he doesn't know a word of his lesson

faire du mot à mot — to translate word for word

à mots couverts — in veiled terms

au bas mot — at least

en un mot — in a word

explique-moi en deux mots — tell me briefly

pour eux, l'amitié n'est pas un vain mot — they take friendship seriously

dire un mot à quelqu'un — to have a word with somebody

ne pas pouvoir placer un mot — to be unable to get a word in edgeways

prendre quelqu'un au mot — to take somebody at their word

glisser un mot à quelqu'un — to have a quick word with somebody

des mots que tout cela! — it's just hot air!

si tu as besoin de moi tu n'as qu'un mot à dire — if you need me you've only to say the word

sur ces mots il sortit — with that, he left

il ne dit jamais un mot plus haut que l'autre — he never raises his voice

avoir son mot à dire — to be entitled to one's say

50 euros pour les deux c'est mon dernier mot — 50 euros the pair but that's my last offer

avoir toujours le mot pour rire — to be a born joker

c'est un mot d'enfant — it's something only a child could say

ne pas avoir peur des mots — to call a spade a spade

mot à mot — word for word

mot pour mot — word for word, verbatim

sur ces mots; à ces mots — with these words

en un mot — in a word

à mots couverts — in veiled terms

prendre qn au mot — to take sb at their word

se donner le mot — to send the word round

avoir son mot à dire — to have a say

avoir le dernier mot — to have the last word

le mot de la fin — the last word

Il citait souvent ce mot de Gide... — He often quoted this saying from Gide...

bon mot — witticism, witty remark

Je vais lui écrire un mot pour lui dire qu'on arrive. — I'll write him a note to say we're coming., I'll drop him a line to say we're coming.

no he entendido la pregunta — I didn't understand the question

ahora lo entiendo todo — now I understand everything

entiendo un poco de francés — I (can) understand a little French

lo has entendido todo al revés — you've got it all wrong

no entiendo tu letra — I can't read your writing

¡a ti no hay quien te entienda! — you're impossible to understand!

que no te vuelva a ver fumando ¿me has entendido? — don't let me catch you smoking again, do you understand?

¿entiendes lo que te quiero decir? — do you know what I mean?, do you know what I'm trying to say?

es un poco rarito, tú ya me entiendes — he's a bit odd, if you know what I mean

dio a entender que no le gustaba — he implied that he didn't like it

según él me dio a entender, no está contento en su trabajo — from what he said to me, he is not happy in his job, he gave me to understand that he is not happy in his job

si no he entendido mal, esto es lo que queréis decir — unless I've misunderstood what you're saying, this is what you mean

no quiero que me entiendas mal — don't get me wrong

no entendí una palabra de lo que dijo — I didn't understand a word he said

no entiendo ni una palabra de ordenadores — I don't understand a thing about computers

¿tú qué entiendes por libertad? — what do you understand by freedom?

¿debo entender que lo niegas? — am I to understand that you deny it?

me ha parecido entender que estaban en contra — I understood that they were against it, as I understand it they were against it

cada uno entiende el amor a su manera — everyone sees love differently, everyone understands something different by love

¿tú entiendes esta lavadora? — do you know how this washing machine works?, do you know how to use this washing machine?

¡ya entiendo! — now I understand!, now I get it!

la vida es así ¿entiendes? — that's life, you know

no entiendo de vinos — I don't know much about wine

Luis sí que entiende de mujeres — Luis certainly knows a thing or two about women

no entender de barcos —

si le preguntas cualquier cosa, él no entiende de barcos — if you ask him something, he makes out he doesn't know anything about anything

entiende en divorcios — he hears divorce cases

entender en un asunto — to be in charge of an affair

entiende por Moncho — he answers to the name of Moncho

no te entiendo la letra — I can't read your writing

no se le entiende nada — you can't understand anything she says

lo entendió todo al revés — he got it all completely wrong

todavía no he entendido el chiste — I still haven't got(ten) the joke

¿entiendes lo que quiero decir? — do you know what I mean?

