Free Spanish word list

Advanced Spanish Vocabulary: 100 C1–C2 Words

C1 and C2 vocabulary is what separates fluent speakers from native-like ones: the words of newspapers, literature, contracts, and heated debate. The 100 words below are the most frequent items from the C1 and C2 bands of our 10,000-word corpus.

At this level you already know a common word for almost everything — advanced vocabulary is about register and shade of meaning. La soberanía, el ámbito, and plantear rarely appear in textbooks, but they are everywhere in real written Spanish.

Because these words are rare in everyday speech, spaced testing is the only reliable way to keep them. Lingular treats advanced words as high-value targets: they earn the most XP and the game keeps probing them long after your first correct answer.

100 words ordered by frequency — lower numbers appear more often in real Spanish.
#SpanishEnglishExample
1plantearto suggestEl jefe planteó una nueva idea en la reunión.The boss suggested a new idea in the meeting.
2exponerto exposeEl periodista va a exponer la corrupción en su artículo.The journalist is going to expose the corruption in his article.
3invadirto invadeLas fuerzas enemigas invadieron la ciudad.The enemy forces invaded the city.
4inicializarto initializeNecesito inicializar el sistema antes de usarlo.I need to initialize the system before using it.
5promulgarto passEl gobierno va a promulgar una nueva ley.The government is going to pass a new law.
6faltar ato missHoy no puedo faltar a la reunión.I can’t miss the meeting today.
7salivarto salivateAl ver la comida, comencé a salivar.I started to salivate when I saw the food.
8incumbirto concernEse asunto no me incumbe.That matter does not concern me.
9concernirto concernMe preocupa lo que pueda concernir a la seguridad.I’m worried about what may concern safety.
10moldearto moldEl escultor moldeó el barro con sus manos.The sculptor molded the clay with his hands.
11dejar k.o.to knock outEl boxeador dejó K.O. a su oponente en el segundo round.The boxer knocked out his opponent in the second round.
12interrumpirto interruptNo me gusta que me interrumpan cuando hablo.I don’t like to be interrupted when I’m speaking.
13latirto beatMi corazón late muy rápido cuando hago ejercicio.My heart beats very fast when I exercise.
14palpitarto palpitateMi pulso comenzó a palpitar después del susto.My pulse started to palpitate after the scare.
15machacarto crushEl martillo machacó la piedra en pedazos.The hammer crushed the stone into pieces.
16destrozarto destroyEl terremoto destruyó la ciudad completamente.The earthquake destroyed the city completely.
17lijarto sandNecesitamos lijar la madera antes de pintarla.We need to sand the wood before painting it.
18pulirto polishElla pulió el mueble hasta que brilló.She polished the furniture until it shone.
19entrar ato enterTienes que entrar a la sala de juntas para la reunión.You need to enter the meeting room for the meeting.
20acceder ato accessSolo los empleados pueden acceder a esa área.Only employees can access that area.
21minarto mineLa empresa está minando el oro en esta región.The company is mining gold in this region.
22nivelarto levelDebemos nivelar el terreno antes de construir.We must level the land before building.
23avasallarto subjugateEl ejército trató de avasallar a los pueblos cercanos.The army tried to subjugate the nearby towns.
24razonarto reasonNecesitamos razonar nuestras decisiones antes de actuar.We need to reason through our decisions before acting.
25propulsarto propelEl motor está diseñado para propulsar el cohete al espacio.The engine is designed to propel the rocket into space.
26bajarseto get offElla se bajó del autobús en la siguiente parada.She got off the bus at the next stop.
27posponerto postponeDecidieron posponer la reunión hasta el lunes.They decided to postpone the meeting until Monday.
28centrarse ento focus onEs importante centrarse en los detalles más pequeños.It’s important to focus on the smallest details.
29pasar el ratoto pass the timeNos gustaba pasar el rato en el parque.We liked to pass the time in the park.
30enumerarto enumerateEl profesor comenzó a enumerar los temas del examen.The teacher started to enumerate the topics of the exam.
