Essential English for Architecture & Career Success
Posted on Aug 10, 2025 in Architecture
Part 1: Professional & Personal English Vocabulary
Adjectives for Personal & Professional Traits
- Active – Activo
- Computer Savvy – Experto en (ordenadores)
- Discreet – Discreto
- Honest – Honesto
- Passionate About – Apasionado de
- Self-Confident – Con confianza en sí mismo
- Adaptable – Flexible
- Conscientious, Thorough, Methodical – Meticuloso
- Dynamic – Dinámico
- Independent – Independiente
- Innovative – Innovador
- Persistent – Persistente
- Tenacious – Tenaz, Firme
- Analytical, Analytic – Analítico
- Cooperative – Colaborador
- Efficient – Eficiente
- Keen On – Entusiasta, Aficionado
- Personable, Pleasant, Friendly – Amistoso
- Artistic – Artístico
- Creative – Creativo
- Energetic – Enérgico
- Logical – Sensato, Razonable
- Positive – Positivo
- Assertive, Forceful – Resuelto, Seguro
- Dependable, Reliable, Trustworthy – Fiable
- Enterprising – Emprendedor
- Loyal – Leal
- Practical – Práctico
- Attentive To – Atento a, Preocupado por
- Determined – Decidido
- Enthusiastic – Entusiasta
- Motivated – Motivado
- Proactive – Proactivo
- Broad-Minded, Open-Minded – Tolerante
- Diligent – Laborioso
- Experienced In – Con experiencia en
- Organized – Organizado
- Productive – Productivo
- Committed To, Dedicated To – Comprometido con
- Diplomatic, Tactful – Correcto, Respetuoso
- Firm – Firme, Determinado
- Outgoing – Sociable
- Resilient – Fuerte
- Competent – Competente
- Disciplined – Disciplinado
- Hardworking – Trabajador
- Outside the Box – Original
- Resourceful – Habilidoso, Capaz
- Eligible – Elegible
Important Verbs & Collocations for Architecture
- Design – Proyectar
- Restore – Restaurar
- Conserve – Conservar
- Develop – Desarrollar
- Prepare – Preparar
- Present – Presentar
- Advise – Aconsejar, Asesorar
- Produce – Fabricar, Producir
- Negotiate With – Negociar con
- Attend – Ir a, Asistir a
- Coordinate – Coordinar
- Make – Hacer
- Deal With – Lidiar con, Resolver, Tratar
- Liaise With – Cooperar con, Colaborar con
- Use – Usar
- Apply For – Solicitar, Pedir
- Write – Escribir
- Adapt – Adaptarse, Amoldarse, Modificar
Types of Architects & Their Roles
- Residential Architects – Arquitecto de Viviendas
- Industrial Architects – Arquitectos Industriales
- Urban Designers – Urbanistas
- Landscape Architects – Paisajistas
- Green Design Architects – Arquitectos ‘Verdes’
- Interior Designers – Diseñadores de Interiores
- Commercial Architects – Arquitectos ‘Comerciales’
Potential Career Paths within Architecture
- Workplace Consultant – Especialista
- Design Architect – Proyectista
- Sole Proprietor – Único Propietario
- Specifications (Spec) Writer – Redactor de Memorias
- Sustainability Consultant – Experto en Sostenibilidad
- Technical Architect – Arquitecto Técnico
- Project Manager – Director de Proyecto
- BIM Manager – Director BIM
Types of Projects
- Residential – Residencial
- Commercial – Comercial
- Education – Educación
- Healthcare – Salud
- Community – Comunitario
- Arts & Culture – Arte y Cultura
- Conservation – Conservación
Other Useful Terms
- Redundant – Superfluo, Innecesario
- Charitable Trust – Fundación Benéfica
- Suppliers – Proveedor
- Close-Knit – Estrechamente Unidos
- Placemaking – Planificación de Espacios
- Purpose-Built – Hecho a Propósito
- Assisted Living – Vivienda en Residencia Asistida
- Domestic Extension – Añadido de Vivienda
- At the Heart Of – En el Centro de
- Bespoke – A Medida
- Mixed-Use Development – Uso Mixto
- Refurbishment – Restauración
- Hands-On – Práctico
- Resource Depletion – Agotamiento de Recursos
- I abhor + -ing… (to hate intensely)
- I loathe… (to detest)
- I can’t bear to do something
- I can’t stand doing something
- Duty – Obligación
- To be responsible for something/doing something
Part 2: Job Interview & Professional Communication
Your Strengths and Weaknesses
- I have an excellent command of… – Dominio de
