[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":1527},["ShallowReactive",2],{"article-\u002Farticles\u002Fspanish-false-friends":3},{"_path":4,"_dir":5,"_draft":6,"_partial":6,"_locale":7,"title":8,"description":9,"date":10,"author":11,"category":12,"tags":13,"body":18,"_type":1521,"_id":1522,"_source":1523,"_file":1524,"_stem":1525,"_extension":1526},"\u002Farticles\u002Fspanish-false-friends","articles",false,"","Spanish False Friends: The Words That Look Like English But Mean Something Else","The Spanish false cognates (falsos amigos) that trip up English speakers most often, ranked by frequency and by the embarrassment they cause.","2026-06-05T00:00:00+00:00","Michael McGettrick","Methodology",[14,15,16,17],"spanish vocabulary","false friends","spanish false cognates","language learning",{"type":19,"children":20,"toc":1488},"root",[21,30,44,49,56,61,68,78,97,102,108,118,123,135,141,151,177,183,193,198,217,223,233,245,250,256,262,272,289,295,305,316,321,327,337,354,360,370,395,400,406,416,433,438,444,454,465,470,476,486,497,502,508,513,519,529,534,546,551,557,567,572,583,588,594,604,615,621,631,636,653,659,669,674,693,699,709,714,731,737,747,758,763,769,774,1319,1325,1330,1335,1358,1363,1369,1374,1416,1422],{"type":22,"tag":23,"props":24,"children":26},"element","h1",{"id":25},"spanish-false-friends",[27],{"type":28,"value":29},"text","Spanish False Friends",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":32,"children":33},"p",{},[34,36,42],{"type":28,"value":35},"False friends, or ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":38,"children":39},"strong",{},[40],{"type":28,"value":41},"falsos amigos",{"type":28,"value":43},", are words that look identical or near-identical to English words but mean something different. Spanish has more of them than most learners realise: roughly 30-40% of Spanish vocabulary overlaps with English in spelling or pronunciation through shared Latin and Greek roots, and within that overlap, a meaningful number of words have drifted to mean something different in the two languages. The result is a recurring trap: a learner sees a Spanish word, assumes it means the obvious English equivalent, and produces a sentence that means something else entirely.",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":45,"children":46},{},[47],{"type":28,"value":48},"This article catalogues the most common Spanish-English false friends, ranked roughly by frequency. The first batch are the ones that cause real comprehension breakdowns; the second batch are the ones that cause amusing or embarrassing misunderstandings; the third batch are the more subtle drift cases that intermediate learners still get wrong.",{"type":22,"tag":50,"props":51,"children":53},"h2",{"id":52},"the-high-frequency-embarrassing-ones",[54],{"type":28,"value":55},"The high-frequency embarrassing ones",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":57,"children":58},{},[59],{"type":28,"value":60},"These are the false friends that produce the most memorable failures for English speakers. Memorise them as a unit.",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":63,"children":65},"h3",{"id":64},"embarazada-vs-embarrassed",[66],{"type":28,"value":67},"Embarazada vs embarrassed",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":69,"children":70},{},[71,76],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":72,"children":73},{},[74],{"type":28,"value":75},"Embarazada",{"type":28,"value":77}," does NOT mean \"embarrassed.\" It means \"pregnant.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":79,"children":80},{},[81,83,88,90,95],{"type":28,"value":82},"If you are feeling embarrassed and want to say so in Spanish: ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":84,"children":85},{},[86],{"type":28,"value":87},"estoy avergonzado \u002F avergonzada",{"type":28,"value":89}," (I am embarrassed) or ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":91,"children":92},{},[93],{"type":28,"value":94},"me da verguenza",{"type":28,"value":96}," (it makes me ashamed).",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":98,"children":99},{},[100],{"type":28,"value":101},"If you say \"estoy embarazada\" intending to mean \"I am embarrassed,\" you are announcing that you are pregnant. This is the single most-told English-speaking-learner-of-Spanish anecdote.",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":103,"children":105},{"id":104},"sensible-vs-sensible",[106],{"type":28,"value":107},"Sensible vs sensible",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":109,"children":110},{},[111,116],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":112,"children":113},{},[114],{"type":28,"value":115},"Sensible",{"type":28,"value":117}," in Spanish means \"sensitive,\" not \"sensible.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":119,"children":120},{},[121],{"type":28,"value":122},"If you want to say someone is sensitive (emotionally responsive): \"es muy sensible.