Difference between revisions of "Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/English-Spanish-False-Cognates"
< Language | Spanish | Vocabulary
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m (Quick edit) |
|||
(5 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
<div class="pg_page_title">130+ English/Spanish False Cognates (False Friends)</div> | <div class="pg_page_title">130+ English/Spanish False Cognates (False Friends)</div> | ||
[[File:english-spanish-false-friends-polyglotclub-wiki.jpg|thumb]] | |||
The term "false friend" or "false cognates" refers to a word that looks like Spanish but in reality has a very different meaning. Considered a real trap when learning Spanish, false friends can very easily mislead an English speaker during conversations with Spanish speakers. We have listed the main meaning of these false friends in English; each definition of course depends on the context in which it is used. | The term "false friend" or "false cognates" refers to a word that looks like Spanish but in reality has a very different meaning. Considered a real trap when learning Spanish, false friends can very easily mislead an English speaker during conversations with Spanish speakers. We have listed the main meaning of these false friends in English; each definition of course depends on the context in which it is used. | ||
Here is a list of more than 150 false friends that you need to know! | Here is a list of more than 150 false friends that you need to know! | ||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
{| class="wikitable" | !spanish word | ||
! | !english translation | ||
! | !english word | ||
! | !spanish translation | ||
! | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |últimamente | ||
|recently | |recently | ||
| | |ultimately | ||
|al final | |al final | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 61: | Line 60: | ||
|acumular (fama, dinero) | |acumular (fama, dinero) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |américa | ||
| | |the americas | ||
| | |america | ||
| | |estados unidos | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |americano | ||
|person from | |person from north or south america | ||
| | |american | ||
|estadounidense | |estadounidense | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 111: | Line 110: | ||
|firma | |firma | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |asistir | ||
|to attend, be present at | |to attend, be present at or to assist | ||
| | |assist | ||
|ayudar | |ayudar | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 156: | Line 155: | ||
|intolerante, prejuicio | |intolerante, prejuicio | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |billón | ||
|( | |(us) trillion, (uk) billion | ||
| | |billion (us) | ||
|mil millones | |mil millones | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |bizarro | ||
|dashing, brave, gallant | |dashing, brave, gallant | ||
| | |bizarre | ||
|extraño | |extraño | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 181: | Line 180: | ||
|cuerpo | |cuerpo | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |bombero | ||
|firefighter | |firefighter | ||
| | |bomber | ||
|bombardero | |bombardero | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 221: | Line 220: | ||
|medio galope | |medio galope | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |carpeta | ||
|folder | |folder | ||
| | |carpet | ||
|alfombra | |alfombra | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 236: | Line 235: | ||
|tarjeta | |tarjeta | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |casualidad | ||
|coincidence, chance | |coincidence, chance | ||
| | |casualty | ||
|víctima | |víctima | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 246: | Line 245: | ||
|tiburón | |tiburón | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |chocar | ||
|strike, collide | |strike, collide | ||
| | |choke | ||
|ahogar | |ahogar | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 256: | Line 255: | ||
|ciudad | |ciudad | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |codo | ||
|elbow | |elbow | ||
| | |code | ||
|código | |código | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |colegio | ||
|high school | |high school | ||
| | |college | ||
|universidad | |universidad | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 296: | Line 295: | ||
|exhaustivo | |exhaustivo | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |compromiso | ||
|obligation, commitment | |obligation, commitment | ||
| | |compromise | ||
|componenda | |componenda | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |condescender | ||
|to comply, agree | |to comply, agree | ||
| | |condescend | ||
|dignarse | |dignarse | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 316: | Line 315: | ||
|estreñimiento | |estreñimiento | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |constipado (n.) | ||
|a cold | |a cold | ||
| | |constipated | ||
