Las lenguas de España

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5 free word translations

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About this article

Level A2 Reading focus

What you'll learn

languages of Spain, Catalan, Basque, Galician, bilingualism, regional languages

This article teaches about the different languages spoken in Spain besides Spanish. Describes Catalan, Basque, Galician languages and their cultural importance for A2 level. Teaches vocabulary about languages, regions, bilingualism and cultural diversity.

After reading

Article learning block

Phrases, words, grammar, and quick practice from this text.

15 items

Phrases for training

Add useful phrases to SRS or mark them as already known.

se habla catalán

new

Catalan is spoken

«Se habla» is a passive construction (pasiva refleja) showing a language is spoken in a place.

Essential for describing which languages are spoken in Spain's regions.

además del español

new

besides Spanish

«Además del» = «besides» + noun with article.

Useful for introducing topics and making comparisons.

lengua oficial

new

official language

«Lengua oficial» — the language recognized by the state.

Key term for understanding language status in Spain.

lenguas cooficiales

new

co-official languages

«Lenguas cooficiales» — languages with the same official status as Spanish in their region.

Key concept for understanding Spain's language policy.

forma parte de

new

is part of

«Forma parte de» = «is part of».

Useful for expressing belonging or inclusion.

son bilingües

new

many Spaniards are bilingual

«Ser bilingüe» — to be able to speak two languages.

Describes the ability to communicate in two languages.

Key words

Vocabulary that carries the school-day topic.

Bilingual

bilingüe

bilingual

«Bilingüe» describes a person or thing that uses two languages.

Core word of the article for describing language ability.

Identity

identidad

identity

«Identidad» = sense of belonging to a culture or group.

Related to the cultural importance of languages.

Linguistic diversity

diversidad lingüística

linguistic diversity

«Diversidad lingüística» = the presence of different languages in a country.

Describes Spain's language wealth.

Autonomous community

comunidad autónoma

autonomous community

«Comunidad autónoma» = an administrative region of Spain with its own statute.

Key term for understanding Spain's administrative division.

Pride

orgullo

pride

«Orgullo» = a positive feeling of belonging to one's culture.

Emotional term linked to linguistic identity.

Region

región

region

«Región» = a geographical area with special characteristics.

Used when describing areas where different languages are spoken.

Grammar in context

Patterns from the text worth noticing after reading.

Passive «se» for describing languages

se habla catalán

pasiva refleja

«Se habla catalán» = «Catalan is spoken». Se + verb in 3rd person shows the action applies to everyone in a region.

Essential construction for describing languages in a geographical context.

Contraction «al» (a + el)

muy parecido al portugués

al = a + el

«Al portugués» = «a el portugués». The article «el» contracts with the preposition «a» to «al».

Mandatory contraction in Spanish.

Verb «pertenecer a» — to belong to

no pertenece a la familia

pertenecer a

«Pertenecer a» = «to belong to». Requires the preposition «a»: no pertenece a la familia.