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":124,"children":125},{},[126,128,133],{"type":28,"value":127},"If you want to say someone is sensible (level-headed, practical): ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":129,"children":130},{},[131],{"type":28,"value":132},"sensato \u002F sensata",{"type":28,"value":134}," is the word. \"Es muy sensato\" means \"he is very sensible.\"",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":136,"children":138},{"id":137},"constipado-vs-constipated",[139],{"type":28,"value":140},"Constipado vs constipated",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":142,"children":143},{},[144,149],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":145,"children":146},{},[147],{"type":28,"value":148},"Constipado",{"type":28,"value":150}," does NOT mean \"constipated.\" It means \"to have a cold\" (specifically, congested with a cold).",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":152,"children":153},{},[154,156,161,163,168,170,175],{"type":28,"value":155},"If you say \"estoy constipado\" you are saying you have a cold. If you actually need to communicate digestive blockage, the medical term is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":157,"children":158},{},[159],{"type":28,"value":160},"estrenido",{"type":28,"value":162}," in Spain and ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":164,"children":165},{},[166],{"type":28,"value":167},"estitiquez",{"type":28,"value":169}," or simply ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":171,"children":172},{},[173],{"type":28,"value":174},"estoy estitico",{"type":28,"value":176}," in much of Latin America.",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":178,"children":180},{"id":179},"molestar-vs-to-molest",[181],{"type":28,"value":182},"Molestar vs to molest",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":184,"children":185},{},[186,191],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":187,"children":188},{},[189],{"type":28,"value":190},"Molestar",{"type":28,"value":192}," means \"to bother\" or \"to annoy\" - NOT \"to molest\" in the sexual sense.",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":194,"children":195},{},[196],{"type":28,"value":197},"\"Me molesta el ruido\" simply means \"the noise bothers me.\" Spanish speakers use molestar constantly in the casual sense; English speakers hearing it for the first time should not interpret it through the English meaning.",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":199,"children":200},{},[201,203,208,210,215],{"type":28,"value":202},"If you need to communicate the English sense of molest (sexual abuse), the Spanish word is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":204,"children":205},{},[206],{"type":28,"value":207},"abusar",{"type":28,"value":209}," or ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":211,"children":212},{},[213],{"type":28,"value":214},"abuso sexual",{"type":28,"value":216},".",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":218,"children":220},{"id":219},"asistir-vs-to-assist",[221],{"type":28,"value":222},"Asistir vs to assist",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":224,"children":225},{},[226,231],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":227,"children":228},{},[229],{"type":28,"value":230},"Asistir",{"type":28,"value":232}," means \"to attend\" - NOT \"to assist.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":234,"children":235},{},[236,238,243],{"type":28,"value":237},"\"Asistir a la reunion\" means \"to attend the meeting.\" If you want to say \"to assist\" (help): ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":239,"children":240},{},[241],{"type":28,"value":242},"ayudar",{"type":28,"value":244}," is the verb.",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":246,"children":247},{},[248],{"type":28,"value":249},"This is one of the most common false friends in professional contexts. English speakers say \"I will assist the meeting\" intending to help; Spanish speakers say \"asistire a la reunion\" meaning \"I will attend the meeting.\"",{"type":22,"tag":50,"props":251,"children":253},{"id":252},"the-medium-frequency-comedy-ones",[254],{"type":28,"value":255},"The medium-frequency comedy ones",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":257,"children":259},{"id":258},"ropa-vs-rope",[260],{"type":28,"value":261},"Ropa vs rope",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":263,"children":264},{},[265,270],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":266,"children":267},{},[268],{"type":28,"value":269},"Ropa",{"type":28,"value":271}," means \"clothes.\" Not \"rope.