save water
Ahorrar agua; evitar gastarla innecesariamente
“I try to save water by taking shorter showers.”
English toolkit / B2.2 vocabulary / review draft 01
ENVIRONMENT.
Everyday habits, global problems and practical changes: language for explaining what we do and what needs to change.
117 entries14 topic areas24 consolidate · 93 extend
Consolidate Revisit familiar languageExtend Build your rangeEssentials first, then extensions within every section.
Small habits at home
Everyday actions you can explain and compare
turn off
Apagar un aparato o cerrar un grifo
“I turn off the tap while I brush my teeth.”
reuse a bag / a container
Volver a utilizar una bolsa / un recipiente
“I reuse glass containers to store small things.”
cut down on
Reducir el consumo o la cantidad de algo
“I'm trying to cut down on single-use plastic.”
turn down the heating
Bajar la calefacción
“We turn down the heating when we don't need the room so warm.”
run a full load
Poner la lavadora o el lavavajillas con una carga completa
“I wait until I can run a full load instead of washing just a few items.”
air-dry clothes
Dejar secar la ropa al aire, sin secadora
“We air-dry our clothes whenever we have enough space.”
make a habit of
Acostumbrarse a hacer algo de forma habitual
“I've made a habit of checking what we already have before shopping.”
Rubbish, recycling & upcycling
Organising waste and keeping materials in use
recycle
Reciclar; transformar residuos en materiales que pueden volver a utilizarse
“We recycle paper and glass, but we also try to buy less packaging.”
rubbish / waste
Basura / residuos; waste es más amplio y también puede significar desperdicio
“We produce less household waste now that we reuse more things.”
sort your rubbish
Separar la basura según el tipo de residuo
“We sort our rubbish into separate bins in the kitchen.”
a recycling bin
Contenedor o cubo destinado al reciclaje
“We keep a small recycling bin next to the kitchen door.”
throw away
Tirar algo porque no se quiere conservar
“Before I throw something away, I check whether it can be repaired.”
upcycle
Transformar un objeto usado en otro útil o de mayor valor sin convertirlo primero en materia prima
“She upcycled an old drawer into a shelf.”
compost
Convertir restos orgánicos adecuados en abono mediante descomposición
“Our community garden composts fruit and vegetable scraps.”
landfill
Vertedero o eliminación de residuos mediante su depósito y enterramiento
“Repairing furniture can help keep it out of landfill.”
dispose of something properly
Deshacerse de algo de la forma adecuada
“I looked up how to dispose of old batteries properly.”
Food choices & food waste
Buying, storing and using what you have
plan your meals
Planificar las comidas
“Planning our meals helps us avoid buying food we won't use.”
leftovers
Restos de comida preparada que no se han consumido
“We often use leftovers for lunch the next day.”
use up
Consumir o utilizar algo hasta terminarlo
“I made soup to use up the vegetables in the fridge.”
go to waste
Desperdiciarse; acabar sin utilizarse
“I hate seeing good food go to waste.”
surplus food
Alimentos disponibles en mayor cantidad de la que se necesita o se vende
“The bakery sells its surplus food at the end of the day.”
seasonal produce
Frutas, verduras u otros productos agrícolas de temporada
“I try to cook with seasonal produce when it is available.”
eat less meat
Reducir la cantidad de carne que se consume
“We've started eating less meat and trying more meals with beans.”
plant-based
Basado principalmente o totalmente en alimentos de origen vegetal, según el contexto
“The café offers several plant-based meals.”
Shopping with less waste
Purchases, packaging and alternatives to buying new
second-hand
De segunda mano; usado anteriormente por otra persona
“Most of the furniture in our flat is second-hand.”
repair
Arreglar algo que está roto o no funciona bien
“I'd rather repair my bike than replace it.”
avoid unnecessary packaging
Evitar envoltorios y envases que no hacen falta
“I choose loose fruit to avoid unnecessary packaging.”
refill
Volver a llenar un recipiente
“I refill my water bottle rather than buy a new one each time.”
buy in bulk
Comprar en grandes cantidades; no implica necesariamente comprar sin envase
“We buy rice in bulk because we use it regularly and have space to store it.”
borrow instead of buying
Pedir prestado en lugar de comprar
“I borrow tools instead of buying ones I'll only use once.”
choose long-lasting products
Elegir productos duraderos
“I try to choose long-lasting products even if they cost more initially.”
check environmental claims
Comprobar lo que se afirma sobre las ventajas ambientales de un producto
“I check environmental claims rather than trust a green label automatically.”