se entiende que no quiera ir — it is understandable that he doesn't want to go

tú ya me entiendes — you know what I mean

me has entendido mal — you've misunderstood me

no hay quien te entienda! — you're impossible!

te entiendo perfectamente — I know exactly what you mean

¿debo entender que te vas? — am I to understand that you're leaving?

me dio a entender que... — she gave me to understand that...

lo dio a entender — she implied it

(ya) entiendo — I understand, I see

entender de algo — to know about something

¿tú entiendes de estas cosas? — do you know anything about these things?

entender en un caso — to hear a case

entenderse con alguien — to communicate with somebody

se entienden por señas — they communicate (with each other) through signs

a ver si nos entendemos ¿quién te pegó? — let's get this straight, who hit you?

lo que pasa es que no nos entendemos — the thing is we just don't get on very well

entenderse con alguien — to deal with somebody

es mejor entenderse directamente con el jefe — you are advised to deal directly with the boss

entendérselas con alguien — to fix something up with somebody

entenderse con alguien — to have an affair with somebody

déjame, yo me entiendo — leave me alone, I know what I'm doing

a mi/tu/su entender — in my/your/his opinion, to my/your/his mind

no te entiendo la letra — I can't read your writing

no se le entiende nada — you can't understand anything she says

lo entendió todo al revés — he got it all completely wrong

todavía no he entendido el chiste — I still haven't got(ten) the joke

¿entiendes lo que quiero decir? — do you know what I mean?

se entiende que no quiera ir — it is understandable that he doesn't want to go

tú ya me entiendes — you know what I mean

me has entendido mal — you've misunderstood me

no hay quien te entienda! — you're impossible!

te entiendo perfectamente — I know exactly what you mean

¿debo entender que te vas? — am I to understand that you're leaving?

me dio a entender que... — she gave me to understand that...

lo dio a entender — she implied it

(ya) entiendo — I understand, I see

entender de algo — to know about something

¿tú entiendes de estas cosas? — do you know anything about these things?

entender en un caso — to hear a case

entenderse con alguien — to communicate with somebody

se entienden por señas — they communicate (with each other) through signs

a ver si nos entendemos ¿quién te pegó? — let's get this straight, who hit you?

lo que pasa es que no nos entendemos — the thing is we just don't get on very well

entenderse con alguien — to deal with somebody

es mejor entenderse directamente con el jefe — you are advised to deal directly with the boss

entendérselas con alguien — to fix something up with somebody

entenderse con alguien — to have an affair with somebody

déjame, yo me entiendo — leave me alone, I know what I'm doing

a mi/tu/su entender — in my/your/his opinion, to my/your/his mind

sai dove abita? — do you know where he lives?

lo so — I know

lo so, non è colpa tua — I know, it's not your fault

non ne so nulla — I don't know anything about it

non sa l'inglese — he doesn't speak English

non ne vuole più sapere di lei — he doesn't want to have anything more to do with her

ho saputo che ti sei sposato — I hear you got married

far sapere qc a qn — to let sb know (about) sth, inform sb about sth

fagli sapere che lo sto cercando — let him know I'm looking for him

non sa far niente — he can't do anything

sai nuotare? — do you know how to swim?, can you swim?

è utile saper guidare — it's useful to be able to drive

non so guidare — I can't drive

non sapeva andare in bicicletta — he couldn't ride a bike

sa (come) cavarsela — he can manage

sa quello che fa — he knows what he's doing

so com'è difficile parlargli — I know how difficult it is to talk to him

senza saperlo — without realizing it, unwittingly

(fraseologia) è difficile, e io ne so qualcosa — it's difficult and don't I know it

e chi lo sa? — who knows?

si sa che... — it's well known that..., everybody knows that...

non si sa mai — you never know

non saprei dire — I couldn't say

mi dispiace, non so che farci — I'm sorry, I don't see what I can do about it

ci sa fare con le donne/macchine — he has a way with women/cars

lui sì che ci sa fare — he's very good at it

sapere di — (aver sapore) to taste of, (aver odore) to smell of, fig to smack of, resemble

sa di fragola — it tastes of strawberries

sa di pesce — it smells of fish

è un film che non sa di niente — it's a very dull film

mi sa che... — (credo) I think (that)...