|constipado (adj.) | |constipado (adj.) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |contestar | ||
|to answer | |to answer | ||
| | |contest (v.) | ||
|contender | |contender | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 331: | Line 330: | ||
|escribir con | |escribir con | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |corrientemente | ||
|fluently, plainly, flatly | |fluently, plainly, flatly | ||
| | |currently | ||
|actualmente | |actualmente | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 376: | Line 375: | ||
|delincuencia juvenil | |delincuencia juvenil | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |delito | ||
|crime | |crime | ||
| | |delight | ||
|delicia, deleite | |delicia, deleite | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 396: | Line 395: | ||
|deportar | |deportar | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |desgracia | ||
|mistake, misfortune | |mistake, misfortune | ||
| | |disgrace | ||
|vergüenza | |vergüenza | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 411: | Line 410: | ||
|desesperado | |desesperado | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |destituido | ||
|fired, deprived | |fired, deprived | ||
| | |destitute | ||
|indigente | |indigente | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 431: | Line 430: | ||
|conversación | |conversación | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |disgusto | ||
|annoyance, worry | |annoyance, worry | ||
| | |disgust | ||
|asco, repugnancia | |asco, repugnancia | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 446: | Line 445: | ||
|perro | |perro | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |dormitorio | ||
|bedroom | |bedroom | ||
| | |dormitory | ||
|residencia universitaria | |residencia universitaria | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 456: | Line 455: | ||
|culto | |culto | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |embarazada | ||
|pregnant | |pregnant | ||
| | |embarrassed | ||
|avergonzada | |avergonzada | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |empresa | ||
|business enterprise, company | |business enterprise, company | ||
| | |empress | ||
|emperatríz | |emperatríz | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 471: | Line 470: | ||
|emperatriz | |emperatriz | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |enviar | ||
|send | |send | ||
| | |envy (v.) | ||
|envidiar | |envidiar | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 496: | Line 495: | ||
|pala | |pala | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |estimado | ||
|esteemed | |esteemed | ||
| | |estimate | ||
|estimacíon, presupuesto | |estimacíon, presupuesto | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |estrechar | ||
|to narrow, bring closer together | |to narrow, bring closer together | ||
| | |stretch | ||
|estirar, alargar | |estirar, alargar | ||
|- | |- | ||
|estuve | |estuve | ||
| | |i was | ||
|stove | |stove | ||
|estufa | |estufa | ||
Line 521: | Line 520: | ||
|emocionado | |emocionado | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |éxito | ||
|success, hit | |success, hit | ||
| | |exit | ||
|salida | |salida | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 536: | Line 535: | ||
|desconocido | |desconocido | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |fábrica | ||
|factory | |factory | ||
| | |fabric | ||
|tela | |tela | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 556: | Line 555: | ||
|maricón | |maricón | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |grosería | ||
|grossness, crudeness | |grossness, crudeness | ||
| | |grocery | ||
|abarrotería, tienda de comestibles | |abarrotería, tienda de comestibles | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |introducir | ||
|insert | |insert | ||
| | |introduce (someone) | ||
|presentar | |presentar | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |largo | ||
|long | |long | ||
| | |large | ||
|grande | |grande | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |lectura | ||
|reading | |reading | ||
| | |lecture | ||
|conferencia | |conferencia | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |librería | ||
|bookstore | |bookstore | ||
| | |library | ||
|biblioteca | |biblioteca | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |mantel | ||
|tablecloth | |tablecloth | ||
| | |mantel | ||
|manto, mesilla | |manto, mesilla | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |molestar | ||
|bother | |bother | ||
| | |molest | ||
|abusar (sexualmente) | |abusar (sexualmente) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |nudo | ||
|knot | |knot | ||
| | |nude | ||
|desnudo | |desnudo | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |parada | ||
|stop, e.g. bus stop | |stop, e.g. bus stop | ||
| | |parade | ||
|desfile | |desfile | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |pariente | ||
|relative | |relative | ||
| | |parent | ||
