Vocabulary - TV programmes and genres of film and books
These days, a lot of people stream their favourite programmes, songs and films and watch them on devices as well as on the TV, so it's worth being familiar with vocabulary from Social media and technology. Many of the types of programmes that are popular in the UK are also popular in Spain, from reality TV and talent shows to quiz shows and series.
There are also lots of Spanish-language films and television programmes that have found an international audience through streaming platforms. Similarly, many British and American authors have had their work translated into Spanish and translated novels are often very popular in the UK.
Here are some types of TV programmes to get started.
| la comedia | comedy |
| el concurso | quiz show |
| el dibujo animado | cartoon |
| el documental | documentary |
| el drama | TV drama |
| las noticias | news |
| el programa de cocina | cookery programme |
| el programa de deporte | sports programme |
| el programa de música | music programme |
| los programas infantiles | children's programmes |
| la serie policíaca | detective series |
| la telerrealidad/el programa de telerrealidad | reality show |
| la telenovela/el culebrón | soap opera |
| la comedia |
| comedy |
| el concurso |
| quiz show |
| el dibujo animado |
| cartoon |
| el documental |
| documentary |
| el drama |
| TV drama |
| las noticias |
| news |
| el programa de cocina |
| cookery programme |
| el programa de deporte |
| sports programme |
| el programa de música |
| music programme |
| los programas infantiles |
| children's programmes |
| la serie policíaca |
| detective series |
| la telerrealidad/el programa de telerrealidad |
| reality show |
| la telenovela/el culebrón |
| soap opera |
It's also essential to be able to talk about different genres of films and books.
| un libro/una película ... | a book/ a film ... |
| ... de acción | action |
| ... de aventura | adventure |
| ... de amor | romance |
| ... de ciencia-ficción | science-fiction |
| ... de fantasía | fantasy |
| ... de terror/miedo | horror |
| ... de guerra | war |
| ... de suspense/misterio | thriller |
| ... cómico/a | comedy |
| un libro/una película ... | ... de acción |
|---|---|
| a book/ a film ... | action |
| un libro/una película ... | ... de aventura |
|---|---|
| a book/ a film ... | adventure |
| un libro/una película ... | ... de amor |
|---|---|
| a book/ a film ... | romance |
| un libro/una película ... | ... de ciencia-ficción |
|---|---|
| a book/ a film ... | science-fiction |
| un libro/una película ... | ... de fantasía |
|---|---|
| a book/ a film ... | fantasy |
| un libro/una película ... | ... de terror/miedo |
|---|---|
| a book/ a film ... | horror |
| un libro/una película ... | ... de guerra |
|---|---|
| a book/ a film ... | war |
| un libro/una película ... | ... de suspense/misterio |
|---|---|
| a book/ a film ... | thriller |
| un libro/una película ... | ... cómico/a |
|---|---|
| a book/ a film ... | comedy |
The most useful verbs for talking about this topic are mirar (to watch), ver (to see) and leer (to read).
Here is some useful vocabulary to talk about reading preferences.
| el/la autor/a | author |
| el/la escritor/a | writer |
| la novela | novel |
| la lectura | reading |
| el audiolibro | audio book |
| la revista | magazine |
| el cuento | tale/story |
| el libro electrónico | e-book |
| el/la autor/a |
| author |
| el/la escritor/a |
| writer |
| la novela |
| novel |
| la lectura |
| reading |
| el audiolibro |
| audio book |
| la revista |
| magazine |
| el cuento |
| tale/story |
| el libro electrónico |
| e-book |
Now listen to Natalia, Ricardo and Adilah giving their opinions on reading.
Escucha las opiniones de Natalia, Ricardo y Adilah. Escoge la palabra correcta.
Question
Natalia piensa que la lectura es ...
| A | aburrida |
| B | educativa |
| C | interesante |
| D | divertida |
| A |
| aburrida |
| B |
| educativa |
| C |
| interesante |
| D |
| divertida |
The correct answer is B (educational). Natalia says leer es bueno para aprender vocabulario y para descubrir cosas nuevas (reading is good for learning vocabulary and discovering new things).
Transcript:
Cuando no sabes qué hacer, en vez de ver la televisión, es mejor leer. En mi opinión, leer es bueno para aprender vocabulario y para descubrir cosas nuevas.
Translation:
When you don't know what to do, instead of watching television, it's better to read. In my opinion, reading is good for learning vocabulary and discovering new things.
Question
Escucha a Ricardo. ¿Qué dice?
| A | le encanta leer |
| B | lee muchísimo |
| C | le gusta escuchar historias |
| D | leer es divertido |
| A |
| le encanta leer |
| B |
| lee muchísimo |
| C |
| le gusta escuchar historias |
| D |
| leer es divertido |
The correct answer is C (he likes to listen to stories). He says prefiero escuchar los audiolibros porque son más divertidos (I prefer to listen to audio books because they are more fun).
Transcript:
Tengo que admitir que no veo mucho la tele. Prefiero escuchar los audiolibros porque son más divertidos.
Translation:
I have to admit that I don't watch much TV. I prefer to listen to audio books because they are more fun.
Question
Adilah prefiere leer novelas de ...
| A | ciencia ficción. |
| B | acción. |
| C | miedo. |
| D | suspense. |
| A |
| ciencia ficción. |
| B |
| acción. |
| C |
| miedo. |
| D |
| suspense. |
The correct answer is D (thrillers). She says me gustan los cuentos de misterio porque me parecen muy entretenidos y las historias contienen muchas aventuras (I like thrillers because I think they are very entertaining and the stories contain lots of adventures).
Transcript:
Prefiero leer los libros electrónicos en mi tableta. Me gustan los cuentos de misterio porque me parecen muy entretenidos y las historias contienen muchas aventuras.
Translation:
I prefer reading e-books on my tablet. I like thrillers because I think they are very entertaining and the stories contain lots of adventures.