Palabra Lexi · words by topic · Spanish
Spanish Words: Formal Language & Letters — with Pronunciation and Memory Hooks
Level C1 · advanced · 16 words
Formal greetings, polite set phrases and "in reply to your letter": the vocabulary of official letters and business email.
Spanish is read almost exactly as it's written: stress falls on the second-to-last syllable when a word ends in a vowel, n or s, otherwise on the last one, and exceptions carry an accent mark (café, estación). Nouns are masculine (el) or feminine (la). Pronunciation below is spelled out in English, stressed syllable in capitals.
Formal Language & Letters in Spanish: word list
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| estimado | es-tee-MAH-doh | dear (formal) |
| adjunto | ad-HOON-toh | attached |
| a la atención de | ah lah ah-ten-THYOHN deh | for the attention of |
| atentamente | ah-ten-tah-MEN-teh | yours sincerely |
| solicitar | soh-lee-thee-TAR | to request |
| comunicar | koh-moo-nee-KAR | to inform |
| en referencia a | en reh-feh-REN-thyah ah | with reference to |
| asimismo | ah-see-MEES-moh | likewise |
| no obstante | noh obs-TAN-teh | however |
| por consiguiente | por kon-see-GYEN-teh | consequently |
| cabe destacar | KAH-beh des-tah-KAR | it is worth noting |
| a la mayor brevedad | ah lah mah-YOR breh-beh-DAD | as soon as possible |
| quedo a su disposición | KEH-doh ah soo dees-poh-see-THYOHN | I remain at your disposal |
| agradecer | ah-grah-deh-THER | to thank |
| notificar | noh-tee-fee-KAR | to notify |
| vigencia | bee-HEN-thyah | validity |
Memory hooks for these words
A sound-alike is an English word or phrase that sounds like the foreign one. The scene ties it to the meaning: you recall the sound, the sound brings back the picture, the picture brings back the meaning. Read each scene once, then try to recall the meaning a minute later without looking at the list.
a la atención de [ah lah ah-ten-THYOHN deh] — for the attention of
Sounds like: “at attention, day”. The guard stands at attention all day; letters come for his attention.
A la atención del director — For the attention of the director
en referencia a [en reh-feh-REN-thyah ah] — with reference to
Sounds like: “conference, ah”. At the conference, ah: 'with reference to your question…'
En referencia a su carta — With reference to your letter
asimismo [ah-see-MEES-moh] — likewise
Sounds like: “así + mismo”. Likewise — in the same way.
asimismo, quiero agradecer — likewise, I wish to thank
no obstante [noh obs-TAN-teh] — however
Sounds like: “no obstacle, aunt”. No obstacle, Aunt — however, the road is closed.
No obstante, seguimos — However, we continue
por consiguiente [por kon-see-GYEN-teh] — consequently
Sounds like: “pour cons in gently”. You pour the cons in gently, and consequently the scale tips.
Por consiguiente, aceptamos — Consequently, we accept
cabe destacar [KAH-beh des-tah-KAR] — it is worth noting
Sounds like: “cabbie, the stacker”. The cabbie, the stacker of stories, says: worth noting…
Cabe destacar que… — It is worth noting that…
a la mayor brevedad [ah lah mah-YOR breh-beh-DAD] — as soon as possible
Sounds like: “mayor, brave dad”. The mayor and a brave dad rush — as soon as possible!
Responda a la mayor brevedad — Reply as soon as possible
quedo a su disposición [KEH-doh ah soo dees-poh-see-THYOHN] — I remain at your disposal
Sounds like: “cadet, disposition”. The cadet with a calm disposition stands ready: at your disposal.
Quedo a su disposición — I remain at your disposal
notificar [noh-tee-fee-KAR] — to notify
Sounds like: “notify”. He notifies — a letter with a stamp.
notificar a la familia — to notify the family
vigencia [bee-HEN-thyah] — validity
Sounds like: “V agency”. The V agency stamps the visa's validity.
El contrato tiene vigencia — The contract is valid