mi sa che non viene — I don't think he's coming

saper fare — to be able to do

sapere come fare — to know how to do

non sa guidare — she can't drive

sa battere a macchina? — can he type?

a quattro anni sapevo leggere — I could read at the age of four

sai aggiustarlo? — do you know how to fix it?

non sa dire di no — he can't say no

saper ascoltare — to be a good listener

lo so — I know

non lo so — I don't know

sapere tutto — to know everything

sapere qcs. su qcn. — to know sth. about sb.

non so perché — I don't know why

lo so che è difficile — I know it's difficult

sapevo che l'avresti detto — I knew you would say that

non sa più quello che dice — he doesn't know what he's saying

non ne so niente — I don't know anything about it

buono a -rsi — that's handy to know

come faccio a saperlo? — how should I know?

senza saperlo — unknowingly

come ben sai — as you well know

se proprio vuoi saperlo — if you must know

caso mai non lo sapessi — in case you didn't know

ha ragione, sai — he's right, you know

sai una cosa? — (do) you know something?

sai cosa? sono proprio stufo — you know what? I'm really fed up

sappi che non lo permetterò! — I won't stand for it, I tell you!

se sapessi! — little do you know!

se sapessi come sono contento! — you can't imagine how happy I am!

che io sappia — as far as I know

non che io sappia — not that I know of

che (cosa) ne so io! — how should I know!

per quanto ne so — to my knowledge

senza che lo sapessi — without my knowledge

non saprei — I wouldn't know

vai a sapere! chi lo sa! — who knows?

non si sa mai o non si può mai sapere you never know; a saperlo! se avessi saputo! if only I had known! ne so quanto prima — I'm none the wiser

sapere il cinese — to know Chinese

sapere per esperienza — to know from experience

venire a sapere che — to hear (it said) that

ho saputo del tuo incidente — I heard about your accident

fammelo sapere — please let me know

come l'hai saputo? — how did you find out?

ha fatto sapere che — she let it be known that

un uomo che sa — a cultivated man

sapere di sale, di bruciato — to taste salty, burnt

non sa di niente — it has no taste

sa di fregatura — it sounds dodgy

mi sa che — I've got a feeling (that), something tells me (that)

con gli uomini ci sa fare — she knows how to handle men

saperla lunga in fatto di qcs. — to know a thing or two about sth.

è uno che la sa lunga — he's been around

sapere il fatto proprio — to know what's what

non voglio più saperne di lui — I don't want to hear from him any more

non ne vuole sapere — he won't hear of it

sete di sapere — thirst for knowledge

un uomo di vasto sapere — a man of great learning

le dio un bocadillo a su hijo — he gave his son a sandwich

se lo di a Blanca — I gave it to Blanca

me dieron un diploma por mi buen comportamiento — I was given a diploma for good conduct

le dieron el primer premio — he was awarded {o} given first prize

déme dos kilos — I'll have two kilos, two kilos, please

dar un alarido — to shriek

dar una bofetada a algn — to slap sb

dar un golpe a algn — to hit sb

dio un golpe en la mesa — he banged on the table

dar un grito — to let out a cry, give a cry

dar un paseo — to go for a walk, take a walk

dar un suspiro — to heave {o} give a sigh, sigh

la embajada dará una recepción — the embassy will hold a reception

¿has dado el gas? — have you turned on the gas?

dan una película de Almodóvar — there's an Almodóvar film on, they're showing {o} screening an Almodóvar film

¿qué dan hoy en la tele? — what's on TV tonight?

