Spanish false friends
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
Mi hermano (fingir) estar dormido para no ayudar con los platos.
My brother pretends to be asleep so he doesn't have to help with the dishes.
The rule
A woman who says “Estoy embarazada” to mean “I am embarrassed” has told her listener she is pregnant.
The cognates lesson showed that many Spanish words are the English word in Spanish clothes. This lesson is about the ones that are not: words that look English and mean something else, called false friends. Each entry gives the real meaning, then the Spanish word for the English sense.
Feelings and health
Embarazada means “pregnant”. “Embarrassed” is “avergonzada”, or “avergonzado” for a man.
Constipado means “having a cold”. “Constipated” is “estreñido”.
Sensible means “sensitive”. For someone with good judgement, say “sensato”.
Decepción means “disappointment”. “Deception” is “engaño”.
Things, places and size
Éxito means “success”. An “exit” is “una salida”.
Carpeta means “folder”. A “carpet” is “una alfombra”.
Librería means “bookshop”. A “library” is “una biblioteca”.
Ropa means “clothes”. A “rope” is “una cuerda”.
Fábrica means “factory”. “Fabric” is “tela”.
Largo means “long”. “Large” is “grande”.
Actions and plans
Actualmente means “nowadays” or “currently”. “Actually” is “en realidad”.
Realizar means “to carry out”. “To realise” a fact is “darse cuenta de”.
Asistir means “to attend”. To help someone is “ayudar”.
Soportar means “to put up with”. “To support” someone is “apoyar”.
Recordar means “to remember”. “To record” is “grabar”.
Pretender means “to intend”. “To pretend” is “fingir”.
Introducir means “to insert”. “To introduce” a person is “presentar”.
Molestar means “to bother”. It is a mild word, with none of the weight of English “molest”.
Contestar means “to answer”. It does not mean “to contest”.
Compromiso means “commitment”, and also an obligation such as an appointment. It can mean a compromise between two sides, but you meet it far more often as a commitment.
Examples
- Mi hermana está embarazada.My sister is pregnant.
- Estoy avergonzado porque llego tarde.I am embarrassed because I arrive late.
- Estoy constipado.I have a cold.
- Fue una decepción.It was a disappointment.
- Actualmente vivo en Madrid.I currently live in Madrid.
- Es caro, pero en realidad es bueno.It is expensive, but actually it is good.
- No soporto el ruido.I can't put up with the noise.
- Pongo el archivo en la carpeta.I put the file in the folder.
- Compro un libro en la librería.I buy a book at the bookshop.
- La fábrica está en Valencia.The factory is in Valencia.
- Tiene el pelo largo.She has long hair.
- Recuerdo su nombre.I remember his name.
- Grabo la clase.I record the class.
- Pretendo llegar temprano.I intend to arrive early.
- Te presento a mi amiga.Let me introduce my friend to you.
- Contesto el teléfono.I answer the phone.
- Tengo un compromiso a las cinco.I have a commitment at five.
Watch out
- Me siento embarazada porque me caí. Me siento avergonzada porque me caí.“Embarazada” means pregnant.
- Estoy constipado, no puedo ir al baño. Estoy estreñido, no puedo ir al baño.“Constipado” means having a cold.
- Es una decisión muy sensible. Es una decisión muy sensata.“Sensible” means sensitive.
- Es una decepción: el vendedor nos mintió. Es un engaño: el vendedor nos mintió.To call the lie a deception, use “engaño”; “decepción” is a disappointment.
- La puerta de éxito está allí. La puerta de salida está allí.“Éxito” means success.
- Compré una carpeta para el suelo. Compré una alfombra para el suelo.A carpet for the floor is “alfombra”; “carpeta” is a folder.
- Estudio en la librería de la universidad. Estudio en la biblioteca de la universidad.“Librería” means bookshop.
- Necesito ropa de cinco metros. Necesito una cuerda de cinco metros.“Ropa” means clothes.
- Quiero una pizza larga. Quiero una pizza grande.“Largo” means long.
- Pensé que era caro, pero actualmente es barato. Pensé que era caro, pero en realidad es barato.“Actualmente” means nowadays.
- Realizo que tengo un problema. Me doy cuenta de que tengo un problema.“Realizar” means to carry out.
- Asisto a mi hermano con la tarea. Ayudo a mi hermano con la tarea.“Asistir” means to attend, as in a class or a meeting.
- Pretendo estar dormido. Finjo estar dormido.“Pretender” means to intend.
- Te introduzco a mi amiga. Te presento a mi amiga.“Introducir” means to insert.
What to take into practice
Check what a look-alike means before you use it. Twenty are worth knowing now: “embarazada”, “constipado”, “sensible”, “decepción”, “éxito”, “carpeta”, “librería”, “ropa”, “fábrica”, “largo”, “actualmente”, “realizar”, “asistir”, “soportar”, “recordar”, “pretender”, “introducir”, “molestar”, “contestar” and “compromiso”.
In the exercises you are offered both the look-alike and the word for what you meant, such as “embarazada” and “avergonzada”. Choose the one that fits the sentence.