Open Mind

intermediate WORD LIST

UNIT two
Word / Phrase Translation Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence
ability habilidad, noun [count.] /əˈbɪləti/ the fact of being able When humans
capacidad to do something developed higher
cognitive abilities such
as language, their
sense of smell was less
important.
academic bueno/a para los adjective /ˌækəˈdemɪk/ good at learning I was quite academic
estudios things by studying at school – I worked
hard and I got good
grades.
amygdala amígdala cerebral noun [count.] /əˈmɪgdələ/ the part of the In the human brain, the
brain that processes amygdala is located
emotions and near the olfactory
memories cortex. This is why
smell and emotion are
closely linked.
animal animal noun [count.] /ˈænɪm(ə)l/ any living thing that is A human’s sense of
not a human, a plant, smell is weaker than
an insect, a bird or that of many other
a fish animals.
associate asociar/relacionar verb phrase /əˈsəʊsiˌeɪt/ to form a connection I always associate the
something with algo con algo/ in your mind between smell of chocolate
something/ alguien different people or with my grandmother’s
someone things house.
attitude actitud noun [count.] /ˈætɪˌtjuːd/ someone’s opinions It’s important to have
or feelings about a positive attitude
something, especially when you start a
as shown by their new job.
behaviour
authority autoridad noun [count.] /ɔːˈθɒrəti/ people with power When I was a teenager
over you, usually in an I always questioned
official way authority, like teachers
and my parents.
baby bebé noun [count.] /ˈbeɪbi/ a very young child The sense of smell
who cannot yet talk develops in babies
or walk before the sense of
vision.
be located estar situado/a verb phrase /bi ləʊˈkeɪtɪd / existing in a particular In the human brain,
place the brainstem is
located in front of the
cerebellum.
beagle perro parecido al noun /ˈbiːɡ(ə)l/ a dog with short hair My first dog was a
sabueso, beagle and long ears that is beagle named Bonzo.
kept as a pet or for
hunting
bloodhound sabueso, perro de noun [count.] /ˈblʌdˌhaʊnd/ a large dog that can A bloodhound has
San Huberto smell very well and 220 million smell
has long hanging ears, receptors and so it has
often used for finding an excellent sense of
out where someone is smell.
or has been

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Word / Phrase Translation Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence
bored (estar) aburrido/a adjective /bɔː(r)d/ feeling impatient or I’m bored at work
dissatisfied because because every day is
you are not interested the same!
in something or
because you have
nothing to do.
certain cierto/a determiner /ˈsɜː(r)t(ə)n/ used for referring Certain smells make
to someone or me think of when we
something without lived in Greece.
being specific about
exactly what or who
they are
child niño/a noun [count.] /tʃaɪld/ a young person from Did you have any
the time they are born pets when you were a
until they are about child?
14 years old
childhood infancia, niñez noun [uncount.] /ˈtʃaɪldˌhʊd/ the time of your life She had a happy
when you are a child childhood with her
parents and two
brothers.
chocolate-chip galleta con trocitos noun [count.] /ˈtʃɒklət tʃɪp a type of biscuit that The smell of
cookie de chocolate ˈkʊki/ contains small pieces chocolate-chip cookies
of chocolate reminds me of my
mum, as she used to
do a lot of baking.
clearly claramente adverb /ˈklɪə(r)li/ in a way that is I can clearly remember
sensible and not the day I got my first
confused puppy.
cognitive cognitivo/a adjective /ˈkɒɡnətɪv/ in psychology, a Humans developed
cognitive science or higher cognitive
process is one that abilities, such as
is connected with language.
recognising and
understanding things
cologne (agua de) colonia noun [uncount.] /kəˈləʊn/ a liquid with a When I smell that
pleasant smell that cologne I think of my
you put on your father as he always
skin. It is usually wore it.
less expensive than
perfume.
compare comparar (con); verb /kəmˈpeə(r)/ used for saying how How do your test
tener conparación good or bad one results compare with
con thing is in relation to other students in your
another class?
country país noun [count.] /ˈkʌntri/ an area of land The country of my
that has its own birth is France.
government and
official borders
cue señal, pista, clave noun [count.] /kjuː/ an event, action or Researchers have
statement that tells done experiments to
someone indirectly compare smell stimuli
that they should do with other stimuli as
something memory cues.
danger peligro noun [count.] /ˈdeɪndʒə(r)/ a situation in which Animals use their
harm, death, damage sense of smell to
or destruction is recognise danger
possible and it can be the
difference between
life and death.

