If you're taking the DELE C1 or DELE C2, these eight verbs can come up in reading and listening comprehension, and they're also easy to use in the writing and speaking tests: sopesar (to weigh up pros and cons), cotejar (to compare in order to check), vaticinar (to predict), esclarecer and dilucidar (to clarify something confusing), menoscabar (to undermine or diminish), escamotear (to take or hide something on the sly) and embaucar (to trick someone cleverly). I explain each one with examples inspired by newspaper headlines.
If you prefer to watch it, here's the video (in Spanish):
Why learn advanced verbs
At C1 and C2, vocabulary precision is assessed. Saying pensar, comparar or aclarar is fine, but a more precise verb shows you really master the language. And in reading comprehension, especially gap-fill tasks, knowing these verbs saves you a lot of doubt.
1. Sopesar
Meaning: to weigh up the pros and cons of something before making an important decision.
- “El Gobierno sopesa destinar el excedente de vino a otros usos ante la caída de las exportaciones” (The government is weighing up using surplus wine for other purposes as exports fall).
- “Finlandia sopesa avanzar sin Suecia en su proceso de adhesión”.
Close synonyms: considerar, barajar, valorar.
2. Cotejar
Meaning: to compare one thing with another in detail to check whether they match. Common in police or scientific contexts, but not only there.
- “Buscan a familiares de las víctimas para cotejar su ADN con los restos encontrados” (They're looking for victims' relatives to compare their DNA with the remains found).
- “La policía cotejó la voz del sospechoso con la de unos audios”.
3. Vaticinar
Meaning: to predict what's going to happen based on signs or prior knowledge.
- “El hombre del tiempo se hace viral tras vaticinar un verano de temperaturas extremas” (The weatherman goes viral after predicting a summer of extreme temperatures).
- “El analista se atreve a vaticinar el resultado de las elecciones”.
Synonyms: pronosticar, augurar, predecir.
4. Esclarecer
Meaning: to clarify something that was confusing or unclear, providing information that helps you understand it.
- “El ministro afirma que se trabaja desde el primer minuto para esclarecer las causas del incendio” (The minister says work has been under way from the very start to establish the causes of the fire).
- “Un equipo de veterinarios ayuda a esclarecer la muerte de una loba”.
5. Dilucidar
Meaning: very close to esclarecer: to resolve or explain a complex matter and make it understandable. It's often used with especially complicated topics.
- “La policía científica trabaja para dilucidar qué provocó el incendio del edificio”.
- “Un estudio usa la paleogenómica para dilucidar 10 000 años de evolución del sistema inmune” (A study uses paleogenomics to shed light on 10,000 years of immune system evolution).
6. Menoscabar
Meaning: to make something or someone lose value, prestige or importance; to damage or diminish it.
- “Sus declaraciones menoscaban el prestigio de la institución” (His statements undermine the institution's prestige).
- “El ayuntamiento acometerá la obra sin menoscabar el presupuesto municipal”.
7. Escamotear
Meaning: to take away or hide something slyly and cleverly, often deceptively. It's associated with dishonest actions.
- “Investigan a la Administración por escamotear días de vacaciones a los funcionarios” (The administration is being investigated for quietly withholding civil servants' holiday days).
- “Acusan a la aseguradora de pretender escamotear millones a los agricultores afectados por el granizo”.
8. Embaucar
Meaning: to trick someone cleverly, taking advantage of their trust, so that they believe or do something that harms them. The person being tricked doesn't realise it at first.
- “Crean un chatbot capaz de embaucar a los estafadores telefónicos” (They create a chatbot that can trick phone scammers).
- “La estrategia que usan algunos bancos para embaucar a los jóvenes”.
How to use them in the exam
- Writing test: in opinion articles, reports or formal letters, verbs like sopesar, esclarecer or menoscabar instantly raise your register.
- Speaking test: in a negotiation or debate you can say “antes de decidir, tendríamos que sopesar los pros y los contras” or “esta medida podría menoscabar la calidad del servicio”.
- Reading and listening: they often appear in journalistic texts, so recognising them helps you keep track.
A tip to memorise them: learn each verb with a headline and a simpler synonym. For more resources at this level, read structures for the DELE C1 and C2 and idioms and set phrases for the DELE C1 and C2.
FAQ
What's the difference between esclarecer and dilucidar?
They're almost synonyms. Dilucidar is used mainly with especially complex or technical matters; esclarecer is very common with facts that need investigating, like a crime or an accident.
Do escamotear and embaucar mean the same?
No. Escamotear is to take or hide something on the sly; embaucar is to trick a person into believing or doing something. Both have a dishonest nuance.
Are these verbs C1 or C2 level?
They work for both. At C1 they help you raise your register; at C2 you're expected to recognise them and use them naturally. If you're torn between the two levels, read how the DELE C1 differs from the C2.
Summary
- Sopesar: weigh up pros and cons.
- Cotejar: compare to check.
- Vaticinar: predict.
- Esclarecer and dilucidar: clarify something confusing or complex.
- Menoscabar: undermine or diminish.
- Escamotear: take or hide on the sly.
- Embaucar: trick cleverly.
Resources to prepare for the DELE C1 and C2
In my courses I go task by task explaining what you need to do and how long you have, with my tips as an examiner, strategies, commented examples and access to me via chat, plus a group call before each exam session: DELE C1 course and DELE C2 course.
To practise with full exams: A por el DELE C1 and A por el DELE C2, each with 4 exam models.
For free resources and reminders before each exam session, join the newsletter: recursos.aporeldele.com/boletin.
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