- I am interested in…
- I recently managed to…
- I have a good working knowledge of… – Conocimiento básico
- I’m proficient in… – Competente
- I am reasonably good at… (implies not very good)
Transferable Skills
- Analytical Skills – Capacidad de Análisis
- Creativity – Creatividad
- Self-Confidence – Confianza en Sí Mismo
- Communication Skills – Habilidad Comunicativa
- Independence – Independencia
- Interpersonal Skills – Habilidades Interpersonales
- Negotiation Skills – Habilidad de Negociación
- Self-Awareness – Conciencia de Uno Mismo
- Flexibility
- Leadership Skills
- Organizational Skills
- Teamwork Skills
Collocations
- Identify a mistake
- Analyze data
- Conduct a survey – Realizar encuesta
- Invent a machine
- Suggest an alternative
- Solve a problem
- Write a report
- Explain an idea
- Give a presentation
- Resolve a dispute
- Listen to a point of view
- Work with difficult people
- Chair a meeting – Presidir una reunión
- Motivate a team
- Delegate tasks
- Meet deadlines – Cumplir plazos
- Decide on priorities
- Implement a plan – Llevar a cabo un plan
- Discuss an issue
- Contribute to a meeting
- Support a colleague
- Change someone’s mind
- Negotiate with someone
- Convince someone to do something
- Seek feedback on my performance – Buscar retroalimentación en mi rendimiento
- Refuse to settle for second best – No conformarse con el segundo puesto
- I strive towards my own targets – Esforzarse para conseguir objetivos propios
- To think on my feet – Pensar rápido
- Should you require any further… (formal opening for a request)
- I set aside thinking time – Reservar tiempo para pensar
About Qualifications
- Graduate from + university / with + education level (e.g., a Master’s) / in + degree year
- Obtain / Hold a degree from + university
- Complete / Read a degree at + university
- To be awarded + something (e.g., a degree)
- To be on your X year of degree at university… / To be a X-year student of degree…
Job-Hunting Methods
- Job agencies / Headhunters
- Cold calling / Mailing
- Reputable companies / ‘Cowboys’ (unreliable companies)
Making Language More Formal
Using -ing and Perfect Participle
- For two actions, one immediately following the other, use the perfect participle for the first action.
- Example: Having studied architecture, she is now a renowned interior designer.
Using ‘Should’ instead of ‘If’
- Use Should + infinitive (without ‘to’) for a more formal conditional.
- Example: Should my application be successful (instead of “If my application is successful”)
Formal Word Alternatives
- Get – Receive
- Extra – Additional
- Want – Would like
- Need – Require
- Talk about – Discuss
- Get in touch with – Contact
- About – Concerning / Regarding
- Make sure – Ensure
- Give – Provide somebody with
- Tell – Inform
- Boss – Employer
- More – Further / Greater
- Looking for – Searching
- Ask for – Request / Enquire
- Work / Job – Employment
- Show – Demonstrate
Part 3: Building & Construction Terminology
Types of Buildings
- Low-Rise – (1 to 3 stories)
- Medium-Rise – (4 to 7 stories)
- High-Rise – (more than 7 stories)
- Detached – Separado
- Semi-Detached – Adosado
- Terraced – Adosado
Residential Buildings
- Dwelling House – Vivienda
- Flat – Piso
- Institutional – Institucional
- Other Residential
Non-Residential Buildings
- Assembly – De Reunión
- Office – Oficina
- Shop – Tienda
- Industrial – Industrial
- Other Non-Residential
- House – Casa
- Home – Hogar
Components of a Building
- Lot, Plot – Solar
- Flatwork – Forjado
- Structure – Estructura
- Footings – Zapatas
- Foundations – Cimientos
- Floor – Suelo
- Walls – Muros
- Ceilings – Techos
- Roof – Cubierta
- Systems – Sistemas
- Enclosure – Cerramiento
- Trims (Mouldings) – Molduras y Marcos
- Finishes – Acabados
- Fixtures – Muebles de Obra
- Furnishings – Muebles
- Equipment – Equipamiento (Electrodomésticos, etc.)
- Outdoor Elements – Elementos Exteriores (Porche, etc.)