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Open Mind

Word / Phrase Translation Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence
definitely sin ninguna duda, adverb /ˈdef(ə)nətli/ without any doubt I was definitely a party
indudablemente animal when I was at
college. I was always
out at parties.
dementia demencia noun [uncount.] /dɪˈmenʃə/ a serious illness My father suffers from
affecting someone’s dementia and now
brain and memory in he doesn’t know who
which they gradually I am when I visit him.
stop being able to
think or behave in a
normal way
describe describir verb /dɪˈskraɪb/ to give details about Can you describe the
what someone or man you saw in detail?
something is like What did he look like?
emotion emoción noun [count.] /ɪˈməʊʃ(ə)n/ a feeling that you The emotion I felt
experience, for more than anything
example love, fear or after my exams was
anger relief!
emotional emocional adjective /ɪˈməʊʃ(ə)nəl/ relating to feelings Why do smells cause
and the way that they strong emotional
affect your life responses?
except excepto preposition /ɪkˈsept/ used for introducing I got on well with
the only person, thing most of my teachers
or fact that is not except the Geography
included in your main teacher who was
statement very strict.
experience experiencia noun [count.] /ɪkˈspɪəriəns/ something that We often forget an
happens to you or a experience until we
situation that you are smell something
involved in associated with it.
experiment experimento noun [count.] /ɪkˈsperɪmənt/ a scientific test Researchers have
to find out what done experiments to
happens to someone compare smell stimuli
or something in with other stimuli.
particular conditions
fair feria noun [count.] /feə(r)/ an event where When I was a child I
people ride on special loved the rides and
machines and play the games at the local
games to win prizes fair.
feel sentir; sentirse verb /fiːl/ to be in a particular How did you feel
state as a result of an on your first day at
emotion or a physical school?
feeling
findings conclusiones, noun [uncount.] /ˈfaɪndɪŋz/ information that you The government
resultados, discover or opinions seems to have ignored
hallazgos that you form after the findings of its own
doing research report.
fresh recién hecho/a; adjective /freʃ/ recently done, made I love the smell of
fresco/a or experienced fresh bread – straight
from the oven!
geeky obsesionado/a adjective /ɡiːki/ to be boring, He’s a bit geeky. He
con un tema o una especially because spends most of the
afición, friki you are interested weekend on his laptop
only in one subject and games console.
like computers,
technology etc
hear oír verb /hɪə(r)/ to realise that When I hear that song,
someone or something it makes me feel sad.
is making a sound

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Open Mind

Word / Phrase Translation Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence
hearing oído; (to have noun [uncount.] /ˈhɪərɪŋ/ your ability to hear Her hearing is quite
good/poor hearing: sounds poor – you have to
oír bien/poco) speak very loudly.
human humano noun [count.] /ˌhjuːmən/ a person Humans have fewer
smell receptors than
many animals.
immediately inmediatamente adverb /ɪˈmiːdiətli/ without delay Smell memories
are so strong they
can transport us
immediately to the
past.
implication implicación, noun [count.] /ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/ a possible effect or What medical
consecuencia, result implications does
repercusión research in smell and
memory have?
importance importancia noun [uncount.] /ɪmˈpɔː(r)t(ə)ns/ the fact of being Research emphasises
important or the the importance of
degree to which exercise in reducing
something or blood pressure.
someone is important
include incluir verb /ɪnˈkluːd/ to make someone Decide which ideas
or something part you want to include
of a group, set or and organise them.
collection of things
international internacional adjective /ˌɪntə(r)ˈnæʃ(ə)nəl/ involving several International aid
countries or existing organisations are
between countries appealing for
donations from
Western governments.
joker bromista noun [count.] /ˈdʒəʊkə(r)/ someone who likes My boss is a bit of a
to tell jokes or to do joker – he likes us to
things to make people have fun at work.
laugh
lifetime (el curso de una) noun [count.] /ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm/ the period of time He achieved a lot in
vida when someone is alive his short lifetime.
love amor (persona noun [count.] /lʌv/ someone who you Her perfume reminded
amada) have a romantic him of an old love
relationship with from his home town.
make changes hacer cambios verb /meɪk ˈtʃeɪndʒɪz/ make something Please don’t make any
different changes to my work –
I like it as it is.
medical médico/a adjective /ˈmedɪk(ə)l/ relating to medicine What medical
and the treatment of implications does
injuries and diseases research in smell and
memory have?
memorise memorizar, verb /ˈmeməraɪz/ to learn something so I memorised my
aprender de that you remember it speech so I could say
memoria perfectly it without the words in
front of me.
memory memoria noun [uncount.] /ˈmem(ə)ri/ the ability to My memory is getting
remember things worse as I get older.
I can’t remember
people’s names.
memory recuerdo noun [count.] /ˈmem(ə)ri/ something that you The memory of that
remember night is still clear in my
mind.

