I try to study Spanish as often as I can to get a much better level and grasp of the language. I’ve tried watching Spanish TV before but have struggled with the accents and speeds so didn’t go back to it.
The other day I thought I’d try again and went on the RTVE website where you can watch full episodes – they even have backlogs of episodes to the series beginning in most cases – for free.
They’ve also started subtitling, in Spanish of course, their vast database which helps if you can’t quite catch the word.
So I’ve recently started watching Los misterios de Laura. It’s about a police detective called Laura who solves murder mysteries. It’s sort of like Jonathan Creek meets Midsomer Murders.
At first I was watching casually, but then I started taking notes and making a vocabulary sheet, so I thought I’d share it with those studying Spanish or are interested.
Verbs
acosar – to harass/stalk
fisgonear – pry into/poke around in
liar – to mess up/complicate
liarse – to get involved/mixed up in
machacar to crush/overwhelm
pillar to catch
traicionar to cheat (unfaithful)
Nouns
un arrumaco cuddle
un asunto issue/matter/something
un atraco a robbery/hold-up
un balazo bullet wound
los cascos headphones
una casualidad a coincidence
una coartada an alibi
un disparo a gunshot (sound)
un huésped a guest (at a hotel)
un pestillo latch/bolt of door
una pinta appearance/impression
Adjectives
asustado/a frightened
cacharro slang worthless/cheap
(estar) harto de… to be sick of/fed up with
Phrases
cada dos por tres all the time
cerrar con llave to lock
esto es el colmo That’s the last straw
gente de esa calaña People of that sort/that sort of person
jolín nicer alternative for joder, like darn
la enésima vez the thousandth time
que aproveche (food) enjoy/bon appetit
quien, yo? who, me?
se acerca alguien someone’s coming
si me conceden su atención If I could have your attention, please
Y a ti te qué importa? what’s it to you (kind of rude/insulting)
para servirles at your service
Food
patatitas a la riojana a potato soup with chorizo
It’s pretty obvious to see that it’s from a crime/police show, haha! I think this a much more fun and engaging way to learn vocabulary than the standard practices, and I know that many non-English speakers will watch English-language television and films to work on their language skills. And the best thing is, you don’t actually need to be studying Spanish in Spain or Latin America, you can do this from anywhere with access to the internet.
What are the most effective ways for you to pick up new vocabulary? Any interesting/funny words or phrases to share? And to all those revising for exams, hang in there, it’ll all be over soon!
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