Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/English-Spanish-False-Cognates
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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]