Other Building Elements
- Slab – Losa
- Driveway – Camino del Coche
- Pier – Pilar
- Steel Column – Columna de Acero
- Beam – Viga
- Joist – Vigueta
- Load-Bearing Wall – Muro de Carga
- Partition Wall – Tabique
- Foundation Wall – Muro de Cimentación
- Ceiling Beam – Vigas en el Techo
- Floor Joists – Viguetas
- Plywood – Madera Contrachapada
- Drywall – Pladur
- Trussed Roof – Estructura de Cubierta
- Roof Shingle – Teja
- Roof Tile – Teja
- Plumbing – Fontanería
- HVAC Systems – Sistema de Ventilación
- Exterior Cladding – Revestimiento Exterior
- Base Mould – Rodapié
- Casing – Marco de Ventana
- Crown Mould – Moldura de Cornisa
- Shingle Mould – Moldura de Teja
- Shutter – Persiana
- Carpet – Moqueta
- Wallpaper – Papel de Pared
- Deck – Terraza, Plataforma
- Appliances – Electrodomésticos
- Furniture – Muebles
- Fireplace – Chimenea
- Sprinkler System – Sistema de Riego
- Landscaping – Jardinería
Construction Materials and Structures
- Earth – Tierra
- Mud – Barro
- Clay – Arcilla
- Stone – Piedra
- Granite – Granito
- Marble – Mármol
- Limestone – Caliza
- Sandstone – Arenisca
- Sand – Arenas y Gravas
- Concrete – Hormigón
- Reinforced Concrete – Hormigón Armado
- Mortar – Mortero
- Plaster – Yeso
- Wood – Madera
- Hardwood – Madera Dura (Caducifolios)
- Softwood – Madera Blanda (Coníferas)
- Green Materials – Materiales Verdes
- Leaves – Hojas
- Bamboo – Bambú
- Grass – Hierba
- Lime – Cal
- Lime Mortar – Mortero de Cal
- Tiles – Tejas (Terracota)
- Pot Tiles – Tejas Semicirculares
- Slate Tiles – Baldosas de Pizarra
- Encaustic Tiles – Azulejos Encausticos
- Glass – Vidrio
- Glazed – Hecho de Vidrio
- Glazing – Piezas de Vidrio
- Stained Glass – Vidriera
- Tempered Glass – Cristal Templado
- Metals – Metales
Ferrous Metals
- Iron – Hierro
- Steel – Acero (Stainless Steel, Mild Steel, Carbon Steel)
Non-Ferrous Metals
- Aluminum – Aluminio
- Copper – Cobre
- Zinc – Zinc
Other Materials
- Bitumen – Asfalto
- Asbestos – Amianto
- Glass Wool – Lana de Vidrio
- Polythene – Polietileno
- Rubber – Goma
- Plastic – Plástico
- Cloth Fabric – Textil
Location of Buildings and Distribution of Spaces
- Drawing – Dibujar, Dibujo
- Plan – Plano
- Blueprint – Plano
- Site Plan – Plano de Situación
- Floor Plan – Planta
- Elevation – Alzado
- Section – Sección
- Component and Assembly Drawing – Detalle Constructivo
Trades and Equipment in Construction
- Contractor – Contratista
- Surveyor – Supervisor de Obra
- Foreman – Capataz
- Laborer – Peón
- Machine Driver – Conductor
- Erector – Montador
- Bricklayer – Albañil
- Plumber – Fontanero
- Joiner – Ebanista
- Carpenter – Carpintero
- Cladding Fixer – Instalador de Revestimientos
- Electrician – Electricista
- Glazier – Cristalero
- Decorator – Decorador, Pintor
- Nail – Clavo
- Hammer – Martillo
- Saw – Sierra
- Wrench – Llave Inglesa
- Wire – Cable
- Welding Torch – Pistola de Soldar
- Spade – Pala
- Trowel – Paleta, Azada
- Screwdriver – Destornillador
- Screws – Tornillos
- Hardhat – Casco
- Bulldozer – Excavadora
- Spirit Level – Nivel
- Brush – Pincel, Brocha
- Daylight Factor Meter – Medidor de Luz
- Sound Pressure Meter – Medidor de dB
- Hygrometer – Medidor de Humedad
- Plum-Bob – Plomada
- Thermometer – Termómetro
- Steel Tape – Metro
- Strain Gauge – Galga Extensiométrica
- Square – Escuadra
- Voltmeter – Medidor de Voltaje
Properties and Opposites
- Hard – Soft
- Solid – Liquid
- Shiny (surface) – Dull (surface)
- Transparent – Opaque
- A material floats – A material sinks
- Flammable – Non-Flammable
- Combustible – Non-Combustible
- Magnetic – Non-Magnetic
- Conductor – Insulator
- Natural – Man-Made / Artificial
- Heavy – Light
- Flexible / Elastic – Rigid
- Corrosion Resistant – Non-Corrosion Resistant
- Permeable – Impermeable
- Brittle / Fragile – Tough