Apps, sharing & passing things on
Language for explaining how practical tools help
donate
Donar; dar algo sin cobrar por ello
“We donated the clothes we no longer needed.”
give away
Regalar algo que se posee
“I gave away my old desk through a neighbourhood group.”
list an item for sale
Publicar un anuncio para vender un artículo
“I listed the jacket for sale on Vinted instead of leaving it unused.”
buy and sell second-hand items
Comprar y vender artículos usados
“Apps such as Vinted make it possible to buy and sell second-hand items.”
collect an order
Recoger un pedido
“With Too Good To Go, I can reserve unsold food and collect my order at the agreed time.”
arrange a collection
Acordar cuándo o cómo se recogerá algo
“We arranged a collection so our neighbours could take the shelves.”
Energy & getting around
Transport choices and the energy we use
use public transport
Utilizar transporte público
“I use public transport when the timetable works for me.”
walk or cycle
Desplazarse a pie o en bicicleta
“We walk or cycle for short journeys whenever it is practical.”
share a car journey
Compartir un trayecto en coche con otras personas
“We share a car journey when several of us are going to the same place.”
renewable energy
Energía procedente de fuentes que se renuevan naturalmente, como el sol o el viento
“The town wants more of its electricity to come from renewable energy.”
fossil fuels
Combustibles fósiles, como el carbón, el petróleo y el gas natural
“Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels requires changes beyond individual habits.”
solar panels
Paneles que aprovechan la energía solar
“The school installed solar panels on its roof.”
insulate a home
Aislar térmicamente una vivienda
“It can be expensive to insulate a home, even if it reduces energy use later.”
a carbon footprint
Cantidad de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero asociadas a una actividad, persona o producto
“Transport and home energy use are part of our carbon footprint.”
Global problems & resources
Naming the main issues without unnecessary technical detail
pollution
Contaminación del aire, agua u otros entornos
“Air pollution affects our neighbourhood as well as the wider region.”
air / water / noise pollution
Contaminación del aire / del agua / acústica
“Residents complained about noise pollution near the main road.”
natural resources
Recursos que ofrece la naturaleza, como agua, minerales o bosques
“We need to use natural resources more carefully.”
resource depletion
Agotamiento de recursos por utilizarlos más rápido de lo que se recuperan o por consumir reservas limitadas
“Resource depletion is one reason to keep materials in use for longer.”
water scarcity / a water shortage
Escasez de agua / falta de agua suficiente en un lugar o momento
“The region faced a water shortage after months with little rain.”
food scarcity / food shortages
Escasez de alimentos / falta de alimentos suficientes
“A long drought can lead to food shortages.”
deforestation
Pérdida o eliminación de bosques, a menudo para dedicar el terreno a otros usos
“Deforestation can destroy habitats and affect local communities.”
run out of resources
Quedarse sin los recursos disponibles
“We can't keep using limited materials as if we would never run out of resources.”
Climate change & its effects
Causes, changes and useful descriptions of consequences
climate change
Cambios duraderos en el clima; el actual calentamiento global forma parte de ellos
“Climate change affects decisions about farming, housing and transport.”
global warming
Aumento a largo plazo de la temperatura media de la Tierra
“Global warming is not the same as one unusually hot day.”
greenhouse gases
Gases que retienen calor en la atmósfera
“Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases.”
cut emissions
Reducir las emisiones, especialmente de gases de efecto invernadero
“Better public transport can help a city cut emissions.”
a heatwave
Periodo de calor excepcionalmente intenso
“During the heatwave, the city opened more shaded public spaces.”
a drought
Periodo prolongado con precipitaciones insuficientes
“The drought damaged crops and reduced water supplies.”
a flood
Inundación; agua que cubre zonas normalmente secas
“The flood damaged homes near the river.”
a wildfire
Incendio que se extiende por vegetación natural
“The wildfire destroyed a large area of woodland.”
rising sea levels
Subida del nivel del mar; rising funciona como modificador
“Rising sea levels put some coastal communities at risk.”
