C1 · 50 words
Light conversation in Spanish
Starting, keeping on, dodging, ending — the phrases for talk nobody is obliged to have.
El corrillo is a thing English can see at every party and has never named: the small ring of three or four people standing and talking, closed to everybody else. It is the diminutive of el corro, a circle of people holding hands — Spanish children still sing el corro de la patata in one. From there comes hacer corrillos, to gather into little knots, which is what a room does the moment the speeches stop. English says « a huddle » or « a knot of people » and means something looser than that closed circle.
The words
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Phrase (49)
la charla informalthe talk that is not a meetingPhraseC1
La charla informal abre puertas que la reunión cierra.The talk that is not a meeting opens doors the meeting closes.
el arranque de la charlathe getting startedPhraseC1
El arranque de la charla cuesta con desconocidos.The getting started is hard with people one does not know.
el tema segurothe subject that is safe anywherePhraseC1
El tema seguro cambia según el país.The subject that is safe anywhere changes from country to country.
la pregunta abiertathe question that opens something upPhraseC1
La pregunta abierta da al otro por dónde seguir.The question that opens something up gives the other person somewhere to go.
el interés genuinoan interest that is realPhraseC1
El interés genuino se nota en la segunda pregunta.An interest that is real shows in the second question.
el comentario sobre el tiempothe remark about the weatherPhraseC1
El comentario sobre el tiempo no dice nada y sirve para todo.The remark about the weather says nothing and works everywhere.
el elogio sincerothe praise that is meantPhraseC1
El elogio sincero nombra algo concreto.The praise that is meant names something particular.
el punto en comúnthe thing you both havePhraseC1
El punto en común aparece a los dos minutos.The thing you both have turns up after two minutes.
la anécdota brevethe short story told in passingPhraseC1
La anécdota breve se cuenta en treinta segundos.The short story told in passing takes thirty seconds.
la alternancia al hablarthe taking of turns in speakingPhraseC1
La alternancia al hablar funciona sin llevar la cuenta.The taking of turns in speaking works without anybody counting.
la escucha atentathe listening that is really listeningPhraseC1
La escucha atenta se nota en lo que se pregunta después.The listening that is really listening shows in what is asked next.
la señal de seguimientothe little sign that one is followingPhraseC1
La señal de seguimiento es un „ya“ o un gesto.The little sign that one is following is a « yes » or a nod.
la interrupción cortésthe polite cutting inPhraseC1
La interrupción cortés pide permiso con media frase.The polite cutting in asks leave with half a sentence.
el cambio de temathe change of subjectPhraseC1
El cambio de tema se anuncia con „por cierto“.The change of subject is announced with « by the way ».
la vuelta al tema anteriorthe going back to the earlier subjectPhraseC1
La vuelta al tema anterior demuestra que se escuchaba.The going back to the earlier subject proves somebody was listening.
el silencio incómodothe silence that gets awkwardPhraseC1
El silencio incómodo dura menos de lo que parece.The silence that gets awkward lasts less time than it seems.
el rodeo educadothe polite going round itPhraseC1
El rodeo educado evita decir que no directamente.The polite going round it avoids saying no outright.
la evasiva amablethe kind going round the questionPhraseC1
La evasiva amable cierra el tema sin cerrar la puerta.The kind going round the question closes the subject without closing the door.
la pregunta indiscretathe question that goes too farPhraseC1
La pregunta indiscreta se devuelve con una sonrisa.The question that goes too far is handed back with a smile.
el límite personalthe line one does not let people crossPhraseC1
El límite personal se marca sin dar explicaciones.The line one does not let people cross is drawn without explanations.
la ironía suavethe light ironyPhraseC1
La ironía suave no funciona con quien no te conoce.The light irony does not work on somebody who does not know you.
el humor compartidothe joke you both find funnyPhraseC1
El humor compartido crea confianza más rápido que nada.The joke you both find funny builds trust faster than anything.
el tono desenfadadothe easy tonePhraseC1
El tono desenfadado se ajusta al del otro.The easy tone is matched to the other person's.
el paso al túthe move to the familiar youPhraseC1
El paso al tú es inmediato en casi toda España.The move to the familiar you happens at once almost everywhere in Spain.
