Gold Rush: Why Bank Safes Are Running Out

Key vocabulary

• subirv.

  to rise, go up

  “El precio del oro sube mucho.”— The price of gold rises a lot.

  Pattern subir de precio (to go up in price)

  Compare aumentar (to increase)

  Regular verb, present tense conjugation: subo, subes, sube, subimos, subís, suben

  💡 Imagine walking up stairs to help remember the meaning 'to rise'.

• preciom.

  price

  “El precio de la fruta es alto.”— The price of fruit is high.

  Pattern el precio de (the price of)

  Compare coste (cost)

  Noun, plural form: precios

  💡 Similar to English 'price', a cognate.

• comprarv.

  to buy

  “Quiero comprar un regalo.”— I want to buy a gift.

  Pattern comprar algo para alguien (to buy something for someone)

  Compare adquirir (to acquire)

  Regular verb, present tense conjugation: compro, compras, compra, compramos, compráis, compran

  💡 Cognate with English 'compare', but it means 'to buy'.

• guardarv.

  to keep, store

  “Guardo mi dinero en el banco.”— I keep my money in the bank.

  Pattern guardar secreto (to keep a secret)

  Compare conservar (to preserve)

  Regular verb, present tense conjugation: guardo, guardas, guarda, guardamos, guardáis, guardan

  💡 Imagine 'guard' guarding, extended to mean to keep.

• alquilarv.

  to rent

  “Vamos a alquilar un coche.”— We are going to rent a car.

  Pattern alquilar una casa (to rent a house)

  Compare rentar (to rent out)

  Regular verb, present tense conjugation: alquilo, alquilas, alquila, alquilamos, alquiláis, alquilan

  💡 Related to English 'rent', but note the spelling.

• caja fuertef.

  safe, strongbox

  “La caja fuerte está en el banco.”— The safe is in the bank.

  Pattern abrir una caja fuerte (to open a safe)

  Compare cofre (safe)

  Noun phrase, plural form: cajas fuertes

  💡 caja is box, fuerte is strong, together they mean safe.

• espaciom.

  space

  “Este espacio es pequeño.”— This space is small.

  Pattern espacio libre (free space)

  Compare lugar (place)

  Noun, plural form: espacios

  💡 Cognate with English 'space'.

• seguroadj.

  safe, secure

  “Este lugar es seguro.”— This place is safe.

  Pattern estar seguro (to be sure)

  Compare protegido (protected)

  Adjective, gender and number changes: segura, seguros, seguras

  💡 Cognate with English 'secure'.

• miedom.

  fear

  “Tengo miedo de los perros.”— I am afraid of dogs.

  Pattern tener miedo de (to be afraid of)

  Compare temor (fear)

  Noun, plural form: miedos

  💡 Use 'tener miedo' to express fear, don't translate literally.

• tendenciaf.

  trend

  “Esta es una tendencia nueva.”— This is a new trend.

  Pattern tendencia a (tendency to)

  Compare moda (fashion)

  Noun, plural form: tendencias

  💡 Cognate with English 'tendency'.

Grammar spotlight

Sentence patterns to steal

• El precio del oro sube mucho este año.

  The price of gold rises a lot this year.

  El precio de + noun + sube + degree + timeThe noun can be replaced with other goods (e.g., la gasolina 'gasoline'), and the degree can be replaced with poco 'a little' or bastante 'quite a lot'.

• Por eso, los bancos tienen más clientes que quieren alquilar cajas fuertes.

  Therefore, banks have more customers who want to rent safe-deposit boxes.

  Por eso, + result clausePor eso introduces a result; the preceding clause is the cause. It can be replaced in other cause-and-effect contexts.

• Cuando el oro sube, la gente tiene miedo de perder dinero.

  When gold rises, people are afraid of losing money.

  Cuando + condition clause, + main clauseThe condition clause can be replaced with other situations (e.g., Cuando llueve 'when it rains').

• Esta es una tendencia nueva en el mundo.

  This is a new trend in the world.

  Esta es + noun + adjectiveThe noun and adjective can be replaced, e.g., Esta es una idea interesante 'This is an interesting idea'.