31comerciarto tradeEn este mercado se comercian productos locales.Local products are traded at this market.
32enviar por correo exprésto send by express mailDecidí enviar por correo exprés el paquete urgente.I decided to send the urgent package by express mail.
33sortearto draw lots forLa escuela decidió sortear los premios entre los estudiantes.The school decided to draw lots for the prizes among the students.
34intermediarto mediateEl gobierno intentó intermediar en las conversaciones.The government tried to mediate in the conversations.
35soplarto blowEl viento soplaba con mucha fuerza en la costa.The wind blew strongly along the coast.
36motivarto motivateEl entrenador sabe cómo motivar a sus jugadores.The coach knows how to motivate his players.
37dar lugar ato causeLa falta de lluvia dio lugar a una sequía severa.The lack of rain caused a severe drought.
38amanecerto dawnEl sol comenzó a amanecer sobre las montañas.The sun began to dawn over the mountains.
39tocar fondoto touch the bottomDespués de perder su empleo, sintió que tocaba fondo.After losing his job, he felt like he touched the bottom.
40pronosticarto predictLos meteorólogos pronosticaron lluvia para el fin de semana.The meteorologists predicted rain for the weekend.
41inclinarto tiltLa torre se inclinó por el terremoto.The tower tilted due to the earthquake.
42toquetearto handleNo debes toquetear los instrumentos sin permiso.You shouldn’t handle the instruments without permission.
43exceptuarto exceptEl nuevo reglamento exceptúa a los estudiantes con discapacidad.The new regulation excepts students with disabilities.
44estructurarto structureNecesitamos estructurar mejor nuestra estrategia de marketing.We need to structure our marketing strategy better.
45inyectarto injectEl médico tuvo que inyectar el medicamento en su brazo.The doctor had to inject the medication into his arm.
46bendecirto blessEl sacerdote bendijo la casa antes de la mudanza.The priest blessed the house before the move.
47hacer gestosto gestureEl profesor hizo gestos para que los estudiantes prestaran atención.The teacher gestured for the students to pay attention.
48provocar disturbiosto riotLos manifestantes comenzaron a provocar disturbios en las calles.The protesters started to riot in the streets.
49suministrarto supplyLa empresa suministra electricidad a la ciudad.The company supplies electricity to the city.
50estipularto stipulateEl contrato estipula que el pago debe realizarse al contado.The contract stipulates that the payment must be made in cash.
51proporcionarto provideEste centro proporciona alimentos a las personas necesitadas.This center provides food to those in need.
52dejar caerto dropDejó caer el vaso por accidente.He dropped the glass by accident.
53forrarto coverNecesito forrar el libro para que no se dañe.I need to cover the book so it doesn’t get damaged.
54recubrirto coverRecubrieron el edificio con una capa de pintura nueva.They covered the building with a new layer of paint.
55mirar ato faceLa casa mira a un hermoso jardín.The house faces a beautiful garden.
56dar ato giveEl edificio da a la calle principal.The building gives (faces) the main street.
57dar clases particularesto tutorElla da clases particulares de matemáticas.She tutors math.
58almacenarto storeEs importante almacenar alimentos para el invierno.It’s important to store food for the winter.
59albergarto houseEste edificio alberga a varios refugiados.This building houses several refugees.
60desportillarto chipEl plato se desportilló cuando cayó al suelo.The plate chipped when it fell to the ground.
61rendirto produceEl campo está rindiendo una buena cosecha este año.The field is producing a good harvest this year.
62representarto representEl abogado representa a su cliente en la corte.The lawyer represents his client in court.
63negociarto negotiateEllos negocian los precios de los productos antes de venderlos.They negotiate the prices of the products before selling them.
64acercarse ato approachEl perro se acercó a su dueño con cautela.The dog approached its owner cautiously.
65halagarto flatterMe halagaron por mi presentación en la reunión.They flattered me for my presentation in the meeting.