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Open Mind

Word / Phrase Translation Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence
memory loss pérdida de noun [uncount.] /ˈmem(ə)ri lɒs/ when you cannot Researchers have
memoria remember things found that when
people with memory
loss smell something
associated with their
youth, they are often
able to describe a
memory in great detail.
million millón number /ˈmɪljən/ the number 1,000,000 People download
millions of songs every
day.
nose nariz noun [count.] /nəʊz/ the part of your Look at the model’s
face above your face: she has green
mouth that you use eyes, a small mouth
for smelling and and a perfect nose.
breathing
olfactory cortex córtex olfativo noun [count.] /ɒlˈfækt(ə)ri the part of the brain In the human brain,
ˈkɔː(r)teks/ where our sense of the amygdala is
smell is located located near the
olfactory cortex.
This is why smell and
emotion are closely
linked.
party animal fiestero/a, noun phrase /ˈpɑː(r)ti ænɪm(ə)l/ someone who enjoys Maria is a bit of a
juerguista going to lots of party animal – she’s
parties always out with her
friends at parties.
perfume perfume noun [uncount.] /ˈpɜː(r)fjuːm/ a liquid with a This perfume smells
pleasant smell that lovely. Do you want to
you put on your skin try it?
personality personalidad noun [count.] /ˌpɜː(r)səˈnæləti/ the part of a person What’s her personality
that makes them like? Is she friendly or
behave in a particular quite shy?
way in social situations,
for example in a
friendly or unfriendly
way, or in a confident
or shy way. You use the
word ‘character’ when
you are talking about
whether someone
is good or bad, or
honest or dishonest
physiology psicología noun [uncount.] /ˌfɪziˈɒlədʒi/ the way that the body The reason we react to
of a particular living smells comes down to
thing operates our human physiology.
poem poema, poesía noun /ˈpəʊɪm/ a piece of writing We had to memorise
using beautiful or poems at school and
unusual language say them aloud in our
arranged in fixed lines English class.
that have a particular
beat and often rhyme
popcorn palomita de maíz noun [uncount.] /ˈpɒpˌkɔː(r)n/ a food made from They always buy
dried grains of maize popcorn to share
that swell when they when they go to the
are heated cinema.
popular popular adjective /ˈpɒpjʊlə(r)/ a popular person is Hayley was very
liked by most people popular at school.
Everyone liked her!

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Open Mind

Word / Phrase Translation Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence
puppy cachorro (de perro) noun [count.] /ˈpʌpi/ a very young dog My dog is big now,
but when he was a
puppy he could sit in
the palm of my hand.
question cuestionar, poner verb /ˈkwestʃ(ə)n/ to express doubts When he was a
en duda about something or teenager he used to
challenge it question authority
all the time. He was
always arguing with his
parents.
rebel rebelde noun [count.] /ˈreb(ə)l/ someone who James has always
opposes people in been a bit of a rebel,
authority or opposes but he’s not a criminal!
accepted ways of
doing things
recent reciente; en los adjective /ˈriːs(ə)nt/ happening or starting My hearing has
últimos años/ a short time ago become worse in
tiempos recent years – it used
to be fine.
recognise reconocer verb /ˈrekəɡnaɪz/ to know who the Animals use their
person is or what the sense of smell to
thing is that you are recognise danger
seeing, hearing etc and it can be the
because you have difference between
seen, heard etc them life and death.
before
remind recordar, hacer verb /rɪˈmaɪnd/ to make someone She reminds me of my
recordar think of someone sister. They look very
or something else similar.
because of being very
similar to them
research investigación noun [uncount.] /rɪˈsɜː(r)tʃ/ the detailed study of Recent research
something in order shows that music has
to discover new a positive effect on
facts, especially in a patient health.
university or scientific
institution
response respuesta, reacción noun [count.] /rɪˈspɒns/ a reaction Humans have strong
emotional responses
to smells.
scan leer un texto verb /skæn/ to read something Scan the article quickly
por encima para very quickly, in order to find out the main
buscar información to find particular points.
específica (datos, information
cifras, nombres,
etc.)
sense of smell sentido del olfato noun [uncount.] /sens əv smel/ the natural ability that A human’s sense of
most people have smell is weaker than
to smell that of many other
animals.
short corto/a, breve adjective /ʃɔː(r)t/ a period of time that I gave a short
is short does not last presentation about
very long or seems to the new product. It
pass quickly only lasted for a few
minutes.
sight visión, imagen noun [count.] /saɪt/ a person or thing that Certain sights or
you see that has a sounds bring back
particular feature memories.