el reloj dio las tres — the clock struck three

ya han dado las ocho — it's past {o} gone eight o'clock

dar flores — to flower

este negocio da mucho dinero — there's a lot of money in this business

una inversión que da un 7% de interés — an investment that pays {o} yields 7% interest

el cálculo dio 99 — the sum worked out at 99

el atleta dio positivo en el control antidoping — the athlete tested positive for drugs

me dio mucha alegría verla — I was very pleased to see her

las babosas me dan asco — I find slugs disgusting {o} revolting

este jersey me da demasiado calor — this jumper is too hot, I'm too hot in this jumper

da gusto hablar con él — he's really nice to talk to

tu padre me da miedo — I'm scared {o} frightened of your father

me da pena tener que tirarlo — it's a pity to have to throw it away

el vino me da sueño — wine makes me sleepy

vinieron a visitarme y me dieron la tarde — they came to visit and ruined my afternoon

¡me estás dando las vacaciones! — you're ruining the holiday for me!

doy el asunto por concluido — I consider the matter settled, I regard the matter as settled

le dieron por desaparecido — they gave him up for lost

doy el dinero por bien empleado — I consider it money well spent

lo daba por seguro — he was sure {o} certain of it

lo podemos dar por terminado — we can consider it finished

la vecina está dale que dale al piano — our neighbour is pounding away at the piano

para dar y tomar —

tenemos botellas para dar y tomar — we've got loads {o} stacks of bottles

aquí hay basura para dar y tomar — there's tons of rubbish here

me da que no va a venir — I have a feeling (that) he's not going to come

dame, yo te lo arreglo — give it here, I'll fix it for you

me dieron ganas de vomitar — I felt like being sick

si te da un mareo siéntate — if you feel giddy, sit down

le dio un fuerte dolor en el costado — he felt a sudden sharp pain in his side

le dio un infarto — he had a heart attack

¡qué más da!, ¡da igual! — it doesn't matter!, never mind!

¿qué más te da? — what does it matter to you?

¿qué más da un sitio que otro? — surely one place is as good as another!, it doesn't make any difference which place we choose

lo mismo da — it makes no difference {o} odds

me da igual, lo mismo me da, tanto me da — it's all the same to me, I don't mind

mi habitación da al jardín — my room looks out onto {o} overlooks the garden

dale a la tecla roja — hit {o} press the red key

darle a la bomba — to pump, work the pump

dale más fuerte a la bomba — pump harder

¡dale! — hit him!

no es capaz de darle al balón de cabeza — he can't head the ball

dimos con él dos horas más tarde — we found him two hours later

al final di con la solución — I finally hit on the solution, I finally came up with the solution

no doy con el nombre — I can't think of the name

dio consigo en la cárcel — he ended up in jail

el barco dio contra el puente — the ship hit the bridge

dar de palos a algn — to give sb a beating

dar de puñetazos a algn — to punch sb

dar de barniz a algo — to varnish sth

lo que cada uno puede dar de sí — what each person can contribute

el sol me da en la cara — the sun is in my eyes

han dado en llamarle Boko — they've taken to calling him Boko

le ha dado por no venir a clase — he has taken to cutting classes

les dio por venir a vernos — they took it into their heads to come and see us

últimamente le ha dado por el golf — he's taken up golf lately

al chico le daba por dormirse en la clase — the boy was always falling asleep in class

la casa que a alguien le dio por llamar Miramar — the house that someone had the bright idea of calling Miramar

con eso da para cuatro personas — this is enough for four people

mi pobre cabeza no da para más hoy — I don't think my poor head can take any more today

una película que da en qué pensar — a thought-provoking film, a film which gives you a lot to think about

dale las llaves a Pedro — give the keys to Pedro

se las di a Jaime — I gave them to Jaime

déme un kilo de peras — can I have a kilo of pears?

¿me lo prestas? - te lo doy, no lo necesito — can I borrow it? - you can keep it, I don't need it

qué no daría por que así fuera! — I'd give anything for that to be the case

donde las dan las toman — two can play at that game

eso me dio la idea — that's where I got the idea from

si le dan la ocasión — if he's given the chance

pide que te den más información — ask them to give you more information

¿me das el la? — can you give me an A?

las luces le daban un ambiente festivo — the lights gave a festive atmosphere

dale otra capa de barniz — give it another coat of varnish

hay que darle cera al piso — the floor needs waxing

dale una puntada para sujetarlo — put a stitch in to hold it

el dentista me dio hora para el miércoles — I have an appointment with the dentist on Wednesday

me dieron un diploma — I got a diploma

no le doy ni un mes a esa relación — I don't think they'll last more than a month together

¿qué edad le das? — how old do you think he is?

