B1 Spanish Vocabulary List, Intermediate CEFR Words

Intermediate Spanish for expressing opinions, discussing experiences, and handling unexpected situations.

Roughly 1–2 years of study.

About B1

B1 Spanish is where the subjunctive arrives: quiero que vengas, espero que tengas razón. You also meet the present perfect (he comido) and the difference between por and para, which has stumped generations of learners. Vocabulary jumps to around 2,000 words covering work, health, opinions, abstract feelings, and more nuanced verbs of communication and thought.

Who this list is for

If you can hold a 15-minute conversation with a Spanish speaker, follow a slow news segment, and write a short complaint email, you're around B1. Most learners reach B1 after 1–2 years. This is DELE B1, sometimes accepted for university entry in Spanish-speaking countries.

How to study

B1 demands real input. Pick a Spanish-language podcast (News in Slow Spanish, Notes in Spanish Intermediate) and listen daily. The subjunctive is best learned through exposure, not rules; your brain will pattern-match the triggers (que, ojalá, espero que, dudo que). Use spaced repetition for por/para example sentences, not abstract rules. Start writing weekly journal entries and have them corrected.

The list (863 words)

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