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Open Mind

Word / Phrase Translation Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence
sight vista noun [uncount.] /saɪt/ the ability to see using He has lost 75 per
your eyes cent of his sight in his
right eye.
smell olor noun [count.] /smel/ the pleasant or It’s strange how
unpleasant quality certain smells can
of something that bring back vivid
you notice when you memories.
breathe in through
your nose
smell oler verb /smel/ to notice or recognise When I smell the sea,
the smell of I always think of the
something summers I used to
spend there.
smell receptor receptor olfativo noun [count.] /smel rɪˈseptə(r)/ a nerve in your nose Humans have 20
that sends messages million smell receptors
to your central compared to a
nervous system bloodhound with 220
million!
song canción noun [count.] /sɒŋ/ a piece of music with When I hear this
words that you sing song it brings back
memories of being at
university.
sound sonido, ruido noun [count.] /saʊnd/ something that you The room was very
can hear quiet – I couldn’t hear
a sound.
species especie noun [count.] /ˈspiːʃiːz/ a plant or animal An animal’s sense
group whose of smell enables it
members all have to recognise other
similar general animals of the same
features and are able species.
to produce young
plants or animals
together
stimuli estímulos noun [count.] /ˈstɪmjʊliː/ things that produce Researchers have
a reaction in a plant, done experiments to
animal or person see the effect of smell
stimuli on our memory.
strong fuerte, poderoso/a adjective /strɒŋ/ able to produce a Smell memories
powerful effect are so strong they
can transport us
immediately to the
past.
suddenly de repente, adverb /ˈsʌd(ə)nli/ quickly and without A strange feeling
de pronto, any warning suddenly came over
repentinamente him.
suffer from padecer verb /ˈsʌfə(r) frɒm/ to have a particular She suffered from
illness or physical depression for most of
problem her adult life.
survival supervivencia noun [uncount.] /sə(r)ˈvaɪv(ə)l/ the fact or state of In these jungle areas,
continuing to live or every day is a fight for
exist, especially in survival
difficult conditions
sweet dulce adjective /swiːt/ pleasant in smell, My first puppy was so
sound or appearance sweet and gentle.
taste sabor, gusto noun [count.] /teɪst/ the flavour that The smell and taste of
something creates in chocolate remind me
your mouth when you of being a child.
eat or drink it

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Open Mind

Word / Phrase Translation Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence
technology tecnología noun [uncount.] /tekˈnɒlədʒi/ advanced scientific How has technology
knowledge used for changed children’s
practical purposes, lives?
especially in industry
tend (to) tender a, soler verb /tend/ to usually do a The gym tends to get
particular thing very busy at about six
o’clock.
think back (to) recordar phrasal verb /θɪŋk bæk/ to think about I’ve been trying to
something that think back to the last
happened in the past time I saw her.
times tables tablas de noun [uncount.] /ˈtaɪmz teɪb(ə)lz/ a multiplication table We had to memorise
multiplicar our times tables at
school and say them
aloud in our maths class.
tone of voice tono de voz noun [uncount.] /təʊn əv vɔɪs/ the sound of someone’s ‘Really?’ Simone said
voice that shows what in a surprised tone of
they are feeling voice.
touch tacto noun [uncount.] /tʌtʃ/ the sense that tells You have to identify
you what something the foods through
feels like, through touch and smell – you
your skin or when you can’t see or taste
put your fingers on it them!
transport transportar verb /trænsˈpɔː(r)t/ to make you imagine Certain smells
or feel as if you are can transport us
in a different place immediately to
or time the past.
troublemaker alborotador/a, noun [count.] /ˈtrʌb(ə)lˌmeɪkə(r)/ someone who causes Fred was a
persona problems, often by troublemaker at
problemática being violent or by school, but now he’s
making others argue a policeman!
or not obey people in
authority
uncertain inseguro/a adjective /ʌnˈsɜː(r)t(ə)n/ not feeling sure about I left the meeting
what to do, whether feeling anxious and
something is true etc uncertain about what
to do next.
vaguely vagamente adverb /ˈveɪɡli/ in a way that is not I vaguely remember
clear meeting Kate, but
I’m not sure where or
when.
visual visual adjective /ˈvɪʒʊəl/ relating to things that Television news brings
you can see us visual images from
around the world.
vivid vívido/a, clarísimo/a adjective /ˈvɪvɪd/ having or producing I have a vivid memory
very clear and of the first time we
detailed images in the met. I remember it
mind clearly.
whole todo/a, entero/a adjective /həʊl/ all of something Practise saying the
whole presentation so
you know it from start
to finish.
youth juventud noun [uncount.] /juːθ/ the time in someone’s In his youth, he had
life when they are travelled and seen
young much of the world.

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