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":273,"children":274},{},[275,277,282,283,288],{"type":28,"value":276},"If you want to say \"rope,\" the Spanish word is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":278,"children":279},{},[280],{"type":28,"value":281},"cuerda",{"type":28,"value":209},{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":284,"children":285},{},[286],{"type":28,"value":287},"soga",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":290,"children":292},{"id":291},"sopa-vs-soap",[293],{"type":28,"value":294},"Sopa vs soap",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":296,"children":297},{},[298,303],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":299,"children":300},{},[301],{"type":28,"value":302},"Sopa",{"type":28,"value":304}," means \"soup.\" Not \"soap.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":306,"children":307},{},[308,310,315],{"type":28,"value":309},"If you want to say \"soap\" - the cleaning bar - the Spanish word is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":311,"children":312},{},[313],{"type":28,"value":314},"jabon",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":317,"children":318},{},[319],{"type":28,"value":320},"\"La sopa\" at a restaurant gets you a bowl of soup. Asking for \"una sopa\" in a hotel bathroom produces confusion.",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":322,"children":324},{"id":323},"lectura-vs-lecture",[325],{"type":28,"value":326},"Lectura vs lecture",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":328,"children":329},{},[330,335],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":331,"children":332},{},[333],{"type":28,"value":334},"Lectura",{"type":28,"value":336}," means \"reading\" (the act or material). Not \"lecture.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":338,"children":339},{},[340,342,347,348,353],{"type":28,"value":341},"If you want to say \"lecture\" (an academic talk), the Spanish word is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":343,"children":344},{},[345],{"type":28,"value":346},"conferencia",{"type":28,"value":209},{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":349,"children":350},{},[351],{"type":28,"value":352},"charla",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":355,"children":357},{"id":356},"eventualmente-vs-eventually",[358],{"type":28,"value":359},"Eventualmente vs eventually",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":361,"children":362},{},[363,368],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":364,"children":365},{},[366],{"type":28,"value":367},"Eventualmente",{"type":28,"value":369}," means \"possibly\" or \"in the event that\" - NOT \"eventually\" in the English sense of \"at some future time.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":371,"children":372},{},[373,375,380,382,387,389,394],{"type":28,"value":374},"If you want to say \"eventually\" in the English sense, the closer Spanish is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":376,"children":377},{},[378],{"type":28,"value":379},"finalmente",{"type":28,"value":381},", ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":383,"children":384},{},[385],{"type":28,"value":386},"al final",{"type":28,"value":388},", or ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":390,"children":391},{},[392],{"type":28,"value":393},"algun dia",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":396,"children":397},{},[398],{"type":28,"value":399},"This catches B1-B2 learners consistently. \"Eventualmente llegare\" intended as \"I will eventually arrive\" actually means something like \"I might possibly arrive\" or \"in the event that I arrive.\"",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":401,"children":403},{"id":402},"actualmente-vs-actually",[404],{"type":28,"value":405},"Actualmente vs actually",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":407,"children":408},{},[409,414],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":410,"children":411},{},[412],{"type":28,"value":413},"Actualmente",{"type":28,"value":415}," means \"currently\" - NOT \"actually.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":417,"children":418},{},[419,421,426,427,432],{"type":28,"value":420},"If you want to say \"actually\" in the English sense of \"in fact, contrary to expectations,\" the Spanish phrases are ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":422,"children":423},{},[424],{"type":28,"value":425},"en realidad",{"type":28,"value":209},{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":428,"children":429},{},[430],{"type":28,"value":431},"de hecho",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":434,"children":435},{},[436],{"type":28,"value":437},"\"Actualmente trabajo en Madrid\" means \"I currently work in Madrid.\" Not \"I actually work in Madrid.