AAPPL Spanish key terms

A word or phrase used to greet someone at the start of a conversation, such as buenos días or hola. Choosing the right register matters in spoken and written exchanges.

A closing phrase used to end a conversation or message, such as hasta luego or un saludo. It signals the exchange is over and sets the tone.

The choice between tú and usted, and between casual and polite wording. Spanish speakers adjust this based on age, status, and setting, and the exam tests appropriate switching.

A polite set phrase such as por favor, gracias, or mucho gusto. These phrases smooth interaction and are expected in interpersonal tasks and formal writing.

A follow-up question asked to keep a conversation going or to get more detail, such as ¿y tú? or ¿por qué?. It shows active engagement in a dialogue.

The convention of taking turns speaking in a conversation. Recognizing cues that signal it is your turn helps you respond naturally in a live speaking task.

A request or statement that makes something clearer, such as ¿puedes repetir? or ¿qué significa?. Asking for clarification is a scored interactive skill.

A filler word or hesitation sound like pues, bueno, or este that speakers use while thinking. Recognizing them helps you follow natural speech; using them sparingly sounds fluent.

Restating an idea in different words to check understanding or to explain something when the exact term is unknown. A useful strategy when vocabulary gaps appear in speaking.

Describing a thing indirectly when you lack its name, for example calling a can opener lo que abre las latas. It keeps communication going during oral tasks.

The central idea or subject of a text or recording. Identifying it quickly is the first step in most reading and listening comprehension items.

A supporting detail that explains, illustrates, or qualifies the main idea. Distinguishing it from the main point is a common question type.

A precise piece of information such as a date, price, name, or number. Locating it requires scanning or careful listening rather than overall comprehension.

A conclusion drawn from clues in the text rather than stated directly. Items often ask what a speaker implies or what probably happens next.

The reason a writer or speaker produced the text, such as to inform, persuade, warn, or entertain. Naming it requires reading the whole message, not just one line.

The attitude a speaker conveys through word choice and voice, such as sarcasm, enthusiasm, or annoyance. It is often tested in listening items about how someone feels.

A significant word in a question or passage that guides you to the relevant part of the text or audio. Spotting it speeds up locating answers.

A linking word such as sin embargo, por lo tanto, or además that shows contrast, cause, or addition. Connectors reveal how ideas relate and often mark the answer.

The way sentences and paragraphs are linked so a text reads as one unit, achieved through pronouns, connectors, and repeated terms. It affects how easily meaning is followed.

A group of sentences developing one idea, usually beginning with an indented or spaced line. Organizing writing into paragraphs is expected in presentational tasks.

An outline or plan listing the points to cover before writing. Making one helps ensure a presentational response has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

A first draft of a piece of writing that will be revised. Drafting and reviewing for errors improves accuracy in timed writing tasks.

The stage of checking a draft for grammar, spelling, agreement, and clarity. Time spent revising catches errors that cost points in writing.

Agreement between grammatical elements, especially noun and adjective or subject and verb in gender and number. Errors here are among the most common in written Spanish.

The classification of nouns as masculine or feminine, shown by articles and adjective endings. Learners must match articles and adjectives to each noun's gender.

The words el, la, los, and las, used for specific nouns. Choosing the correct form depends on the noun's gender and number.

A verb form showing when an action occurs, such as present, preterite, imperfect, or future. Selecting the right tense is central to clear narration and description.

The Spanish past tense used for completed actions with a clear endpoint, as in ayer fui al mercado. It often advances a narrative sequence of events.

The Spanish past tense used for ongoing background, habitual actions, or descriptions in the past, as in cuando era niño. It sets the scene rather than reporting a finished event.

A verb mood expressing wishes, doubt, emotion, or hypothetical situations, often after que, as in espero que vengas. It appears in polite requests and opinion writing.

The verb form used to give commands or instructions, such as escriba, ven, or no hable. It is common in recipes, directions, and persuasive messages.

A direction telling someone how to do something, often using the imperative or impersonal se. Recognizing sequence words in instructions is a frequent reading task.

The order in which events or steps occur, signaled by words like primero, luego, and finalmente. Tracking it is essential for understanding processes and narratives.

A public notice or advertisement designed to promote, inform, or attract attention, often with short slogans and images. Reading them requires spotting the purpose and audience.

The information or request a speaker or writer intends to convey, such as a voicemail asking for a callback. Identifying the core message is the goal of many listening items.

Spoken digits and clock times that must be understood accurately, including forms like las tres y cuarto or 555-12-34. Listening items often test transcription of these details.

A calendar day expressed with numbers and months, such as el tres de mayo. Spanish usually puts the day before the month, which can cause mishearing.

A word that looks similar in Spanish and English but differs in meaning, such as actual (current) or embarazada (pregnant). Mistaking them leads to comprehension errors.

The surrounding words and situation that clarify a word's meaning. Using context lets you guess unfamiliar vocabulary without a dictionary.