Discourse: Upper-intermediate Spanish vocabulary

97 Spanish words about discourse at upper-intermediate level. Each entry links to the full meaning, a real example sentence, and usage notes written for English speakers.

• temanounsubject, topic — a matter or theme being discussed
• estadonounstatus, condition
• basenounbasis, foundation
• objetivonountarget, goal — a result or objective one is aiming to achieve
• acuerdonounagreement, arrangement
• procesonounprocess, procedure — a series of actions or steps taken to achieve a result
• estructuranounstructure, framework — the arrangement of parts that form a whole
• fuentenounsource — the origin or starting point of something; also a reference or citation
• declaracionnounstatement, declaration — a formal announcement or account
• climanounclimate — the meteorological conditions of a region; and figuratively the prevailing mood or social conditions
• costenouncost, toll — the amount of money or suffering required or caused
• tendencianountendency — an inclination towards a particular characteristic or behaviour
• unidadnoununity — the state of being united or joined; cohesion
• juicionounjudgement, assessment — an opinion or conclusion reached through reasoning; also a trial
• reaccionnounreaction, response — an action performed in response to something; also a chemical process
• vehiculonounvehicle — a thing used as a medium to convey; also a motorised transport
• alcancenounscope, reach — the extent of the area or subject covered by something
• alternativanounalternative, option — another possibility or course of action; often with rhetorical force in policy debate
• encuestanounsurvey, poll — a set of questions to gather opinions from a group
• argumentonounargument, line of reasoning — a reason or piece of evidence used to support or oppose a position
• surgirverbto arise, to come up
• posturanounstance, position — a way of thinking about or approaching something
• barreranounbarrier, obstacle
• contextonouncontext, circumstances
• en aquel momentoadverbat that moment, at that point in time
• motivonounmotive, reason — the reason behind an action or decision; also a recurring theme in art
• sombranounshadow, shade — dark area produced by blocking light; also a metaphorical cloud or doubt
• candidatonouncandidate
• triunfonountriumph, victory — a great success or achievement
• bordenounverge, edge — the edge or margin of something; on the verge of
• circunstancianouncircumstance, condition
• conceptonounconcept — an organised abstract idea or general notion within a theoretical framework
• conversaciónnounconversation — an informal to diplomatic exchange of speech between people; in plural, diplomatic talks
• atmósferanounatmosphere, mood
• conflictonounconflict, clash
• esquemanounscheme, outline — a simplified or diagrammatic representation of a plan or system
• pistanounhint, clue — a piece of indirect evidence or suggestion that helps solve a problem; also a track or runway
• referir (un episodio)verbto relate, to recount
• utilidadnounutility, usefulness — the state of being useful or profitable
• secuencianounsequence — a set of related things arranged in order
• testimonionountestimony — a formal statement, especially given in a court of law; an account
• remedionounremedy, solution — a cure or way of correcting something
• tacticanountactic — an action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific goal
• apuestanounstake, bet — a thing at risk; also a strategic commitment
• bloqueonounblockade, obstruction
• veredictonounverdict — the decision made by a jury or judge; also a general judgement
• esferanounsphere, domain
• alientonounbreath
• espectronounspectrum — a wide range of related ideas or things; also light spectrum
• topiconountopic, cliché — a theme; also an overused or trite saying
• ángulonounangle, perspective — a point of view or critical framing of an issue; also a geometric angle
• tributonountribute — an act or gift showing respect and admiration; historically a payment exacted by a ruler
• al cabo deadverbafter
• apetitonounappetite, eagerness
• corrientenouncurrent, draught
• dimensiónnoundimension — a distinguishable aspect or facet of something complex
• contrastenouncontrast — a noticeable difference when comparing two or more things
• oponerseverbto object, to oppose
• profundidadnoundepth — physical measurement downward; metaphorically, thoroughness of analysis
• consensonounconsensus
• núcleonouncore/nucleus — the central, most essential element of something
• componentenouncomponent — a distinguishable element forming part of a larger complex whole
• insinuarverbto imply, to hint
• condenanouncondemnation/sentence —
• puntualizarverbto clarify, to specify precisely
• coincidencianouncoincidence — two or more events occurring together by chance, without causal connection
• corriente dominantenounmainstream, dominant current
• énfasisnounemphasis, stress — the special importance given to something in speech or writing
• eranounera, age — a long and distinct historical or cultural period
• extensiónnounextension, prolongation
• factornounfactor
• rasgonountrait, feature
• concretoadjectiveconcrete, specific
• ficciónnounfiction — imaginative or invented narrative; something false presented as real
• llamanounflame — the visible gaseous part of a fire; figuratively, the flame of passion or conflict
• debidoadjectivedue — used in debido a
• fórmulanounformula
• fortunanounfortune — a large sum of money
• marconounframework, context
• fricciónnounfriction
• margennounmargin, fringe
• esencialmenteadverbfundamentally or basically, referring to the core nature of something
• engranajenoungear, mechanism
• casualmenteadverbby coincidence or accident, without prior planning
• frecuentementeadverboften, on many occasions; repeated regularly
• agitarverbto stir, to rouse
• de lo contrarioadverbotherwise — in other circumstances; or else; if that is not the case
• aparentementeadverbseemingly, apparently — according to appearances; as far as can be seen or judged
• de este modoadverbthereby, in this way — by that means; as a result of that
• medianteadverbwhereby, by means of — by which; through or by which
• exceptoprepositionexcept — not including; other than
• versusprepositionversus — against; contrasted with
• tratar (abordar)verbto treat, to address
• mencionarverbto mention, to refer to
• hacer una pausaverbto pause, to stop briefly
• declaraciónnounstatement, declaration — a formal announcement or official statement; 'declaración jurada' = sworn statement
• objetarverbobject, raise an objection — to formally express disagreement or opposition; 'objetar que…'; formal register verb