Little Women — Page 9

English → Spanish CHAPTER ONE Level 6/10

There is so much to do about the play for Christmas night," said Jo, marching up and down, with her hands behind her back, and her nose in the air.

Hay tanto que hacer con la obra de la noche de Navidad —dijo Jo, marchando de un lado a otro, con las manos a la espalda y la nariz apuntando al aire.

"I don't mean to act any more after this time. I'm getting too old for such things," observed Meg, who was as much a child as ever about 'dressing-up' frolics.

—No pienso actuar más después de esta vez. Me estoy poniendo demasiado mayor para estas cosas —observó Meg, quien seguía siendo tan niña como siempre en lo que respecta a los juegos de disfrazarse.

"You won't stop, I know, as long as you can trail round in a white gown with your hair down, and wear gold-paper jewelry. You are the best actress we've got, and there'll be an end of everything if you quit the boards," said Jo.

—No lo dejarás, ya lo sé, mientras puedas pasearte con un vestido blanco y el pelo suelto, y llevar joyas de papel dorado. Eres la mejor actriz que tenemos, y todo se acabará si abandonas las tablas —dijo Jo.

"We ought to rehearse tonight. Come here, Amy, and do the fainting scene, for you are as stiff as a poker in that."

—Deberíamos ensayar esta noche. Ven aquí, Amy, y haz la escena del desmayo, porque estás rígida como un palo en esa parte.

"I can't help it. I never saw anyone faint, and I don't choose to make myself all black and blue, tumbling flat as you do. If I can go down easily, I'll drop. If I can't, I shall fall into a chair and be graceful. I don't care if Hugo does come at me with a pistol," returned Amy, who was not gifted with dramatic power, but was chosen because she was small enough to be borne out shrieking by the villain of the piece.

—No puedo evitarlo. Nunca he visto desmayarse a nadie, y no pienso quedarme llena de cardenales tirándome al suelo como haces tú. Si puedo bajarme con suavidad, me dejaré caer. Si no puedo, me dejaré caer en una silla y seré elegante. Me trae sin cuidado que Hugo se me acerque con una pistola —respondió Amy, quien no estaba dotada de talento dramático, pero había sido elegida porque era lo bastante pequeña para ser sacada de escena entre gritos por el villano de la obra.

"Do it this way. Clasp your hands so, and stagger across the room, crying frantically, 'Roderigo! Save me! Save me!'" and away went Jo, with a melodramatic scream which was truly thrilling.

—Hazlo así. Entrelaza las manos de este modo, y tambaléate por la habitación, gritando frenéticamente: «¡Rodrigo! ¡Sálvame! ¡Sálvame!» —y Jo salió disparada con un grito melodramático que resultó verdaderamente estremecedor.