|padre | |padre | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |preocupado | ||
|worried | |worried | ||
| | |preoccupied | ||
|distraído | |distraído | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |pretender | ||
|to attempt, to woo | |to attempt, to woo | ||
| | |pretend | ||
|fingir | |fingir | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |realizar | ||
|to come true | |to come true | ||
| | |realize | ||
|darse cuenta | |darse cuenta | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |recordar | ||
|to remember, remind | |to remember, remind | ||
| | |record | ||
|grabar | |grabar | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |ropa | ||
|clothes | |clothes | ||
| | |rope | ||
|cuerda | |cuerda | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |sano | ||
|healthy | |healthy | ||
| | |sane | ||
|cuerdo | |cuerdo | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |sopa | ||
|soup | |soup | ||
| | |soap | ||
|jabón | |jabón | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |soportar | ||
|tolerate, put up with | |tolerate, put up with | ||
| | |support | ||
|apoyar | |apoyar | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |suceso | ||
|event | |event | ||
| | |success | ||
|éxito | |éxito | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |tuna | ||
|prickly pear | |prickly pear | ||
| | |tuna | ||
|atún | |atún | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |vaso | ||
|drinking glass | |drinking glass | ||
| | |vase | ||
|jarrón, florero | |jarrón, florero | ||
|} | |} | ||
Line 667: | Line 666: | ||
}} | }} | ||
[[Category:Spanish/Beginner]] | [[Category:Spanish/Beginner]] | ||
==Videos== | |||
===Spanish English False Cognates / False Friends(8 most common ...=== | |||
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wQq9wXqQpY</youtube> | |||
==Related Lessons== | |||
* [[Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Informal-abbreviations|Informal abbreviations]] | |||
* [[Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Botanical-Vocabulary|Botanical Vocabulary]] | |||
* [[Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Clothes|Clothes]] | |||
* [[Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/The-4-Seasons|The 4 Seasons]] | |||
* [[Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Spanish-Slang|Spanish Slang]] | |||
* [[Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Fruits|Fruits]] | |||
* [[Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Count-from-1-to-10|Count from 1 to 10]] | |||
* [[Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Kitchen|Kitchen]] | |||
* [[Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Cycling|Cycling]] | |||
* [[Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Abreviaciones-al-escribir|Abreviaciones al escribir]] | |||
* [[Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/Months-of-the-Year|Months of the Year]] |
Latest revision as of 12:49, 6 March 2023
130+ English/Spanish False Cognates (False Friends)
The term "false friend" or "false cognates" refers to a word that looks like Spanish but in reality has a very different meaning. Considered a real trap when learning Spanish, false friends can very easily mislead an English speaker during conversations with Spanish speakers. We have listed the main meaning of these false friends in English; each definition of course depends on the context in which it is used.
Here is a list of more than 150 false friends that you need to know!
spanish word | english translation | english word | spanish translation |
---|---|---|---|
últimamente | recently | ultimately | al final |
abogado | lawyer | avocado | aguacate, among others |
acostar | lie down | accost | abordar (a alguien) |
actual | current | actual | real |
adecuado | suitable | adequate | apropiado |
advertencia | warning | advertisement | publicidad |
agenda | a notebook for one's schedule | agenda | orden del día, segunda intención |
agonizante | dying | agonizing | angustioso |
alianza | wedding ring | alliance | alianza |
amasar | knead | amass | acumular (fama, dinero) |
américa | the americas | america | estados unidos |
americano | person from north or south america | american | estadounidense |
animador | presenter, entertainer | animator | animador |
apalear | beat (with a stick) | appall | horrorizar |
aprehensión | detention | apprehension | aprensión |
arena | sand | arena | arena |
argumento | plot | argument | discusión |
arma | weapon | arm | brazo |
as | ace | ass | culo, asno |
asignatura | subject | signature | firma |
asistir | to attend, be present at or to assist | assist | ayudar |
atender | to pay attention | attend | asistir |
avisar | inform, warn | advice | aconsejar |
bachillerato | high school diploma | bachelor's degree | licenciatura |
bailarina | dancer | ballerina | bailarina de ballet |
balde | bucket | bald | calvo |
barco | boat, ship | bark | corteza, ladrar |
basamento | base of a column | basement | sótano |
