Spanish-English False Friends: 20 Words That Aren’t What They Seem

Spanish and English share thousands of words, which is a gift. It is also a trap, because a minority of those look-alikes have drifted apart completely, and they tend to be words you use in exactly the situations where you cannot afford to be funny: at the doctor, at work, meeting your partner’s family.

Twenty worth knowing, in both directions.

The ones that will embarrass you

• embarazada — pregnant, not embarrassed. For embarrassed, say avergonzado or me da vergüenza.
• constipado — having a cold. Constipated is estreñido, a distinction worth having before a pharmacy visit.
• molestar — to bother or annoy. ¿Te molesta si abro la ventana? is an entirely innocent question.
• preservativo — a condom, not a food preservative. That is conservante.
• excitado — aroused rather than merely excited. For excited, use emocionado or con muchas ganas.

The ones that quietly change your meaning

• actualmente — currently, not actually. Actually is en realidad or de hecho.
• eventualmente — possibly, occasionally. English eventually is finalmente or con el tiempo.
• sensible — sensitive. English sensible is sensato. A persona sensible cries at adverts; a persona sensata reads the contract.
• pretender — to intend or aim to. To pretend is fingir.
• realizar — to carry out. To realise something is darse cuenta de.
• asistir — to attend. To assist is ayudar. Asistí a la reunión means you were there, not that you helped.
• discutir — usually to argue, not neutrally to discuss. For that, hablar de or tratar.
• soportar — to put up with, to bear. To support someone is apoyar. No te soporto is not encouragement.
• compromiso — a commitment or obligation. A compromise is un acuerdo or una concesión.
• decepción — disappointment. Deception is engaño.

The everyday objects

• librería — bookshop. A library is una biblioteca.
• carpeta — folder. A carpet is una alfombra or moqueta.
• ropa — clothes. Rope is una cuerda.
• fábrica — factory. Fabric is tela.
• éxito — success. An exit is una salida — the one that matters on a motorway.
• largo — long. Large is grande, which catches people out when buying clothes.

Going the other way

Spanish speakers learning English import the same confusions in reverse, and a few extra ones.