The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself — Page 3

Vocabulary

Está

Third person singular present of 'estar,' meaning 'is'

situado

Located or positioned in a particular place

casi

Almost or nearly, indicating approximation

bajo

Under or below; also means low

ecuador

The equator, imaginary line around Earth's middle

se

Reflexive pronoun used with reflexive or passive verbs

extiende

Extends or stretches out over a distance

lo

Neuter article or direct object pronoun meaning 'it'

largo

Long in length; used in 'a lo largo de' meaning along

costa

Coast or shoreline along a body of water

unas

Indefinite article meaning 'about' or 'some' (feminine plural)

millas

Miles, units of distance measurement

pero

Conjunction meaning 'but,' indicating contrast

penetra

Penetrates or goes deep into an area

hacia

Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'in the direction of'

interior

The inner or inland part of a region

África

Africa, the world's second-largest continent

distancia

Distance, the space between two points

hasta

Until or up to a certain point or time

ahora

Now, at the present moment

creo

I believe or I think, expressing personal opinion

ningún

No or not any, negating a noun

viajero

A traveler or someone who journeys to places

ha

Has, auxiliary verb for present perfect tense

explorado

Explored, past participle of 'explorar'

parece

Seems or appears to be a certain way

estar

To be, indicating state or condition

terminado

Finished or ended; past participle of 'terminar'

únicamente

Only or solely, exclusively and nothing else

por

Preposition meaning 'by,' 'for,' or 'through'

imperio

Empire, a large political entity ruled by an emperor

Abisinia

Abyssinia, historical name for present-day Ethiopia

su

Possessive pronoun meaning 'his,' 'her,' or 'its'

inicio

Beginning or start of something

Este

This, demonstrative adjective for masculine singular nouns

reino

Kingdom, a territory ruled by a king or queen

está

Is, third person singular present tense of 'estar'

dividido

Divided or split into parts or sections

muchas

Many or a large number of (feminine plural)

provincias

Provinces, administrative divisions of a country or region

distritos

Districts, subdivisions of a larger administrative region

uno

One, the number or indefinite pronoun

más

More or most, used for comparison

remotos

Remote or distant, far from populated or central areas

fértiles

Fertile, capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops

ellos

They or them, third person plural pronoun

llamado

Called or named, past participle of 'llamar'

nací

I was born, first person past tense of 'nacer'

yo

I, the first person singular subject pronoun

año

Year, a period of twelve months

encantador

Charming or delightful, very pleasing and attractive

fructífero

Fruitful or productive, yielding good results or crops

valle

Valley, a low area between hills or mountains

esta

This, demonstrative adjective for feminine singular nouns

provincia

Province, an administrative division of a country

desde

From or since, indicating a starting point

capital

Capital city, the main city of a country or region

del

Contraction of 'de' and 'el,' meaning 'of the'

mar

Sea, a large body of salt water

debe

Must or should, expressing obligation or deduction

ser

To be, indicating identity or inherent characteristics

muy

Very, intensifying an adjective or adverb

considerable

Considerable, large or significant in size or extent

pues

Since, because, or well, used for reasoning or emphasis

nunca

Never, at no time or not ever

había

Had, imperfect tense of 'haber' used as auxiliary verb

oído

Heard, past participle of 'oír'

hablar

To speak or talk, a common Spanish verb

hombres

Men, adult male human beings

blancos

White, referring to color or white-skinned people

europeos

Europeans, people from the continent of Europe

ni

Nor, neither; used to connect negative alternatives

nuestra

Our, possessive adjective for first person plural

sujeción

Subjection or submission to authority or control

al

Contraction of 'a' and 'el,' meaning 'to the'

rey

King, a male monarch ruling a kingdom

era

Was, imperfect tense of 'ser,' indicating past state

poco

Little or few, a small amount of something

nominal

Nominal, existing in name only, not in reality

cada

Each or every, referring to individual members of a group

asunto

Matter, issue, or subject being dealt with

gobierno

Government, the system or group that rules a state

donde

Where, indicating a place or location

alcanzaba

Reached or extended to a certain point (past imperfect)

mi

My, possessive adjective for first person singular

escasa

Scarce or limited, insufficient in amount or extent

observación

Observation, the act of watching or noticing carefully

llevado

Carried out or conducted, past participle of 'llevar'

cabo

Cape or end; 'llevar a cabo' means to carry out

jefes

Chiefs or leaders, those in positions of authority

ancianos

Elders or elderly people, respected older members of community

lugar

Place or location, a specific spot or area

costumbres

Customs or habits, traditional practices of a group

pueblo

People or town, a community or small settlement

tiene

Has or have, third person singular of 'tener'

comercio

Commerce or trade, buying and selling of goods

con

With, preposition indicating accompaniment or association

otros

Other or others, different people or things

países

Countries, nations with defined territories and governments

son

Are, third person plural present tense of 'ser'

generalmente

Generally or usually, in most cases or situations

simples

Simple or plain, uncomplicated and straightforward

historia

History or story, a narrative of past events

ocurre

Occurs or happens, takes place at a given time

familia

Family, a group of related people living together

aldea

Village, a small rural community or settlement

puede

Can or may, third person singular of 'poder'

servir

To serve or to be useful for a purpose

como

As or like, used for comparison or function

muestra

Sample or example, a representative specimen of something

nación

Nation, a large group of people sharing culture and territory

Mi

My, possessive adjective for first person singular

padre

Father, a male parent

esos

Those, demonstrative pronoun for masculine plural nouns

he

I have, first person singular of 'haber' auxiliary

hablado

Spoken, past participle of 'hablar'

término

Term or word, a specific expression with defined meaning

según

According to, as stated or indicated by someone

recuerdo

I remember or a memory, recollection of past events

implicaba

Implied or involved, past imperfect of 'implicar'

alta

High or tall, elevated in position or status

distinción

Distinction or honor, a mark of excellence or difference

significaba

Meant or signified, past imperfect of 'significar'

lengua

Language or tongue, a system of communication

marca

Mark or brand, a visible sign or indicator

grandeza

Greatness or grandeur, the quality of being magnificent