Salamanca Professor & the Drink Case: Spanish Lesson

Key vocabulary

• profesorm.

  professor, teacher

  “Un profesor de la Universidad de Salamanca declara ante el juez.”— A professor from the University of Salamanca testifies before the judge.

  Pattern profesor de universidad university professor

  Compare docente teacher

  plural profesores

  💡 From Latin professor, referring to a person engaged in teaching.

• alumnaf.

  female student

  “Tres alumnas del máster de Abogacía denunciaron unos hechos en junio.”— Three female students in the Master's in Law program reported some events in June.

  Pattern alumna del máster master's student

  Compare estudiante student

  plural alumnas; masculine alumno

  💡 alumno/alumna comes from Latin alumnus, meaning student.

• denunciarv.

  to report, to denounce

  “Tres alumnas denunciaron unos hechos en junio.”— Three female students reported some events in June.

  Pattern denunciar un delito report a crime

  Compare reportar to report

  yo denuncio, tú denuncias, él denuncia

  💡 From Latin denuntiare, meaning to announce or report.

• cenaf.

  dinner, supper

  “Los hechos ocurrieron después de una cena entre alumnos y profesores.”— The events occurred after a dinner between students and professors.

  Pattern cena entre amigos dinner among friends

  Compare comida meal

  plural cenas

  💡 From Latin cena, referring to the main meal of the day.

• barm.

  bar, pub

  “Después de la cena, la mayoría de los estudiantes fue a un bar.”— After dinner, most of the students went to a bar.

  Pattern ir a un bar go to a bar

  Compare pub pub

  plural bares

  💡 Borrowed from English bar, widely used in Spanish.

• terrazaf.

  terrace, outdoor seating

  “Los tres pidieron bebidas en una terraza.”— The three ordered drinks on a terrace.

  Pattern sentarse en la terraza sit on the terrace

  Compare patio courtyard

  plural terrazas

  💡 From Latin terraceus, referring to an outdoor platform.

• bañom.

  bathroom, restroom

  “Las chicas recuerdan hasta que fueron al baño.”— The girls remember up until they went to the bathroom.

  Pattern ir al baño go to the bathroom

  Compare servicio restroom

  plural baños

  💡 From Latin balneum, referring to a place for bathing.

• despertarv.

  to wake up, to awaken

  “Una chica se despertó sin recordar nada.”— One girl woke up without remembering anything.

  Pattern despertarse sin recordar wake up without remembering

  Compare levantarse to get up

  yo despierto, tú despiertas, él despierta

  💡 des- (negation) + pertar (to awaken), meaning to wake from sleep.

• compañerom.

  companion, classmate

  “Su compañera de piso oyó ruidos y vómitos.”— Her roommate heard noises and vomiting.

  Pattern compañero de piso roommate

  Compare amigo friend

  plural compañeros; feminine compañera

  💡 From Latin companio, meaning one who shares bread.

• cuartom.

  room, bedroom

  “Un hombre mayor intentó entrar en su cuarto.”— An older man tried to enter her room.

  Pattern entrar en el cuarto enter the room

  Compare habitación room

  plural cuartos

  💡 From Latin quartus, meaning a quarter, later referring to a room.

• discotecaf.

  nightclub, disco

  “El profesor volvió a la discoteca una hora después.”— The professor returned to the nightclub an hour later.

  Pattern ir a la discoteca go to the disco

  Compare club club

  plural discotecas

  💡 From disco (record) + teca (storage place), referring to a place where records are kept.

• taxim.

  taxi, cab

  “También intentó entrar en un taxi con una tercera chica.”— He also tried to get into a taxi with a third girl.

  Pattern coger un taxi take a taxi

  Compare auto car

  plural taxis

  💡 Borrowed from English taxi, widely used in Spanish.

• mensajem.

  message, text

  “Otro profesor envió mensajes a una de las afectadas.”— Another professor sent messages to one of the affected women.

  Pattern enviar un mensaje send a message

  Compare nota note

  plural mensajes

  💡 From Latin missaticum, referring to something sent.

• aprobarv.

  to pass (an exam)

  “Le ofreció facilidades para aprobar.”— He offered her help to pass.

  Pattern aprobar un examen pass an exam

  Compare pasar to pass

  yo apruebo, tú apruebas, él aprueba

  💡 From Latin approbare, meaning to approve.

• juzgadom.

  court, courthouse

  “Ahora declara como investigado ante el juzgado.”— Now he testifies as a suspect before the court.

  Pattern declarar ante el juzgado testify before the court

  Compare tribunal court

  plural juzgados

  💡 From juzgar (to judge), referring to a place of judgment.

Grammar spotlight

Sentence patterns to steal

• Los hechos ocurrieron después de una cena entre alumnos y profesores.

  The events occurred after a dinner between students and teachers.

  Los hechos ocurrieron después de + nounYou can replace the time or setting in which the events occurred.

• Una chica se despertó sin recordar nada.

  A girl woke up without remembering anything.

  Se despertó sin + infinitiveYou can replace the infinitive to describe the state after waking up.

• Le ofreció facilidades para aprobar.

  He offered her facilities to pass.

  Ofrecer facilidades para + infinitiveYou can replace the infinitive to express the purpose.