Embarazada ≠ embarrassed. Ropa ≠ rope. False friends look familiar, then betray you. Here’s the ultimate guide to spotting and surviving them.
Contents
Spanish and English share thousands of cognates, but a sneaky handful lead learners astray. These “false friends” look like easy wins but mean something else entirely. Mastering them early saves you from embarrassing mistakes (literally).
What Are False Friends?
False friends are pairs of words in two languages that look similar but differ in meaning. In Spanish, they often trip up beginners who assume a shared root equals shared meaning.
Example: actual looks like “actual” but means “current.” If you want to say “actual,” you need real.
Why False Friends Matter
- They’re common words you’ll meet early in Spanish.
- They cause awkward or funny mistakes that distract from communication.
- Fixing them gives you instant credibility with native speakers.
The Hall of Shame: High-Impact False Friends
These are the ones that catch learners most often. Learn them first:
Spanish | Looks like… | Actually means | Correct word for English meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
embarazada | embarrassed | pregnant | avergonzado/a |
ropa | rope | clothes | cuerda |
asistir | assist | to attend | ayudar |
actual | actual | current, present | real |
éxito | exit | success | salida |
sopa | soap | soup | jabón |
carpeta | carpet | folder | alfombra |
colegio | college | school (often primary/secondary) | universidad |
constipado | constipated | stuffy, with a cold | estreñido/a |
molestar | molest | to bother | abusar sexualmente (for the English meaning) |
Themed False Friends Lists
People & Feelings
- embarazada = pregnant (not embarrassed)
- excitado/a = aroused (not excited). Use emocionado/a for “excited.”
- sensible = sensitive (not sensible). Use sensato/a for “sensible.”
School & Work
- asistir = to attend (not to assist)
- colegio = school (not college)
- discusión = argument (not calm discussion)
- firma = signature/company (not firm = empresa)
Travel & Daily Life
- ropa = clothes (not rope)
- sopa = soup (not soap)
- salir = to go out (not salary = salario)
- parientes = relatives (not parents = padres)
- librería = bookstore (not library = biblioteca)
Abstract & Academic
- actual = current (not actual)
- eventualmente = possibly (not eventually)
- realizar = to carry out (not to realize). For “realize,” use darse cuenta.
- decepción = disappointment (not deception = engaño)
- pretender = to intend (not to pretend). For “pretend,” use fingir.
Why Pronunciation Makes It Worse
False friends can be extra tricky because English-like spelling tempts you to say them with English sounds. Stick to Spanish pronunciation: vowels are pure, h is silent, and stress follows accent marks.
How To Avoid False Friend Pitfalls
- Learn the top 20 (see Hall of Shame above) early.
- Double-check suspicious twins with a dictionary.
- Practice in context: read short texts and highlight words that fooled you.
- Listen to natives: podcasts and YouTube reveal what sounds natural.
Next Steps
Want to bulletproof your Spanish? After false friends, explore:
- Cognates — 10,000 easy wins.
- Loanwords — English in Spanish today.
- Calques — translations that work (and some that don’t).
FAQ
What are Spanish false friends?
Words that look like English but mean something different. Example: embarazada means pregnant, not embarrassed.
Why do false friends exist?
Languages evolve separately. Even when English and Spanish borrowed from the same Latin roots, meanings sometimes drifted apart.
Are false friends common?
Yes. A few dozen crop up all the time in daily conversation, school, and work contexts. Learn the most frequent and you’ll avoid 90% of problems.
Do native speakers notice these mistakes?
Absolutely. Using embarazada when you mean embarrassed gets laughs (and confusion). Learning them boosts credibility instantly.
Are false friends the same in Spain and Latin America?
Generally yes. But a few differ in usage or frequency (ordenador vs computadora is vocabulary, not false friends). Always check context.
How can I master them fast?
Focus on the top 20–30, keep a personal list, and revisit often. Reading and listening will reinforce correct use.