¿le diste las gracias? — did you thank him?, did you say thank you?

no me dio ni los buenos días — she didn't even say hello

dales saludos — give/send them my regards

darle la bienvenida a alguien — to welcome somebody

tuve que darle la noticia — I was the one who had to break the news to him

el reloj dio las cinco — the clock struck five

estos campos dan mucho grano — these fields have a high grain yield

este negocio da mucho dinero — there's a lot of money in this business

esos bonos dan un 7% — those bonds yield 7%

ha dado todo lo que esperaba de él — he has lived up to my/his expectations

ese jugador lo da todo — that player puts everything into the game

¿cuánto da ese coche? — how fast can that car go?

venía a todo lo que daba — it was traveling at full speed

ponen la radio a todo lo que da — they turn the radio on full blast

la comida muy salada da sed — salty food makes you thirsty

estos niños dan tanto trabajo! — these kids are such hard work!; (+ me/te/le etc)

¿no te da calor esa camisa? — aren't you too warm in that shirt?

el vino le había dado sueño — the wine had made him sleepy

me da mucha pena verla tan triste — it hurts me to see her so sad

qué susto me has dado! — you gave me such a fright!

ayer daban una obra de Calderón — there was a Calderón play on yesterday

¿dónde están dando esa película? — where's that film showing?

dar lectura a un comunicado — to read out a communiqué

dar un grito/un suspiro — to give a shout/heave a sigh

dar un paso atrás/adelante — to take a step back/forward

no puedes con todo, dame que te ayudo — you'll never manage all that on your own, here, let me help you

¿me das para un helado? — can I have some money for an ice cream?

te toca dar a ti — it's your deal

el análisis le dio positivo/negativo — her test was positive/negative

¿cuánto da la cuenta? — what does it come to?

a mí me dio 247 — I made it (to be) 247

da lo mismo, ya iremos otro día — it doesn't matter, we'll go another day

qué más da! — what does it matter!

¿qué más da un color que otro? — what difference does it make what color it is?; (+ me/te/le etc)

le dio en la cabeza/con un palo — he hit him on the head/with a stick

dale al balón con fuerza — kick the ball hard

te voy a dar (de palos) — I'm going to give you a good beating

el balón dio en el poste — the ball hit the post

dar en el blanco/el centro — to hit the target/the bull's-eye

dale al volante hacia la derecha — turn the wheel to the right

dale a esa palanca hacia arriba — push that lever up

dale para atrás — back up

y dale con lo de su edad! — stop going on about her age!

he estado todo el día dale que dale — I've been hard at it all day

le dio un mareo — she felt dizzy

le dio un infarto — he had a heart attack

darle a alguien por + inf — to take to -ing

le ha dado por pintar — he's taken to painting

le ha dado por decir que... — he's started saying that...

le ha dado por el yoga — she's got into yoga

le ha dado con que me conoce — she's got it into her head that she knows me

aquí da el sol toda la mañana — you get the sun all morning here

en esa playa da mucho el viento — it's very windy on that beach

la luz le daba de lleno en los ojos — the light was shining right in his eyes

en esta zona se da bien el trigo — wheat grows well in this area

se dio el caso que iba pasando por ahí — it so happened that I was passing by

se le dan los idiomas — she's good at languages

¿cómo se te da a ti la costura? — are you any good at sewing?

darse a algo: se dio a la bebida she took to drink; se ha dado por entero a su familia/a la causa — she has devoted herself entirely to her family/to the cause

darse con alguien — to get on with somebody

no se da con los suegros — she doesn't have much to do with her in-laws

darse un banquete — to have a feast

se dio con el martillo en el dedo — he hit his finger with the hammer

se dieron contra un árbol — they crashed into a tree

se dio dar un golpe en la rodilla — he hit his knee

se estaban dando (de) patadas/puñetazos — they were kicking/punching each other