False friendsfalsos amigos
40 entries
Spanish words that look like English words you know. They don't mean what you'd guess. Study them as a set so the wrong reflex doesn't slip out at the doctor's office.
looks like “constipated”
actually: having a head cold / congested
for 'constipated' use 'estreñido'
“Estoy constipado, llevo dos días con mocos.” — I have a cold — I've been congested for two days.
looks like “embarrassed”
actually: pregnant
for 'embarrassed' use 'avergonzado' or 'me da vergüenza'
“Mi hermana está embarazada de cinco meses.” — My sister is five months pregnant.
looks like “actually”
actually: currently / at present
for 'actually' use 'en realidad' or 'de hecho'
“Actualmente vivo en Madrid.” — I currently live in Madrid.
looks like “to assist”
actually: to attend (a meeting, class, event)
for 'to assist' use 'ayudar'
“Voy a asistir a la conferencia mañana.” — I'm going to attend the conference tomorrow.
looks like “sensible / reasonable”
actually: sensitive (emotionally)
for 'sensible' use 'sensato' or 'razonable'
“Es muy sensible, llora con cualquier película.” — He's very sensitive, he cries at any film.
looks like “exit”
actually: success
for 'exit' use 'salida'
“El proyecto fue un éxito rotundo.” — The project was a resounding success.
looks like “rope”
actually: clothes / clothing
for 'rope' use 'cuerda'
“Compré ropa nueva para el viaje.” — I bought new clothes for the trip.
looks like “soap”
actually: soup
for 'soap' use 'jabón'
“Esta sopa de lentejas está deliciosa.” — This lentil soup is delicious.
looks like “carpet”
actually: folder (physical or digital)
for 'carpet' use 'alfombra'
“Guardo todos los documentos en esta carpeta.” — I keep all the documents in this folder.
looks like “to molest”
actually: to bother / annoy (totally neutral)
for 'to molest' use 'abusar (sexualmente)'
“Perdona, no quería molestarte.” — Sorry, I didn't want to bother you.
looks like “fabric (cloth)”
actually: factory
for 'fabric' use 'tela'
“Mi tío trabaja en una fábrica de coches.” — My uncle works in a car factory.
looks like “library”
actually: bookshop / bookstore
for 'library' use 'biblioteca'
“Pasé por la librería y compré dos novelas.” — I stopped by the bookshop and bought two novels.
looks like “to introduce (a person)”
actually: to insert / to introduce (a topic/object)
for 'to introduce (a person)' use 'presentar'
“Tienes que introducir el código PIN.” — You have to enter the PIN code.
looks like “to discuss (have a conversation)”
actually: to argue / quarrel
for 'to discuss' use 'hablar de' or 'comentar'
“Mis padres siempre discuten por dinero.” — My parents are always arguing about money.
looks like “pregnant-related (extension of embarazada)”
actually: embarrassing / awkward
this one IS embarrassing — adjective form, not pregnancy-related
“Fue una situación muy embarazosa.” — It was a very embarrassing situation.
looks like “compromise (meet in the middle)”
actually: commitment / engagement (often an obligation)
for 'compromise' use 'acuerdo' or 'transigir'
“Tengo un compromiso esta noche, no puedo.” — I have a commitment tonight, I can't.
looks like “to pretend (fake)”
actually: to intend / aspire / aim to
for 'to pretend' use 'fingir' or 'hacer como que'
“Pretendo terminar el libro este mes.” — I intend to finish the book this month.
looks like “to realize (mentally)”
actually: to carry out / perform / produce
for 'to realize' use 'darse cuenta de'
“Vamos a realizar un experimento.” — We're going to carry out an experiment.
looks like “to support (back / help)”
actually: to tolerate / endure / put up with
for 'to support' use 'apoyar' (back), 'sostener' (hold up)
“No soporto el calor de agosto en Madrid.” — I can't stand the August heat in Madrid.
