignificant, ridiculous, minimal.

Here, it means insignificant because it is so small.

10:44 — Your score and the next pronunciation test

How many do you know? Write it in the comments—I want to know! You know great vocabulary, but do you pronounce it well? Pay attention to how you say these words. I’ve prepared another test to check your Spanish pronunciation. In that video, I say that if you can pronounce its fifteen words correctly, your Spanish pronunciation is perfect. Check it out!

Learner note — The pronunciation challenge: The next video is a fifteen-word pronunciation practice challenge. Success with those words does not certify every aspect of pronunciation; the instructor’s enthusiastic invitation is retained.

Want to use this in real conversations?In the Spanish Accelerator, a coach corrects you live, every week, until speaking feels natural.
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