Vocabulary

Hay: There is/are; expresses existence of something
tanto: So much; indicating a large quantity or degree
que: That; conjunction connecting clauses or introducing subordinates
hacer: To do or make; fundamental action verb
con: With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means
obra: Play or work; theatrical production or creative work
noche: Night; the period of darkness after sunset
Navidad: Christmas; the annual Christian holiday on December 25
dijo: Said; past tense of decir, to say
marchando: Marching; walking back and forth with purpose
lado: Side; one of two opposite directions or surfaces
otro: Other or another; referring to a different one
manos: Hands; the body parts at the end of arms
espalda: Back; the rear part of the human torso
nariz: Nose; the facial organ used for smelling and breathing
apuntando: Pointing; directing toward something in a specific direction
aire: Air; the invisible mixture of gases we breathe
pienso: I think or intend; first person of pensar
actuar: To act or perform; to play a role on stage
más: More; indicating greater quantity, degree, or extent
después: After or afterward; indicating something follows in time
esta: This; feminine demonstrative adjective indicating nearness
vez: Time or occasion; an instance of something occurring
estoy: I am; first person singular of estar
poniendo: Putting or becoming; gerund of poner indicating change
demasiado: Too much; exceeding an appropriate or desired amount
mayor: Older or greater; comparative adjective indicating increased age
para: For or in order to; preposition indicating purpose or recipient
estas: These; feminine plural demonstrative adjective indicating nearness
cosas: Things; general plural noun for objects or matters
observó: Observed or remarked; past tense of observar
quien: Who; relative pronoun referring to a person
seguía: Continued or kept on; imperfect tense of seguir
siendo: Being; gerund of ser used in progressive constructions
tan: So or as; adverb used in comparisons of equality
niña: Girl or child; a young female person
como: Like or as; conjunction or preposition for comparison
siempre: Always; at all times without exception
respecta: Concerns or regards; third person of respectar
juegos: Games or plays; activities done for fun or entertainment
disfrazarse: To dress up or disguise oneself in costume
dejarás: You will quit; future tense of dejar meaning to stop
ya: Already or now; adverb indicating time or affirmation
sé: I know; first person singular present of saber
mientras: While or as long as; conjunction indicating simultaneous action
puedas: You can; present subjunctive of poder indicating ability
pasearte: To stroll or walk around; reflexive verb for leisurely walking
vestido: Dressed or a dress; past participle or noun for clothing
blanco: White; the lightest color, opposite of black
pelo: Hair; the strands growing from a person's head
suelto: Loose or free; not tied or fastened, hanging freely
llevar: To wear or carry; to have something on one's person
joyas: Jewels or jewelry; decorative ornaments made of precious materials
papel: Role or paper; a part played in a theatrical production
dorado: Golden or gilded; having the color or appearance of gold
Eres: You are; second person singular present of ser
mejor: Better or best; comparative adjective indicating superior quality
actriz: Actress; a female performer in theater or film
tenemos: We have; first person plural present of tener
todo: Everything or all; referring to the totality of something
acabará: Will end or finish; future tense of acabar
si: If; conditional conjunction introducing a hypothetical clause
abandonas: You abandon; second person of abandonar meaning to leave
tablas: Stage boards; the theatrical stage where actors perform
Deberíamos: We should; conditional of deber expressing obligation or recommendation
ensayar: To rehearse; to practice a performance before presenting it
Ven: Come; imperative of venir commanding someone to approach
aquí: Here; adverb indicating a nearby or specified location
haz: Do or make; imperative of hacer commanding an action
escena: Scene; a segment or division of a play or story
desmayo: Fainting; a sudden loss of consciousness or swooning spell
porque: Because; conjunction introducing a reason or cause
estás: You are; second person singular present of estar
rígida: Stiff or rigid; inflexible, lacking natural movement or flow
palo: Stick; a long thin piece of wood, rigid object
esa: That; feminine singular demonstrative adjective indicating distance
parte: Part; a section, portion, or role within a whole
puedo: I can; first person singular present of poder
evitarlo: To avoid it; infinitive with pronoun meaning to prevent something
Nunca: Never; at no time, indicating total absence of occurrence
he: I have; auxiliary verb used to form present perfect tense
visto: Seen; past participle of ver used in perfect tenses
desmayarse: To faint; reflexive verb meaning to lose consciousness suddenly
nadie: Nobody; negative pronoun meaning no person at all
quedarme: To remain or stay; reflexive infinitive with first person pronoun
llena: Full or covered; feminine adjective indicating something is filled
cardenales: Bruises; dark marks on skin caused by impact or injury
tirándome: Throwing myself; reflexive gerund of tirarse meaning to fling
suelo: Floor or ground; the surface one walks or falls on
haces: You do; second person singular present of hacer
Si: If; conditional conjunction introducing a hypothetical situation
bajarme: To lower myself; reflexive infinitive meaning to descend gently
suavidad: Softness or gentleness; the quality of being smooth or tender
dejaré: I will let; future tense of dejar indicating permission
caer: To fall; to drop downward due to gravity
silla: Chair; a seat with a back designed for one person
seré: I will be; future tense of ser
elegante: Elegant; graceful and stylish in appearance or manner
trae: Brings or bring; imperative or third person of traer
sin: Without; preposition indicating the absence of something
cuidado: Care or caution; attention given to avoid harm or mistakes
acerque: Approach; subjunctive of acercarse meaning to come near
pistola: Pistol; a small handheld firearm used as a weapon
respondió: Responded; past tense of responder meaning to answer
estaba: Was; imperfect past tense of estar describing a state
dotada: Gifted or endowed; having a natural talent or ability
talento: Talent; a natural aptitude or skill for something
dramático: Dramatic; relating to drama or having theatrical exaggeration
pero: But; conjunction introducing a contrast or exception
había: Had; imperfect of haber used as auxiliary for past perfect
sido: Been; past participle of ser used in perfect tenses
elegida: Chosen or selected; feminine past participle of elegir
era: Was or were; imperfect past tense of ser
bastante: Quite or enough; indicating a sufficient or considerable degree
pequeña: Small or little; feminine adjective describing limited size
ser: To be; fundamental verb expressing identity or permanent traits
sacada: Taken out or removed; feminine past participle of sacar
entre: Among or between; preposition indicating a middle position
gritos: Screams or shouts; loud vocalizations expressing emotion or alarm
por: By or through; preposition indicating agent, cause, or means
villano: Villain; an evil or wicked character in a story
Hazlo: Do it; imperative of hacer with direct object pronoun
así: Like this or so; adverb indicating manner or agreement
Entrelaza: Intertwine or clasp; imperative of entrelazar meaning to interlock
este: This; masculine singular demonstrative adjective indicating nearness
modo: Way or manner; how something is done or performed
tambaléate: Stagger or wobble; imperative of tambalearse meaning to totter
habitación: Room; an enclosed space inside a building for habitation
gritando: Shouting or screaming; gerund of gritar expressing loud speech
frenéticamente: Frantically; in a wildly excited or frenzied manner
Sálvame: Save me; imperative of salvar with reflexive first person pronoun
salió: Left or exited; past tense of salir meaning to go out
disparada: Shot out or rushed; moved very quickly like a fired projectile
grito: Scream or shout; a loud cry expressing strong emotion
melodramático: Melodramatic; exaggeratedly theatrical or emotionally over-the-top
resultó: Turned out or resulted; past tense of resultar
verdaderamente: Truly or really; adverb emphasizing truth or genuine quality
estremecedor: Chilling or hair-raising; causing a strong shudder of emotion

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