B1 · 50 words
At the government counter in Spanish
The words you cannot get past the desk without.
Two set phrases run the whole administrative system, and English has no matching pair. Dar de alta puts somebody on a list — an employer with the social security, a company with a new customer, a doctor discharging a patient as fit. Dar de baja takes them off it: cancelling a contract, closing an account, being signed off sick. English needs a different verb each time — register, enrol, discharge, cancel — while Spanish keeps one pair and lets the object say what kind of list it is. Estar de baja on its own means to be off sick.
The words
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Verb (11)
empadronarseto register as a residentVerbB1
Hay que empadronarse en el primer mes.You have to register as a resident in the first month.
solicitarto apply forVerbB1
Quiero solicitar una prórroga.I want to apply for an extension.
presentarto submit, to hand inVerbB1
Presente los documentos originales.Submit the original documents.
adjuntarto attach, to encloseVerbB1
Adjunte una copia del pasaporte.Enclose a copy of your passport.
tramitarto processVerbB1
Tardan un mes en tramitarlo.They take a month to process it.
vencerto expire, to fall dueVerbB1
Mi permiso vence en junio.My permit expires in June.
renovarto renewVerbB1
Hay que renovar el carné cada diez años.The card has to be renewed every ten years.
denegarto refuse, to turn downVerbB1
Le denegaron la solicitud sin explicación.They turned his application down without any explanation.
concederto grantVerbB1
Nos concedieron la ayuda en agosto.They granted us the benefit in August.
acudirto turn up, to attendVerbB1
Acuda con quince minutos de antelación.Turn up fifteen minutes early.
cumplirto meet, to comply withVerbB1
Cumplimos con el plazo.We met the deadline.
Adjective (2)
obligatoriocompulsoryAdjectiveB1
La cita previa es obligatoria.The appointment is compulsory.
vigentein force, validAdjectiveB1
La ley vigente lo permite.The law in force allows it.
Phrase (13)
la cita previathe appointment booked in advancePhraseB1
Sin cita previa no atienden a nadie.Without an appointment they do not see anybody.
la ventanilla únicathe one-stop counterPhraseB1
Todo se tramita en la ventanilla única.Everything is processed at the one-stop counter.
el plazo de entregathe deadline for handing it inPhraseB1
El plazo de entrega vence el viernes.The deadline for handing it in is Friday.
el permiso de residenciathe residence permitPhraseB1
Renové el permiso de residencia sin problemas.I renewed the residence permit without any trouble.
el número de identificaciónthe identification numberPhraseB1
Escriba su número de identificación arriba.Write your identification number at the top.
la seguridad socialthe social securityPhraseB1
Está dado de alta en la seguridad social.He is registered with social security.
dar de altato register somebodyPhraseB1
La empresa me dio de alta el lunes.The company registered me on Monday.
dar de bajato cancel a registrationPhraseB1
Di de baja la línea de teléfono.I cancelled the telephone line.
el trámite en líneathe online procedurePhraseB1
El trámite en línea es más rápido.The online procedure is quicker.
la firma electrónicathe electronic signaturePhraseB1
Necesita firma electrónica para entrar.You need an electronic signature to get in.
el trámite presencialthe procedure done in personPhraseB1
Prefiero el trámite presencial.I prefer to do it in person.
el trámite gratuitothe free procedurePhraseB1
Es un trámite gratuito.It is a free procedure.
el aviso previothe prior warningPhraseB1
Cierran sin aviso previo.They close without any prior warning.
Noun (m) (14)
el empadronamientothe registration of residenceNoun (m)B1
El empadronamiento se hace en el ayuntamiento.Residence is registered at the town hall.
el padrónthe residents' registerNoun (m)B1
Pide un certificado del padrón.Ask for a certificate from the residents' register.
el expedientethe case, the fileNoun (m)B1
Su expediente sigue en trámite.Your case is still being processed.
el justificantethe proof, the receiptNoun (m)B1
Guarde el justificante de pago.Keep the proof of payment.
el impresothe printed formNoun (m)B1
Rellene el impreso con letra clara.Fill the form in in clear letters.
el sellothe stampNoun (m)B1
Falta el sello del ayuntamiento.The town hall stamp is missing.
el carnéthe card, the licenceNoun (m)B1
Me han pedido el carné de conducir.They asked me for my driving licence.
el DNIthe Spanish identity cardNoun (m)B1
Enséñeme el DNI, por favor.Show me your identity card, please.
el funcionariadothe civil serviceNoun (m)B1
Trabaja en el funcionariado desde hace años.She has worked in the civil service for years.
el registrothe register; the receiving officeNoun (m)B1
Deje la instancia en el registro.Leave the application at the receiving office.
el recursothe appealNoun (m)B1
Puede presentar un recurso en un mes.You can lodge an appeal within a month.
el derechothe rightNoun (m)B1
Tiene derecho a una copia.You have the right to a copy.
el deberthe dutyNoun (m)B1
Es un deber de todos los vecinos.It is a duty of all the neighbours.
el requisitothe requirementNoun (m)B1
Cumple todos los requisitos.He meets all the requirements.
Noun (f) (10)
la solicitudthe applicationNoun (f)B1
Presenté la solicitud en marzo.I submitted the application in March.
la prórrogathe extensionNoun (f)B1
Pedimos una prórroga de dos meses.We asked for a two-month extension.
la administraciónthe administrationNoun (f)B1
La administración cierra a las dos.The administration closes at two.
la instanciathe written applicationNoun (f)B1
Escribí una instancia de dos páginas.I wrote a two-page application.
la resoluciónthe decision, the rulingNoun (f)B1
La resolución llegó por correo.The decision arrived by post.
la ayudathe benefit, the assistanceNoun (f)B1
Existe una ayuda para el alquiler.There is a benefit for rent.
la tasathe feeNoun (f)B1
La tasa son doce euros.The fee is twelve euros.
la leythe lawNoun (f)B1
La nueva ley entra en vigor en enero.The new law comes into force in January.
la antelaciónthe advance noticeNoun (f)B1
Reserve con dos semanas de antelación.Book two weeks in advance.
la subvenciónthe grantNoun (f)B1
Solicitaron una subvención para el proyecto.They applied for a grant for the project.
This list belongs to Authorities, school, health care — ten lists and 483 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.