Customs, festivals and celebrations
GCSE Spanish vocabulary: festivals, traditions, special occasions and cultural life.
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Word list
| Nouns | ||
|---|---|---|
| aire(m) | air | |
| alegría(f) | joy, happiness | |
| animal(m) | animal | |
| arte(m) | art | |
| artista(m/f) | artist, performer | |
| ayuntamiento(m) | Spanish town council, city council, town hall | |
| Bachillerato(m) | Baccalaureate (equivalent to A levels) | |
| baile(m) | dance | |
| banda(f) | (musical) band | Higher |
| boda(f) | wedding | |
| caballo(m) | horse | |
| café(m) | coffee, café | |
| calle(f) | street | |
| camino(m) | way, route, path | Higher |
| canción(f) | song | |
| capital(f) | capital (city) | |
| caramelo(m) | sweet | |
| celebración(f) | celebration | |
| cocina(f) | kitchen, cooking, food technology | |
| cola(f) | queue, tail | Higher |
| comida(f) | food, meal, lunch | |
| concierto(m) | concert | |
| corrida(f) | bullfight | |
| costumbre(f) | custom, habit, tradition | |
| cultura(f) | culture | |
| cumpleaños(m) | birthday | |
| desfile(m) | procession, parade | |
| disfraz(m) | costume, fancy dress | |
| España(f) | Spain | |
| evento(m) | event | Higher |
| fiesta(f) | party, festival | |
| flamenco(m) | flamenco (dance/music from the south of Spain) | |
| flor(f) | flower | |
| fuego(m) | fire | |
| guitarra(f) | guitar | |
| habitante(m) | local (person), inhabitant | |
| historia(f) | history, story | |
| iglesia(f) | church | |
| interés(m) | interest | |
| juego(m) | game | |
| juguete(m) | toy | Higher |
| Las Fallas(fpl) | Valencian celebration involving burning of papier mâché models | |
| lengua(f) | tongue, language | |
| literatura(f) | literature | Higher |
| luz(f) | light, electricity | |
| mar(m/f) | sea | |
| matrimonio(m) | marriage | |
| mercado(m) | market | |
| mezquita(f) | mosque | |
| muerte(f) | death | Higher |
| mundo(m) | world | |
| música(f) | music | |
| Navidad(f) | Christmas | |
| Nochebuena(f) | Christmas Eve | |
| Nochevieja(f) | New Year's Eve | |
| nombre(m) | name | |
| paella(f) | paella (dish usually of rice and seafood) | |
| país(m) | country | |
| paso(m) | step, pace, religious image carried in Holy Week processions | |
| película(f) | film, movie | |
| peligro(m) | danger | |
| plato(m) | plate, dish | |
| plaza(f) | square | |
| público(m) | public, audience | |
| puerto(m) | port, harbour | |
| puesto(m) | post, position, stall (market) | |
| regalo(m) | present, gift | |
| región(f) | region | |
| reina(f) | queen | |
| religión(f) | religion | |
| rey(m) | king | |
| riesgo(m) | risk | |
| ropa(f) | clothes, clothing | |
| Sanfermines(mpl) | festival in Pamplona involving running of the bulls | |
| santo(m) | saint, saint's day | |
| siglo(m) | century | Higher |
| sinagoga(f) | synagogue | |
| sociedad(f) | society | |
| sol(m) | sun | |
| sombra(f) | shade, shadow | Higher |
| Sudamérica(f) | South America | |
| tapas(fpl) | small dishes of food, bar snacks | |
| teatro(m) | theatre, drama | |
| templo(m) | temple | |
| tomate(m) | tomato | |
| Tomatina(f) | Spanish tomato festival | |
| toro(m) | bull | |
| tradición(f) | tradition | |
| traje(m) | suit, costume | |
| uva(f) | grape | |
| vestido(m) | dress | |
| viaje(m) | trip, journey | |
| vino(m) | wine | |
| visita(f) | visit, visitor | Higher |
| vista(f) | view, sight | |
| Verbs | ||
| asistir | to attend | Higher |
| atraer | to attract | Higher |
| bailar | to dance | |
| besar | to kiss | |
| caminar | to walk | Higher |
| cantar | to sing | |
| celebrar; celebrarse | to celebrate; to hold (an event) | |
| comer | to eat | |
| compartir | to share | |
| descubrir | to discover | |
| divertir; divertirse | to amuse, entertain; to enjoy oneself, have a good time | Higher |
| invitar | to invite | |
| matar | to kill | Higher |
| participar | to participate | |
| pasar | to pass, spend (time), happen | |
| pintar; pintarse | to paint; to put on makeup | |
| publicar | to publish, post (online) | Higher |
| quemar; quemarse | to burn; to get sunburnt | Higher |
| recibir | to receive | |
| reservar | to book, reserve | |
| sorprender | to surprise | Higher |
| tirar | to throw, pull | |
| vestir; vestirse | to dress; to get dressed | |
| viajar | to travel | |
| Adjectives | ||
| animado | lively | |
| argentino | Argentinian | |
| católico | Catholic | |
| chileno | Chilean | |
| colombiano | Colombian | |
| cristiano | Christian | |
| cubano | Cuban | |
| cultural | cultural | |
| divertido | fun, enjoyable | |
| español | Spanish | |
| especial | special | |
| hispanohablante | Spanish-speaking | Higher |
| histórico | historic, historical | |
| inglés | English | |
| internacional | international | Higher |
| judío | Jewish | |
| latino | Latin American, Latin | Higher |
| loco | crazy, insane | Higher |
| mexicano | Mexican | |
| musical | musical | |
| musulmán | Muslim | |
| nacional | national | Higher |
| peligroso | dangerous | |
| religioso | religious | |
| Other useful words | ||
| al aire libre | in the open air, outdoors | |
| dar un paseo | to go for a walk, stroll | |
| Día de Muertos | Day of the Dead (Mexican celebration) | |
| Día de Reyes | Epiphany, 6th January | |
| fuegos artificiales | fireworks | |
| pasarlo bien/mal | to have a good/bad time | |
| plaza de toros | bullring | |
| Reyes Magos | the Three Kings, the Three Wise Men | |
| Semana Santa | Easter Week, Holy Week | |
| ¡Enhorabuena! | Congratulations! | |
Tap a verb to see it in every GCSE tense, with a 60-second drill.
Quick questions
How many words do I need for customs, festivals and celebrations in GCSE Spanish?
The AQA GCSE Spanish (8692) list has 153 words for customs, festivals and celebrations: 130 for Foundation, plus 23 more for Higher.
What is the best way to learn GCSE Spanish vocabulary for customs, festivals and celebrations?
Little and often works best: learn 10 words a day with the flashcards, test yourself with the quiz, then use the spelling test to make sure you can write them accurately, accents included.
Other GCSE Spanish topics
- Identity and relationships
- Healthy living and lifestyle
- Education and work
- Free-time activities
- Celebrity culture
- Travel and tourism
- Media and technology
- Environment and where people live
- Essential words
Keep going
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