GCSE-readyHigher vocabulary: adjectives, adverbs and linking words
Higher words for discussing issues and building a balanced argument.
Adjectives
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| actual | current |
| diario / diaria | daily |
| mundial | worldwide, global |
| sostenible | sustainable |
| suficiente | enough |
| numeroso / numerosa | numerous |
| grave | serious |
| orgulloso / orgullosa | proud |
| amplio / amplia | wide, spacious |
| oscuro / oscura | dark |
| profundo / profunda | deep |
| desconocido / desconocida | unknown |
| equilibrado / equilibrada | balanced |
| decepcionante | disappointing |
| adecuado / adecuada | suitable |
| consciente | aware |
Adverbs
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| de hecho | in fact |
| casi | almost |
| además | moreover, besides |
| aproximadamente | approximately |
| actualmente | currently |
| por todas partes | everywhere |
| incluso | even |
| por supuesto | of course |
| dentro | inside |
| tampoco | neither, not either |
| jamás | never |
| quizás | perhaps |
| aún | still, yet |
Linking words
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| aunque | although |
| sin embargo | however |
| no obstante | nevertheless |
| por lo tanto | therefore |
| mientras | while |
| sino | but rather |
| a pesar de | in spite of |
| debido a | due to |
| a través de | through |
| hacia | towards |
| salvo | except |
| según | according to |
Translate: In spite of the rain, almost everyone came, although the hall was dark.
- In spite of = a pesar de
- almost everyone came = casi todos vinieron
- although = aunque; dark = oscuro (agrees with el salón)
Answer: A pesar de la lluvia, casi todos vinieron, aunque el salón estaba oscuro.
Actual (current), diario, mundial, sostenible, suficiente, grave, orgulloso, amplio, desconocido, decepcionante. De hecho, casi, además, actualmente, incluso, por supuesto, tampoco, jamás, quizás. Aunque, sin embargo, no obstante, por lo tanto, mientras, a pesar de, debido a, según.
- Not “The actual situation is serious”. Actual is a false friend: it means current.
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2 more questions
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What does sostenible mean?
- current
- sustainable
- serious
- dark
Show the answer
Answer: sustainable
Sostenible = sustainable.
Which is the Spanish for "serious"?
- decepcionante
- actual
- sostenible
- grave
Show the answer
Answer: grave
Serious = grave.
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- Pearson Edexcel GCSE Spanish (1SP1) specification
- Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Spanish (4SP1) specification
Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.