bigote | moustache | bigot | intolerante, prejuicio |
billón | (us) trillion, (uk) billion | billion (us) | mil millones |
bizarro | dashing, brave, gallant | bizarre | extraño |
blanco | white | blank | en blanco |
blando | soft | bland | soso, insípido |
boda | wedding | body | cuerpo |
bombero | firefighter | bomber | bombardero |
brincar | hop, jump | brink | borde de un abismo |
bulla | racket, noise | bull | toro |
café | coffee, café | café | cafetería |
cafetería | café | cafeteria | cantina |
campo | countryside | camp | campamento |
cancelar una deuda | pay off a debt | cancel | cancelar |
cantera | stone quarry | canter | medio galope |
carpeta | folder | carpet | alfombra |
carrera | race, university degree, career | career | carrera |
carta | letter | card | tarjeta |
casualidad | coincidence, chance | casualty | víctima |
charco | puddle | shark | tiburón |
chocar | strike, collide | choke | ahogar |
cita | appointment | city | ciudad |
codo | elbow | code | código |
colegio | high school | college | universidad |
comodidad | comfort | commodity | producto |
compás | pair of compasses | compass | brújula |
complaciente | accomodating, pleasing | complacent | conforme, autocomplaciente |
complemento | accessory, complement | compliment | piropo |
complexión | a person's build | complexion | tez |
comprensivo | understanding | comprehensive | exhaustivo |
compromiso | obligation, commitment | compromise | componenda |
condescender | to comply, agree | condescend | dignarse |
conductor | driver | conductor | director de orquesta |
constipación | cold (sickness) | constipation | estreñimiento |
constipado (n.) | a cold | constipated | constipado (adj.) |
contestar | to answer | contest (v.) | contender |
corresponder | to correspond to | to correspond with | escribir con |
corrientemente | fluently, plainly, flatly | currently | actualmente |
costumbre | habit | costume | disfraz |
crudo | raw | crude | grosero |
culo | butt, ass | cull | matanza selectiva |
cuota | fee | quote | presupuesto |
currante | worker | currant | grosella |
data | date | data | datos |
decepción | disappointment | deception | engaño |
delincuencia | crime | delinquency | delincuencia juvenil |
delito | crime | delight | delicia, deleite |
demandar | sue | demand | exigir |
denunciar un delito | to report a crime | denounce | denunciar |
deporte | sport | deport | deportar |
desgracia | mistake, misfortune | disgrace | vergüenza |
designación | nomination | designation | atribución |
despertar | to wake up | desperate | desesperado |
destituido | fired, deprived | destitute | indigente |
dinero | money | dinner | cena |
direcciones | addresses | directions | instrucciones |
discusión | argument | discussion | conversación |
disgusto | annoyance, worry | disgust | asco, repugnancia |
diversión | fun | diversion | desviación, distracción |
dogo | mastiff | dog | perro |
dormitorio | bedroom | dormitory | residencia universitaria |
educado | polite | educated | culto |
embarazada | pregnant | embarrassed | avergonzada |
empresa | business enterprise, company | empress | emperatríz |
empresa | company | empress | emperatriz |
enviar | send | envy (v.) | envidiar |
envolver | to wrap | involve | involucrar |
escolar | schoolboy | scholar | erudito |
esmoquin | tuxedo | smoking | fumando |
espada | sword | spade | pala |
estimado | esteemed | estimate | estimacíon, presupuesto |
estrechar | to narrow, bring closer together | stretch | estirar, alargar |
estuve | i was | stove | estufa |
eventualmente | by chance, occasionally | eventually | al final, a la larga |
excitado | aroused | excited | emocionado |
éxito | success, hit | exit | salida |
éxito | success | exit | salida |
extranjero | foreigner | stranger | desconocido |
fábrica | factory | fabric | tela |
fábrica | factory | fabric | tela |
facilidad | ease | facility | instalación |
fagot | bassoon | faggot | maricón |
grosería | grossness, crudeness | grocery | abarrotería, tienda de comestibles |
introducir | insert | introduce (someone) | presentar |
largo | long | large | grande |
lectura | reading | lecture | conferencia |
librería | bookstore | library | biblioteca |
mantel | tablecloth | mantel | manto, mesilla |
molestar | bother | molest | abusar (sexualmente) |
nudo | knot | nude | desnudo |
parada | stop, e.g. bus stop | parade | desfile |
pariente | relative | parent | padre |
preocupado | worried | preoccupied | distraído |
pretender | to attempt, to woo | pretend | fingir |
realizar | to come true | realize | darse cuenta |
recordar | to remember, remind | record | grabar |
ropa | clothes | rope | cuerda |
sano | healthy | sane | cuerdo |
sopa | soup | soap | jabón |
soportar | tolerate, put up with | support | apoyar |
suceso | event | success | éxito |
tuna | prickly pear | tuna | atún |
vaso | drinking glass | vase | jarrón, florero |
Videos[edit | edit source]
Spanish English False Cognates / False Friends(8 most common ...[edit | edit source]