el trato de ustedthe keeping to the formal youPhraseC1
El trato de usted marca distancia o respeto según el sitio.The keeping to the formal you means distance or respect, depending where you are.
la presentación entre dos personasthe introducing of two peoplePhraseC1
La presentación entre dos personas incluye por qué deberían hablar.The introducing of two people includes why they should be talking.
el apretón de manosthe handshakePhraseC1
El apretón de manos sustituye al beso en el trabajo.The handshake replaces the kiss at work.
los dos besosthe two kisses on the cheekPhraseC1
Los dos besos se dan en contextos privados.The two kisses on the cheek belong to private life.
la incorporación al grupothe joining of a group already talkingPhraseC1
La incorporación al grupo empieza escuchando un momento.The joining of a group already talking starts by listening for a moment.
la charla de pasillothe talk in the corridorPhraseC1
La charla de pasillo decide más de lo que debería.The talk in the corridor decides more than it should.
la conversación de ascensorthe talk in the liftPhraseC1
La conversación de ascensor dura ocho segundos.The talk in the lift lasts eight seconds.
el encuentro casualthe meeting somebody did not planPhraseC1
El encuentro casual pide una frase, no un informe.The meeting somebody did not plan wants a sentence, not a report.
la despedida rápidathe quick goodbyePhraseC1
La despedida rápida se prepara con „bueno“.The quick goodbye is prepared with « right then ».
la excusa para marcharsethe reason given for leavingPhraseC1
La excusa para marcharse no tiene que ser verdad entera.The reason given for leaving does not have to be the whole truth.
el cierre en positivothe ending on a good notePhraseC1
El cierre en positivo deja la puerta abierta.The ending on a good note leaves the door open.
la promesa vagathe promise with nothing in itPhraseC1
La promesa vaga se entiende como cortesía.The promise with nothing in it is understood as politeness.
el compromiso concretothe arrangement with a day and a timePhraseC1
El compromiso concreto lleva día y hora.The arrangement with a day and a time carries both of them.
el seguimiento al día siguientethe getting in touch the next dayPhraseC1
El seguimiento al día siguiente convierte la charla en algo.The getting in touch the next day turns the talk into something.
el recuerdo del nombrethe remembering of the namePhraseC1
El recuerdo del nombre vale más que cualquier técnica.The remembering of the name is worth more than any technique.
la conversación telefónica brevethe short telephone callPhraseC1
La conversación telefónica breve empieza preguntando si es buen momento.The short telephone call starts by asking whether it is a good moment.
el mensaje de vozthe voice messagePhraseC1
El mensaje de voz se ha vuelto normal en España.The voice message has become ordinary in Spain.
la conversación a distanciathe talk held at a distancePhraseC1
La conversación a distancia pierde la mitad de las señales.The talk held at a distance loses half the signals.
el malentendido culturalthe misunderstanding that is culturalPhraseC1
El malentendido cultural no se arregla hablando más alto.The misunderstanding that is cultural is not mended by talking louder.
la distancia al hablarhow close people stand to talkPhraseC1
La distancia al hablar es menor en el sur.How close people stand to talk is closer in the south.
el volumen de la conversaciónhow loud the talking isPhraseC1
El volumen de la conversación sorprende a quien llega del norte.How loud the talking is surprises anybody arriving from the north.
el solapamiento al hablarthe speaking on top of each otherPhraseC1
El solapamiento al hablar es señal de interés, no de mala educación.The speaking on top of each other is a sign of interest, not of rudeness.
la conversación de mesathe talk round the tablePhraseC1
La conversación de mesa puede durar más que la comida.The talk round the table can last longer than the meal.
el gesto de levantar la copathe raising of the glassPhraseC1
El gesto de levantar la copa va con la mirada.The raising of the glass goes with the eyes.
la conversación con desconocidosthe talk with people one does not knowPhraseC1
La conversación con desconocidos es más fácil en la barra.The talk with people one does not know is easier standing at the bar.
Noun (m) (1)
el corrillothe little ring of people talkingNoun (m)C1
El corrillo se abre dejando un hueco.The little ring of people talking opens by leaving a gap.
This list belongs to People and feelings — 13 lists and 640 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
From these 50 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.