Essential English Vocabulary: Units 1-5

Posted on Jun 23, 2025 in English

Unit 1: Friendships & Relationships

Vocabulary: Friendships & Relationships

Back up: apoyar
Fall out: discutir
Finish with: cortar con
Gossip about: cotillear de
Hurt somebody’s feelings: herir los sentimientos de alguien
Let down: decepcionar
Look out for: cuidar de
Make up: hacer las paces
Rely on: confiar en
Talk behind somebody’s back: hablar a las espaldas de alguien
Split up: romper, cortar
Upset: disgustar

Dependent Prepositions

Approve of: estar de acuerdo con
Be ashamed of: estar avergonzado de
Attitude towards: actitud hacia
Be aware of: ser consciente de
Belong to: pertenecer a
Bias against/towards: preferencia por / prejuicio contra
Decrease in: disminución en
Depend on: confiar en, contar con
Different from: diferente de
Fearful of: temeroso de
Prevent from: impedir de
Protect from: proteger de
Puzzled by: desconcertado por
Result in: dar lugar
Similar to: similar a
Typical of: típico de

Festivals & Celebrations

Bonfire: hoguera
Costume: disfraz
Dress up: disfrazarse
Feast: festín
Firework display: fuegos artificiales
Get-together: encuentro
Harvest: cosecha
Lantern: farolillo
Mask: máscara
Onlookers: espectadores
Parade: desfile
Roots: orígenes

Unit 2: Behavior & Time

Vocabulary: Behavior

Be left alone: quedarse solo
Cheeky: descarado
Disrespectful: irrespetuoso
Get away with: liberarse
Grumpy: cascarrabias
Have a row/rows: discutir
Mature: maduro
Mood swings: cambio de humor
Need privacy: necesitar intimidad
Peer pressure: presión de grupo
Privacy: intimidad
Tell somebody off: regañar

Time Expressions

Ahead of schedule: antes de tiempo
At the last minute: en el último momento
At times: a veces
Catch up on: ponerse al día con
Deadline: fecha límite
From time to time: de vez en cuando
Get behind: quedarse atrás
In the nick of time: justo a tiempo
In two weeks’ time: en dos semanas
Keep somebody waiting: hacer esperar a alguien
Rush: apurarse
Slow down: bajar el ritmo
Take your time: tomarse su tiempo
Time to spare: tiempo de sobra
Turn up: aparecer

Note: Specially: expresamente

Homonyms

Drop: descender, descenso
Due: esperarse, deberse
Face: afrontar, mirar
Filling: sustancioso, empaste
Fine: bien, multa
Fly: mosca, volar
Gather: recopilar, reunirse
Last: durar, último
Leading: principal, líder
Nail: uña, clavo
Odd: extraño, impar

Unit 3: Advertising & Media

Vocabulary: Advertising

Advertising campaign: campaña publicitaria
Billboard advertising: valla publicitaria
Brand awareness: conciencia de marca
Catchy slogan: eslogan pegadizo
Guerrilla marketing: marketing de guerrilla
Product placement: emplazamiento de producto
Target audience: público objetivo
TV commercial: anuncio televisivo
Word of mouth: boca a boca

Prefixes

Demystify: desmitificar
Disapprove: desaprobar
Ill-informed: desinformado
Misleading: engañoso
Misinformation: desinformación
Misjudge: juzgar mal
Misread: malinterpretar
Over-react: exagerar
Reappear: reaparecer
Repost: republicar
Republish: republicar
Unattributed: anónimo
Untrue: falso

Media & TV Vocabulary

Binge watch: darse un atracón televisivo
Box sets: colecciones de episodios completas
Breaking news: noticias de última hora
Broadcast: emitir
Catch-up TV: TV a la carta
Live stream: transmisión en directo
Scheduled programmes: programación
Status updates: actualización del estado
Spoilers: –
Subscription streaming service: servicio de transmisión con suscripción
Trending: ser tendencia
Tweet: tuit