\"",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":439,"children":441},{"id":440},"introducir-vs-to-introduce",[442],{"type":28,"value":443},"Introducir vs to introduce",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":445,"children":446},{},[447,452],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":448,"children":449},{},[450],{"type":28,"value":451},"Introducir",{"type":28,"value":453}," means \"to insert\" - NOT \"to introduce\" (a person to another person).",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":455,"children":456},{},[457,459,464],{"type":28,"value":458},"If you want to introduce someone (perform an introduction), the verb is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":460,"children":461},{},[462],{"type":28,"value":463},"presentar",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":466,"children":467},{},[468],{"type":28,"value":469},"\"Te quiero presentar a mi hermano\" = \"I want to introduce you to my brother.\"",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":471,"children":473},{"id":472},"recordar-vs-to-record",[474],{"type":28,"value":475},"Recordar vs to record",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":477,"children":478},{},[479,484],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":480,"children":481},{},[482],{"type":28,"value":483},"Recordar",{"type":28,"value":485}," means \"to remember\" - NOT \"to record\" (audio or video).",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":487,"children":488},{},[489,491,496],{"type":28,"value":490},"If you want to say \"to record,\" the Spanish verb is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":492,"children":493},{},[494],{"type":28,"value":495},"grabar",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":498,"children":499},{},[500],{"type":28,"value":501},"\"No recuerdo su nombre\" = \"I do not remember his name.\"",{"type":22,"tag":50,"props":503,"children":505},{"id":504},"the-subtle-drift-cases",[506],{"type":28,"value":507},"The subtle drift cases",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":509,"children":510},{},[511],{"type":28,"value":512},"These false friends are less dramatic but still trip up intermediate learners.",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":514,"children":516},{"id":515},"realizar-vs-to-realise",[517],{"type":28,"value":518},"Realizar vs to realise",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":520,"children":521},{},[522,527],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":523,"children":524},{},[525],{"type":28,"value":526},"Realizar",{"type":28,"value":528}," in Spanish primarily means \"to carry out\" or \"to accomplish\" - not \"to realise\" (to become aware of something).",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":530,"children":531},{},[532],{"type":28,"value":533},"\"Realizar un proyecto\" = \"to carry out a project.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":535,"children":536},{},[537,539,544],{"type":28,"value":538},"If you want to say \"to realise\" in the English sense, the Spanish verb is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":540,"children":541},{},[542],{"type":28,"value":543},"darse cuenta de",{"type":28,"value":545}," (literally \"to give oneself account of\").",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":547,"children":548},{},[549],{"type":28,"value":550},"\"Me di cuenta de que tenia razon\" = \"I realised he was right.\"",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":552,"children":554},{"id":553},"asumir-vs-to-assume",[555],{"type":28,"value":556},"Asumir vs to assume",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":558,"children":559},{},[560,565],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":561,"children":562},{},[563],{"type":28,"value":564},"Asumir",{"type":28,"value":566}," in Spanish means \"to take on\" (a role, a responsibility) - not \"to assume\" (to suppose without evidence).",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":568,"children":569},{},[570],{"type":28,"value":571},"\"Asumi el cargo de director\" = \"I took on the role of director.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":573,"children":574},{},[575,577,582],{"type":28,"value":576},"If you want to say \"to assume\" in the English sense of supposing, the Spanish verb is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":578,"children":579},{},[580],{"type":28,"value":581},"suponer",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":584,"children":585},{},[586],{"type":28,"value":587},"\"Supongo que tienes razon\" = \"I assume you are right.\"",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":589,"children":591},{"id":590},"carpeta-vs-carpet",[592],{"type":28,"value":593},"Carpeta vs carpet",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":595,"children":596},{},[597,602],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":598,"children":599},{},[600],{"type":28,"value":601},"Carpeta",{"type":28,"value":603}," means \"folder\" - not \"carpet.