Nature & wildlife
Habitats, species and protecting green spaces
wildlife
Animales y plantas que viven en estado silvestre
“We should avoid disturbing wildlife when we go hiking.”
plant trees
Plantar árboles
“Volunteers planted trees in the school grounds.”
a natural habitat
Entorno natural en el que vive una especie
“Building new roads can damage natural habitats.”
biodiversity
Variedad de seres vivos de un lugar o del planeta
“Protecting different habitats helps preserve biodiversity.”
endangered species
Especies que corren peligro de extinguirse; endangered modifica species
“The centre teaches visitors about endangered species.”
die out
Desaparecer por completo una especie o una práctica
“Some species could die out if their habitats disappear.”
protect wildlife
Proteger los seres vivos silvestres y sus entornos
“The group works with farmers to protect wildlife.”
urban green spaces
Zonas verdes de las ciudades, como parques o jardines
“Urban green spaces give residents somewhere to relax and wildlife somewhere to live.”
a forest / woodland
Bosque / zona arbolada; woodland suele referirse al terreno cubierto de árboles
“There is a path through the woodland behind our village.”
a river / a lake / a waterfall
Río / lago / cascada
“The river flows through the forest and ends in a small waterfall.”
a coast / a cliff
Costa / acantilado
“The coast is beautiful, but there are very steep cliffs in some places.”
a wetland
Humedal; terreno cubierto de agua o muy húmedo durante todo o parte del año
“The wetland near our town is home to many different birds.”
People & organisations
Who consumes, produces, protects and decides
a farmer
Persona que trabaja en la agricultura o la ganadería
“Farmers need reliable water supplies to produce food.”
a volunteer
Persona que participa en una actividad sin cobrar por ello
“Volunteers helped clear litter from the beach.”
a consumer
Persona que compra o utiliza bienes y servicios
“Consumers need clear information about what they are buying.”
a manufacturer
Empresa o persona que fabrica productos
“Manufacturers can design products that are easier to repair.”
an environmentalist
Persona que se preocupa por proteger el medioambiente y actúa en su defensa
“Environmentalists asked the council to protect the wetland.”
a campaigner
Persona que trabaja activamente para lograr un cambio
“Campaigners collected signatures for safer cycle lanes.”
local residents
Habitantes de una zona
“Local residents helped decide where the new trees should be planted.”
the local council
Ayuntamiento; órgano de gobierno local
“The local council introduced a food-waste collection service.”
Collective action & solutions
What communities, companies and governments can do
clean up a beach / park
Limpiar una playa o un parque retirando basura
“We helped clean up the park after the festival.”
raise awareness of
Dar a conocer un problema para que la gente lo comprenda mejor
“The campaign raises awareness of food waste.”
take responsibility for
Asumir la responsabilidad sobre algo
“Companies should take responsibility for the waste they produce.”
enforce environmental rules
Hacer cumplir las normas ambientales
“Rules are less effective if nobody enforces them.”
invest in public transport
Destinar recursos a mejorar el transporte público
“The council needs to invest in public transport before asking everyone to drive less.”
provide incentives
Ofrecer ventajas o ayudas para fomentar una conducta
“Governments can provide incentives for repairing products instead of replacing them.”
ban single-use products
Prohibir determinados productos de un solo uso
“Some campaigners want to ban single-use products where practical alternatives exist.”
make sustainable choices affordable
Hacer que las opciones sostenibles sean económicamente accesibles
“Policies should make sustainable choices affordable for more households.”
