War and Peace — Page 3

English → Spanish CHAPTER II Level 8/10

The little princess went round the table with quick, short, swaying steps, her workbag on her arm, and gaily spreading out her dress sat down on a sofa near the silver samovar, as if all she was doing was a pleasure to herself and to all around her.

La pequeña princesa rodeó la mesa con pasos rápidos, cortos y bamboleantes, su bolso de labor en el brazo, y alegremente desplegando su vestido se sentó en un sofá cerca del plateado samovar, como si todo lo que hacía fuera un placer para ella misma y para todos los que la rodeaban.

"I have brought my work," said she in French, displaying her bag and addressing all present.

«He traído mi labor», dijo ella en francés, mostrando su bolso y dirigiéndose a todos los presentes.

"Mind, Annette, I hope you have not played a wicked trick on me," she added, turning to her hostess.

«Fíjate, Annette, espero que no me hayas jugado una mala pasada», añadió, volviéndose hacia su anfitriona.

"You wrote that it was to be quite a small reception, and just see how badly I am dressed."

«Escribiste que iba a ser una recepción muy pequeña, y mira qué mal vestida estoy».

And she spread out her arms to show her short-waisted, lace-trimmed, dainty gray dress, girdled with a broad ribbon just below the breast.

Y extendió los brazos para mostrar su delicado vestido gris de talle corto y adornado con encajes, ceñido con una amplia cinta justo por debajo del pecho.

"Soyez tranquille, Lise, you will always be prettier than anyone else," replied Anna Pávlovna.

«Soyez tranquille, Lise, siempre serás más bonita que nadie», respondió Anna Pávlovna.

"You know," said the princess in the same tone of voice and still in French, turning to a general, "my husband is deserting me?

«¿Sabe usted», dijo la princesa en el mismo tono de voz y todavía en francés, volviéndose hacia un general, «que mi marido me está abandonando?

He is going to get himself killed.

Va a hacer que lo maten.

Tell me what this wretched war is for?" she added, addressing Prince Vasíli, and without waiting for an answer she turned to speak to his daughter, the beautiful Hélène.

Dígame, ¿para qué sirve esta maldita guerra?», añadió, dirigiéndose al príncipe Vasíli, y sin esperar respuesta se volvió para hablar con su hija, la hermosa Hélène.

"What a delightful woman this little princess is!" said Prince Vasíli to Anna Pávlovna.

«¡Qué mujer tan encantadora es esta pequeña princesa!», le dijo el príncipe Vasíli a Anna Pávlovna.

One of the next arrivals was a stout, heavily built young man with close-cropped hair, spectacles, the light-colored breeches fashionable at that time, a very high ruffle, and a brown dress coat.

Uno de los siguientes en llegar era un joven corpulento y de complexión robusta, con el pelo muy corto, gafas, los pantalones de color claro que estaban de moda en aquella época, un volante muy alto y una levita marrón.