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":605,"children":606},{},[607,609,614],{"type":28,"value":608},"If you want to say \"carpet,\" the Spanish word is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":610,"children":611},{},[612],{"type":28,"value":613},"alfombra",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":616,"children":618},{"id":617},"pretender-vs-to-pretend",[619],{"type":28,"value":620},"Pretender vs to pretend",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":622,"children":623},{},[624,629],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":625,"children":626},{},[627],{"type":28,"value":628},"Pretender",{"type":28,"value":630}," in Spanish means \"to intend\" or \"to claim\" - not \"to pretend\" (to feign).",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":632,"children":633},{},[634],{"type":28,"value":635},"\"Pretendo viajar a Espana\" = \"I intend to travel to Spain.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":637,"children":638},{},[639,641,646,647,652],{"type":28,"value":640},"If you want to say \"to pretend\" in the English sense of feigning, the Spanish verb is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":642,"children":643},{},[644],{"type":28,"value":645},"fingir",{"type":28,"value":209},{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":648,"children":649},{},[650],{"type":28,"value":651},"simular",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":654,"children":656},{"id":655},"disgustado-vs-disgusted",[657],{"type":28,"value":658},"Disgustado vs disgusted",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":660,"children":661},{},[662,667],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":663,"children":664},{},[665],{"type":28,"value":666},"Disgustado",{"type":28,"value":668}," means \"upset\" or \"annoyed\" - not \"disgusted\" (revolted).",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":670,"children":671},{},[672],{"type":28,"value":673},"\"Estoy disgustado\" = \"I am annoyed \u002F upset,\" not \"I am disgusted.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":675,"children":676},{},[677,679,684,686,691],{"type":28,"value":678},"If you want to say \"disgusted,\" the Spanish word is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":680,"children":681},{},[682],{"type":28,"value":683},"asqueado",{"type":28,"value":685}," (\"revolted\") or the construction ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":687,"children":688},{},[689],{"type":28,"value":690},"me da asco",{"type":28,"value":692}," (\"it disgusts me\").",{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":694,"children":696},{"id":695},"contestar-vs-to-contest",[697],{"type":28,"value":698},"Contestar vs to contest",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":700,"children":701},{},[702,707],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":703,"children":704},{},[705],{"type":28,"value":706},"Contestar",{"type":28,"value":708}," means \"to answer\" or \"to reply\" - not \"to contest\" (to dispute or challenge).",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":710,"children":711},{},[712],{"type":28,"value":713},"\"Contesta el telefono\" = \"Answer the phone.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":715,"children":716},{},[717,719,724,725,730],{"type":28,"value":718},"If you want to say \"to contest\" in the English sense, the Spanish verb is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":720,"children":721},{},[722],{"type":28,"value":723},"disputar",{"type":28,"value":209},{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":726,"children":727},{},[728],{"type":28,"value":729},"impugnar",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":62,"props":732,"children":734},{"id":733},"suceso-vs-success",[735],{"type":28,"value":736},"Suceso vs success",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":738,"children":739},{},[740,745],{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":741,"children":742},{},[743],{"type":28,"value":744},"Suceso",{"type":28,"value":746}," means \"event\" or \"incident\" - not \"success.\"",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":748,"children":749},{},[750,752,757],{"type":28,"value":751},"If you want to say \"success,\" the Spanish word is ",{"type":22,"tag":37,"props":753,"children":754},{},[755],{"type":28,"value":756},"exito",{"type":28,"value":216},{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":759,"children":760},{},[761],{"type":28,"value":762},"\"El concierto fue todo un exito\" = \"The concert was a great success.\"",{"type":22,"tag":50,"props":764,"children":766},{"id":765},"the-full-reference-table",[767],{"type":28,"value":768},"The full reference table",{"type":22,"tag":31,"props":770,"children":771},{},[772],{"type":28,"value":773},"Quick-reference for the false friends covered above plus a few additional high-frequency 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