Describing products, habits & solutions
Adjectives for evaluating options
harmful
Perjudicial; que causa daño
“Some substances are harmful to wildlife.”
eco-friendly / environmentally friendly
Que busca causar menos daño al medioambiente; el alcance depende del contexto
“I look for evidence before accepting that a product is eco-friendly.”
reusable
Que puede utilizarse varias veces
“I keep a reusable bag by the front door.”
recyclable
Que puede reciclarse; su recogida efectiva depende del sistema local
“The packaging is labelled recyclable, but I checked the local collection rules.”
single-use / disposable
De un solo uso / pensado para desecharse tras utilizarlo
“We replaced disposable cups with reusable ones.”
energy-efficient
Que utiliza relativamente poca energía para realizar su función
“An energy-efficient appliance can cost more to buy but use less electricity.”
sustainable
Que puede mantenerse a largo plazo sin agotar recursos ni causar daños inaceptables
“A sustainable transport system needs to work for people without cars too.”
affordable
Que tiene un precio asumible
“The greener option needs to be affordable if we want more people to choose it.”
Five useful idioms
Memorable expressions for choices, effort and responsibility
do your bit
Aportar tu parte a un esfuerzo colectivo
“I try to do my bit by wasting less, but companies need to act too.”
a drop in the ocean
Una aportación muy pequeña en comparación con lo que hace falta
“One clean-up may seem like a drop in the ocean, but it can start a wider campaign.”
turn a blind eye to
Hacer la vista gorda ante algo que se sabe que está mal
“We shouldn't turn a blind eye to illegal dumping.”
a step in the right direction
Una mejora inicial que acerca a un objetivo
“The new bus service is a step in the right direction, even if it isn't enough yet.”
kill two birds with one stone
Conseguir dos objetivos con una sola acción
“Cycling to work lets me kill two birds with one stone: I get exercise and use the car less.”
Weather & extreme conditions
Everyday forecasts, changing conditions and severe weather
sunny / cloudy
Soleado / nuboso; contraste del estado del cielo, que puede variar durante el día
“It was cloudy in the morning, but sunny enough for a picnic by lunchtime.”
mild / freezing
Suave o templado / helador; contraste de temperatura, no opuestos exactos
“Winters here are usually mild, but last weekend it was freezing.”
a shower / heavy rain
Chubasco / lluvia intensa; shower describe un episodio, heavy describe intensidad
“We waited for the shower to pass, but later there was heavy rain for hours.”
drizzle
Llovizna; lluvia fina
“There was only a little drizzle, so we went for a walk anyway.”
a breeze / a strong wind
Brisa / viento fuerte; contraste de intensidad
“A breeze is pleasant on the beach, but a strong wind makes it hard to sit there.”
a thunderstorm / lightning
Tormenta con truenos / relámpagos
“We heard thunder and saw lightning before the thunderstorm reached the town.”
hail / sleet
Granizo / aguanieve en inglés británico; sleet tiene otros usos en inglés estadounidense
“The rain turned to hail, and small pieces of ice covered the pavement.”
humid / dry
Húmedo / seco, al describir el aire o el clima
“The coast feels humid, while the air inland is much drier.”
the forecast
La previsión meteorológica
“The forecast says it will rain, so I am taking a waterproof jacket.”
a storm / strong winds
Temporal o tormenta / vientos fuertes
“Strong winds brought down several trees during the storm.”
a cold spell / a heatwave
Periodo de frío / ola de calor; contraste entre episodios de temperaturas bajas y altas
“We had a cold spell in April and a heatwave just a few weeks later.”
extreme weather
Fenómenos meteorológicos extremos
“After the floods, our town started discussing how to prepare for extreme weather.”
Teacher review · possible trims
These five candidates remain in the glossary pending your decision. They are lower priorities, not incorrect or unusable language.
- arrange a collection — Useful for sharing items, but collect an order already practises a related action.
- run a full load — Practical at home, but lower priority if students rarely discuss appliances.
- buy in bulk — Useful shopping language, but it is not automatically an environmental benefit; could be moved into Shopping.
- insulate a home — Useful for discussing energy, but could sit in Housing if this topic needs trimming.
- provide incentives — Helpful for solutions, but students can also say offer financial help or make it cheaper.
Counting rule: one card is one entry. Paired forms such as water scarcity / a water shortage count as one entry, so this is not a count of individual words.