66hacer régimento be on a dietEstá haciendo régimen para perder peso.He’s on a diet to lose weight.
67hacer dietato go on a dietDecidí hacer dieta para sentirme mejor.I decided to go on a diet to feel better.
68envolverto wrapElla va a envolver el regalo.She is going to wrap the gift.
69clarearto lightenEl cielo comenzará a clarear al amanecer.The sky will begin to lighten at dawn.
70dispersarseto break upLos niños comenzaron a dispersarse por el parque.The children began to break up in the park.
71entresacarto pick outElla intentó entresacar las piezas más importantes del libro.She tried to pick out the most important pieces from the book.
72diluirto diluteNecesitas diluir la pintura antes de usarla.You need to dilute the paint before using it.
73relacionarto connectNo puedo relacionar estos dos conceptos.I can't connect these two concepts.
74consentirto allowLos padres no consienten que sus hijos salgan tarde.The parents don’t allow their children to go out late.
75divisarto make outPuedo divisar una figura en la distancia.I can make out a figure in the distance.
76atarto tieNecesitas atar bien los zapatos.You need to tie your shoes tightly.
77descodificarto decodeEs difícil descodificar este mensaje.It's difficult to decode this message.
78reasumirto reassumeDespués de la reunión, decidió reasumir su cargo.After the meeting, he decided to reassume his position.
79pintarseto put one's makeup onElla se pinta todos los días antes de ir a trabajar.She puts on her makeup every day before going to work.
80afligirto upsetLa noticia le afligió mucho.The news upset him a lot.
81desafiarto challengeEl entrenador desafió a sus jugadores a mejorar.The coach challenged his players to improve.
82idearto deviseNecesitamos idear un plan para el proyecto.We need to devise a plan for the project.
83salir biento go wellTodo salió bien en la fiesta.Everything went well at the party.
84exculparto exonerateEl juez decidió exculpar al acusado.The judge decided to exonerate the defendant.
85chivarse deto tell onNo me gusta que te chives de mí.I don’t like it when you tell on me.
86delatarto inform onEl testigo delató al criminal.The witness informed on the criminal.
87desentonarto be out of placeSu comentario desentonó en la conversación.His comment was out of place in the conversation.
88estrellarto smashEl coche se estrelló contra un árbol.The car smashed into a tree.
89estafarto swindleEl hombre intentó estafar a la anciana.The man tried to swindle the elderly woman.
90timarto swindleEllos lo timaron con un negocio falso.They swindled him with a fake business deal.
91chorrearto dripEl grifo comenzó a chorrear agua.The faucet started to drip water.
92dar un golpeto hitJuan le dio un golpe a la pelota.Juan hit the ball.
93aterrizar de panzato belly landEl avión tuvo que aterrizar de panza debido a un fallo.The plane had to belly land due to a failure.
94arrasarto raze to the groundEl incendio arrasó con todo el barrio.The fire razed the whole neighborhood to the ground.
95quedar biento make a good impressionSiempre trato de quedar bien en las entrevistas.I always try to make a good impression in interviews.
96nublarto cloudEl cielo comenzó a nublarse antes de la tormenta.The sky began to cloud over before the storm.
97torcerto twistElla torció el tobillo mientras corría.She twisted her ankle while running.
98enterrarto buryVamos a enterrar las semillas en el jardín.We are going to bury the seeds in the garden.
99bordarto embroiderMi abuela sabe bordar hermosos diseños.My grandmother knows how to embroider beautiful designs.
100erigirto buildEllos van a erigir un monumento en la plaza.They are going to build a monument in the square.

How to actually learn these words

Anchor advanced words to real sources

When you meet one of these words in an article or film, save the sentence. A real encounter is worth ten artificial repetitions.

Learn formal and informal pairs

Many C-level words are the formal sibling of a word you know: efectuar vs. hacer, adquirir vs. comprar. Linking the pair makes both stick.

Write with them

Passive recognition comes quickly at this level; production does not. Use three new advanced words in written sentences of your own each week.

Turn this list into a game

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