Vocabulary

pequeña: Small or little; describes something of diminutive size.
princesa: A princess; a female member of a royal family.
rodeó: Went around or encircled something or someone.
mesa: A table; a piece of furniture with a flat top.
pasos: Steps or strides taken while walking or moving.
rápidos: Fast or quick; describes speed of movement or action.
cortos: Short; describes something of limited length or duration.
bamboleantes: Swaying or wobbling; moving unsteadily from side to side.
bolso: A handbag or purse carried by a person.
labor: Work or needlework; a task or craft project.
brazo: An arm; the upper limb of the human body.
alegremente: Cheerfully or happily; in a joyful and lively manner.
desplegando: Spreading out or unfolding; displaying something wide open.
vestido: A dress; a one-piece garment worn by women.
sentó: Sat down; took a seated position somewhere.
sofá: A sofa or couch; an upholstered seat for multiple people.
cerca: Near or close to; indicates proximity to something.
plateado: Silver-colored; having the shiny appearance of silver metal.
samovar: A metal urn used for heating and serving tea.
todo: Everything or all; refers to the totality of something.
hacía: Was doing or making; imperfect tense of 'hacer.'
fuera: Were; subjunctive form of 'ser' indicating hypothetical state.
placer: Pleasure or delight; a feeling of enjoyment or satisfaction.
misma: Herself or same; emphasizes identity or sameness of subject.
todos: Everyone or all; refers to an entire group of people.
rodeaban: Were surrounding or encircling someone or something.
traído: Brought; past participle of 'traer,' to bring.
dijo: Said; third-person singular preterite of 'decir.'
francés: French; relating to France, its language, or its people.
mostrando: Showing; present participle of 'mostrar,' to show.
dirigiéndose: Addressing or turning toward; directing oneself to someone.
presentes: Those present; people attending or in the same location.
Fíjate: Notice or look; informal command to pay attention.
espero: I hope or I wait; first-person singular of 'esperar.'
hayas: Have; second-person singular present subjunctive of 'haber.'
jugado: Played; past participle of 'jugar,' to play or trick.
mala: Bad or evil; feminine form of the adjective 'malo.'
pasada: A trick or prank; also past or gone by.
añadió: Added; said additionally; preterite of 'añadir.'
volviéndose: Turning toward; reflexive gerund of 'volver,' to turn.
hacia: Toward; preposition indicating direction of movement or gaze.
anfitriona: Hostess; a woman who hosts guests at a gathering.
Escribiste: You wrote; second-person singular preterite of 'escribir.'
iba: Was going; imperfect tense of 'ir,' to go.
recepción: A reception; a formal social gathering or welcoming event.
mira: Look; informal imperative of 'mirar,' to look or see.
mal: Badly or poorly; adverb indicating something done incorrectly.
vestida: Dressed; past participle describing how someone is clothed.
extendió: Extended or stretched out; preterite of 'extender.'
brazos: Arms; plural of 'brazo,' the upper limbs of the body.
mostrar: To show; to display or reveal something to others.
delicado: Delicate or fine; describes something fragile or elegant.
gris: Gray; a neutral color between black and white.
talle: Waist or figure; the narrow part of the human torso.
corto: Short; of limited length, height, or duration.
adornado: Adorned or decorated; embellished with ornamental details.
encajes: Lace trimmings; delicate decorative fabric with open patterns.
ceñido: Fitted or cinched; tightly fastened around the body.
amplia: Wide or broad; describes something spacious or generous in size.
cinta: A ribbon or band; a narrow strip of fabric.
justo: Just or right below; precisely at a specific point.
debajo: Below or underneath; indicates a lower position or placement.
pecho: Chest or breast; the front part of the upper torso.
siempre: Always; at all times without exception.
serás: You will be; second-person singular future of 'ser.'
bonita: Pretty or lovely; an attractive and pleasing appearance.
nadie: Nobody or no one; refers to an absence of persons.
respondió: Responded or answered; preterite of 'responder.'
Sabe: Knows; third-person singular present of 'saber.'
usted: You; formal second-person singular pronoun in Spanish.
mismo: Same or himself; emphasizes identity or sameness of subject.
tono: Tone; the quality or character of a voice or sound.
voz: Voice; the sound produced by a person when speaking.
todavía: Still or yet; indicates continuation of a state or action.
general: A general; a high-ranking military officer.
marido: Husband; a man who is married to someone.
abandonando: Abandoning or leaving; departing and deserting someone behind.
hacer: To do or make; a common and versatile Spanish verb.
maten: Kill; third-person plural present subjunctive of 'matar.'
Dígame: Tell me; formal imperative of 'decir' used politely.
sirve: Serves or is useful; third-person singular of 'servir.'
maldita: Damned or cursed; an expletive adjective expressing frustration.
guerra: War; armed conflict between nations or groups.
príncipe: A prince; a male member of a royal family.
sin: Without; preposition indicating the absence of something.
esperar: To wait or to hope; expecting or anticipating something.
respuesta: An answer or response; a reply to a question.
volvió: Returned or turned back; preterite of 'volver.'
hablar: To speak or talk; the basic verb of verbal communication.
hija: Daughter; a female child in relation to her parents.
hermosa: Beautiful or gorgeous; a strong compliment for appearance.
mujer: Woman or wife; an adult female person.
tan: So or such; adverb intensifying an adjective or adverb.
encantadora: Charming or delightful; a person who captivates others easily.
siguientes: Following or next; refers to what comes after in sequence.
llegar: To arrive; to reach a destination or place.
era: Was; third-person singular imperfect tense of 'ser.'
joven: Young; describes a person or thing of relatively few years.
corpulento: Stout or heavyset; describes a large and thick-bodied person.
complexión: Build or complexion; a person's physical constitution or appearance.
robusta: Robust or sturdy; physically strong and solidly built.
pelo: Hair; the strands growing from a person's head.
gafas: Glasses or spectacles; eyewear used to correct vision.
pantalones: Trousers or pants; a garment covering the lower body.
color: Color; the visual property produced by different wavelengths of light.
claro: Light or clear; describes a pale shade or obvious clarity.
estaban: Were; third-person plural imperfect tense of 'estar.'
moda: Fashion or trend; the prevailing style at a given time.
aquella: That; feminine demonstrative adjective referring to something distant.
época: Era or epoch; a period of time with distinct characteristics.
volante: A ruffle or frill; a decorative flounce on clothing.
alto: High or tall; describes elevated height or position.
levita: A frock coat; a long formal coat worn by men.
marrón: Brown; a dark color resembling wood or earth tones.

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