Unit 4: Risk, Movement & Crime

Vocabulary: Risk & Danger

At risk of: en riesgo de
Be knocked out: quedar noqueado
Chances of: probabilidades de
Crush: aplastar
Deadly: mortal
Fatal: letal
Food poisoning: intoxicación alimentaria
Get run over by: ser atropellado
Injury: herida
Knock: golpear, llamar a la puerta
Risky: arriesgado
Slip: resbalar
Squash: aplastar
Strike: golpear
Trip: tropezar
Wasp sting: picadura de avispa
Wound: herida, herir

Movement & Speed

Brake: frenar
Bomb down: bajar a toda velocidad
Drift: ir a la deriva
Lean: inclinarse
Slide: deslizarse
Speed up: acelerar
Swerve: virar
Twist: girar

Crime & Punishment

Against the law: contra la ley
Be charged with: ser/estar acusado de
Be fined: ser multado
Be found guilty of: ser declarado culpable de
Break the law: infringir la ley
Fine: multa
Hacking: piratería
Harsh: duro/severo
Judge: juez
Offence: delito
Penalty: sanción, castigo
Theft: robo

Unit 5: Language Nuances & Arts

False Friends

Bland: insípido
Soft: blando

Commonly Confused Words

Affect: afectar
Effect: efecto

Phrasal Verbs

Carry out: llevar a cabo
Grow out of: pasársele, superar
Make up: inventar
Miss out: perderse de algo
Mix up: confundir
Put somebody off: causar rechazo a alguien
Roll off: rodar
Turn out: resultar ser

Vision & Visual Arts

Art collector: coleccionista de arte
Blindness: ceguera
Brush: brocha, pincel
Canvas: lienzo
Critic: crítico
Easel: caballete
Highly acclaimed: consagrado
Landscape: paisaje
Partially sighted: deficiente visual
Portrait: retrato
Remarkable: excepcional
Thought-provoking: estimulante, que da que pensar
Unconventional: poco convencional
Visually impaired: discapacitado visual

Food Vocabulary

Bland: insípido
Creamy: cremoso
Crunchy: crujiente
Dairy: lácteos
Deep-fried: frito
Fat: grasa
Fresh: fresco
Mild: suave
Pastry: masa
Posh: elegante
Rotten: podrido
Savoury: salado
Season: condimentar
Slice: rebanar
Source: fuente
Steam: cocer al vapor
Stew: estofar
Tasty: sabroso
Tender: tierno
Tough: duro
Tinned: enlatado

Discussion Points

Ethical Debates: Animal Testing

Some argue that live animals are used in product testing. This practice has both advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, most animal rights activists oppose it due to the harm, often leading to death, inflicted upon animals. On the other hand, some believe that if products were not tested on animals, human volunteers would be needed. Overall, using animals for product testing is widely considered not to be the best option.

Ethical Debates: Zoos & Animal Welfare

The boredom and stress suffered by animals in zoos is a contentious issue with both advantages and disadvantages. Proponents argue that zoos often provide professional care for animals, including those with diseases. Furthermore, modern open-air zoos aim to replicate natural habitats, offering a less confined environment. Conversely, many believe that non-domestic animals should not be kept in zoos at all, as they may not feel comfortable or fully adapt to captivity. Ultimately, while some zoos strive for better conditions, the consensus is that keeping animals confined is not ideal, and outdoor, naturalistic environments are more appropriate.

Government Influence on Food Choices

Governments often attempt to influence public dietary choices by increasing the price of certain foods and drinks. This strategy presents both advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, many support this approach, arguing that higher prices discourage the consumption of unhealthy products. On the other hand, critics contend that such policies disproportionately affect low-income individuals, making essential items unaffordable. In conclusion, while this strategy can deter the consumption of harmful products, concerns remain regarding its impact on affordability.