The Stork's House in Spain
Read an A1 Spanish article about the white stork. Learn how these large birds build heavy nests on churches in Spain and return to them every year.
La casa de la cigüeña en España
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About this article
What you'll learn
Basic vocabulary about birds, homes, and cities in present tense.
This A1 Spanish reading text describes the white stork, a famous bird in Spain. It explains that storks build massive, heavy nests on the roofs of tall buildings and churches using sticks and earth. The text also notes that these birds migrate to Africa but return to the exact same nest every year to lay their eggs. It concludes by asking the reader two questions about birds and their nests.
After reading
Article learning block
Phrases, words, grammar, and quick practice from this text.
Phrases for training
Add useful phrases to SRS or mark them as already known.
La mayoría de los españoles vive en pisos
newLa mayoría de los españoles vive en pisos
Shows how to say most people do something. VIVE = lives (3rd person singular).
useful for describing where people live
Vivir en un piso significa tener vecinos muy cerca
newVivir en un piso significa tener vecinos muy cerca
VIVIR = to live (infinitive). SIGNIFICA = means. Shows how to explain what something involves.
useful for explaining what city life involves
Por la mañana, los españoles bajan las persianas
newPor la mañana, los españoles bajan las persianas
BAJAN = lower (they lower). Describes a daily summer routine with time marker POR LA MAÑANA.
useful for daily routines and time expressions
La casa está oscura y fresca durante el día
newLa casa está oscura y fresca durante el día
ESTÁ = is (estar for states). Oscura = dark, fresca = cool. DURANTE EL DÍA = during the day.
useful for describing house conditions
El balcón es un lugar perfecto para poner plantas
newEl balcón es un lugar perfecto para poner plantas
ES = is. LUGAR PERFECTO PARA = perfect place for. PONER = to put. Shows how to describe purpose of spaces.
useful for describing what places are for
La cocina es el corazón de la casa española
newLa cocina es el corazón de la casa española
ES = is. EL CORAZÓN = the heart. This metaphorically describes the kitchen's importance in Spanish culture.
useful for cultural understanding and idioms
Key words
Vocabulary that carries the school-day topic.
el piso — flat (apartment)
el piso
el piso
PISO is the Spanish word for a flat, especially in a building. Note: apartamento can also mean flat/apartment.
core housing vocabulary
la persiana — shutter/blind
la persiana
la persiana
PERSIANA are external window shutters. In Spain they protect from heat. Don't confuse with cortina (curtain).
culturally important for understanding Spanish homes
el balcón — balcony
el balcón
el balcón
BALCONY — traditional spot for flower pots in Spain. SALIR AL BALCÓN = to go out onto the balcony.
useful for describing Spanish homes and daily habits
el patio — courtyard
el patio
el patio
PATIO is an open-air inner courtyard typical in Andalusian homes, usually with a fountain and plants.
culturally important for southern Spanish architecture
las baldosas — tiles
las baldosas
las baldosas
TILES — ceramic floor tiles. Typical in Spanish homes: cool in summer, easy to clean.
useful for understanding material descriptions
la comunidad de vecinos — neighbors' community
la comunidad de vecinos
la comunidad de vecinos
COMMUNITY OF NEIGHBORS — people living in the same building who share common areas.
useful for understanding Spanish social life
Grammar in context
Patterns from the text worth noticing after reading.
Weather expressions with HACER
En España hace mucho calor en verano y frío en invierno
En España hace mucho calor en verano y frío en invierno
HACER + temperature = to be hot/cold (weather). NOT ser/estar for weather in Spanish.
essential weather expression pattern
Ser + de (material)
Los suelos son de baldosas o cerámica
Los suelos son de baldosas o cerámica
SER + DE + material = indicates what something is made of. Use SER for permanent characteristics.
essential for describing materials
Superlative adjective
El patio es el lugar más fresco de la casa
El patio es el lugar más fresco de la casa
MÁS + adjective = most. MÁS FRESCO = coolest. THE MOST COOL SPOT = the coolest place.
how to express the superlative in Spanish
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