B1 · 38 words
The post office and the account in Spanish
What is needed at the counter and in online banking.
Expedir is to send a parcel off; reexpedir is to send it on after the person has moved. One root, one prefix, and the second word says plainly that it is the first one done again. English has no such pair: « to send » and « to forward » share nothing, so nothing in the English words says that the second counter is doing the first counter's job over. The family reaches further — el expedidor is built out of the verb, where « sender » is built out of a different one.
The words
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Verb (6)
expedirto send off, to dispatchVerbB1
Puedes expedir el paquete en la oficina de al lado.You can send the parcel off at the office next door.
reexpedirto forward, to redirectVerbB1
Pedimos reexpedir el correo a la casa nueva.We asked to have the post forwarded to the new house.
abonarto creditVerbB1
El banco va a abonar el importe el lunes.The bank will credit the amount on Monday.
retirarto withdrawVerbB1
Quiero retirar algo de dinero.I want to withdraw some money.
ingresarto pay inVerbB1
Voy a ingresar el cheque mañana.I am going to pay the cheque in tomorrow.
recargarto top upVerbB1
Puedo recargar la tarjeta en cualquier estanco.I can top the card up at any tobacconist.
Adjective (1)
pendienteoutstanding, still to be paidAdjectiveB1
Queda una factura pendiente.There is one bill still outstanding.
Phrase (25)
el paquete postalthe packagePhraseB1
El paquete postal llegó abierto por un lado.The package arrived open along one side.
el sobre con ventanathe window envelopePhraseB1
Las facturas vienen en un sobre con ventana.Bills come in a window envelope.
el sello de correosthe stamp stuck on a letterPhraseB1
Falta un sello de correos en la carta.There is a stamp missing on this letter.
el distrito postalthe postal districtPhraseB1
Cada distrito postal tiene su cartero.Every postal district has its own postman.
el envío a domiciliothe home deliveryPhraseB1
El envío a domicilio tarda dos días más.Home delivery takes two days longer.
la carta certificadathe signed-for postPhraseB1
Una carta certificada no se deja en el buzón.A signed-for letter is not left in the letter box.
pasar a recogerto call in and fetch itPhraseB1
Tengo que pasar a recoger el sobre hoy.I have to call in and fetch the envelope today.
firmar la recepciónto sign on the doorstepPhraseB1
Alguien mayor de edad debe firmar la recepción.Somebody over eighteen has to sign on the doorstep.
la tarifa postalthe postage ratePhraseB1
La tarifa postal sube cada enero.The postage rate goes up every January.
la cuenta nóminathe salary accountPhraseB1
La cuenta nómina no cobra comisiones.The salary account charges no fees.
la cuenta de ahorrothe savings (an account for money set aside)PhraseB1
Guarda el dinero en la cuenta de ahorro.He keeps the money in the savings account.
el listado de movimientosthe list of transactionsPhraseB1
Mira el listado de movimientos del mes pasado.Look at the list of transactions for last month.
la transferencia periódicathe standing orderPhraseB1
Dejé una transferencia periódica para el alquiler.I set up a standing order for the rent.
la retirada de efectivothe cash withdrawalPhraseB1
La retirada de efectivo aparece al día siguiente.The cash withdrawal shows up the next day.
la libreta de ahorrosthe passbookPhraseB1
Mi abuela guarda la libreta de ahorros en un cajón.My grandmother keeps the passbook in a drawer.
el resumen de movimientosthe statementPhraseB1
Pide el resumen de movimientos en papel.Ask for the statement on paper.
el saldo negativothe negative balancePhraseB1
Un saldo negativo cuesta intereses.A negative balance costs interest.
el empleado de ventanillathe clerk at the counterPhraseB1
El empleado de ventanilla pidió mi documentación.The clerk at the counter asked for my papers.
el número secretothe PIN codePhraseB1
No apuntes el número secreto en la tarjeta.Do not write the PIN code on the card.
la cuenta de destinothe payee (the account a transfer goes to)PhraseB1
Comprueba la cuenta de destino antes de enviar.Check the payee before you send it.
la comisión bancariathe banking feePhraseB1
La comisión bancaria se cobra cada trimestre.The banking fee is charged every quarter.
cargar en cuentato be debitedPhraseB1
Van a cargar en cuenta el recibo del agua.The water bill is going to be debited.
el justificante de pagothe proof of paymentPhraseB1
Guarda el justificante de pago hasta el año que viene.Keep the proof of payment until next year.
el pago mensualthe instalment paid each monthPhraseB1
El pago mensual se descuenta solo.The instalment is taken off automatically each month.
la fecha de cargothe collection date (when the money is taken)PhraseB1
La fecha de cargo cae siempre a fin de mes.The collection date always falls at the end of the month.
Noun (m) (6)
el receptorthe recipientNoun (m)B1
El receptor tiene que estar en casa.The recipient has to be at home.
el expedidorthe dispatcher (the one who hands the parcel in)Noun (m)B1
El expedidor paga los sellos.The dispatcher pays for the stamps.
el localizadorthe reference codeNoun (m)B1
Apunta el localizador para seguir la caja.Note the reference code down so you can follow the box.
el girothe money orderNoun (m)B1
Mandó un giro desde la oficina de correos.He sent a money order from the post office.
el cargothe debitNoun (m)B1
Hay un cargo que no reconozco.There is a debit I do not recognise.
el recordatoriothe reminderNoun (m)B1
Llegó un recordatorio por correo.A reminder came in the post.
This list belongs to Food, shopping and errands — 15 lists and 648 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
From these 38 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.