looks like “topic”
actually: cliché / stereotype
for 'topic' use 'tema'
“Eso es un tópico, no es así para nada.” — That's a cliché, it's not like that at all.
looks like “argument (verbal fight)”
actually: argument (reasoning) OR plot (of a film/book)
for 'argument (fight)' use 'discusión' or 'pelea'
“El argumento de la película es flojo.” — The plot of the film is weak.
looks like “assignation (secret meeting)”
actually: allocation / allowance / homework assignment
for 'assignation' use 'cita clandestina'
“Recibí mi asignación mensual.” — I received my monthly allowance.
looks like “to attend (be present)”
actually: to attend to / serve (customer) / pay attention
for 'to attend (an event)' use 'asistir'
“¿Le atienden ya?” — Are you being served?
looks like “bald (no hair)”
actually: bucket / pail
for 'bald' use 'calvo'
“Llena el balde de agua.” — Fill the bucket with water.
looks like “camp (encampment)”
actually: field / countryside / domain
for 'camp' use 'campamento'
“Pasé el verano en el campo.” — I spent the summer in the countryside.
looks like “casualty (war victim)”
actually: coincidence / chance
for 'casualty' use 'víctima' or 'baja'
“Qué casualidad encontrarte aquí.” — What a coincidence to run into you here.
looks like “deception (lie)”
actually: disappointment
for 'deception' use 'engaño'
“Qué decepción, esperaba más.” — What a disappointment, I was expecting more.
looks like “delight (joy)”
actually: crime / offence
for 'delight' use 'placer' or 'deleite'
“Robar es un delito grave.” — Stealing is a serious crime.
looks like “destitute (poor)”
actually: to dismiss / remove from office
for 'destitute' use 'indigente' or 'sin recursos'
“Destituyeron al director.” — They dismissed the director.
looks like “direction (north/south)”
actually: address (postal) OR direction (in the geo sense too)
both meanings exist — context distinguishes
“¿Cuál es tu dirección? Te envío el paquete.” — What's your address? I'll send you the package.
looks like “to envy (negative)”
actually: to envy (often used positively — admire-with-longing)
'te envidio' can be a compliment in Spanish
“Te envidio, vives en el sitio que yo soñé.” — I envy you — you live in the place I dreamed of.
looks like “facility (building)”
actually: ease / skill / ability
for 'facility (building)' use 'instalación'
“Tiene mucha facilidad para los idiomas.” — She has a real gift for languages.
looks like “groceries”
actually: rude words / coarse remarks
for 'groceries' use 'la compra' or 'los comestibles'
“Deja de decir groserías delante de los niños.” — Stop saying rude things in front of the kids.
looks like “lecture (talk)”
actually: reading (the act / a reading)
for 'lecture' use 'conferencia' or 'clase magistral'
“La lectura es mi hobby favorito.” — Reading is my favourite hobby.
looks like “particular (specific)”
actually: private / personal
for 'particular (specific)' use 'concreto' or 'específico'
“Doy clases particulares de español.” — I give private Spanish lessons.
looks like “record (vinyl)”
actually: record (achievement) — never the vinyl
for 'record (vinyl)' use 'disco'
“Batió el récord mundial.” — He broke the world record.
looks like “to record (audio/video)”
actually: to remember / to remind
for 'to record' use 'grabar'
“Recuerdo aquel verano perfectamente.” — I remember that summer perfectly.
looks like “salve (ointment)”
actually: except / safe
for 'salve' use 'pomada' or 'ungüento'
“Todos vinieron salvo Pablo.” — Everyone came except Pablo.
looks like “sympathetic (compassionate)”
actually: nice / friendly / likeable
for 'sympathetic' use 'comprensivo' or 'compasivo'
“Tu jefa es muy simpática.” — Your boss is very nice.
looks like “success”
actually: event / incident (often a tragic news story)
for 'success' use 'éxito'
“La sección de sucesos del periódico.” — The news/incidents section of the paper.