Spanish/Common False Cognates
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The phenomenon known as “false friends” happens between two languages, like Spanish and English, when there are two words sounding very similar because they come from the same root but their meaning is completely different. There are many “false friends” involving English and Spanish. Here you have some examples (but you can add more, so as to make up a full list):
| Spanish | False friend (en) | Spanish | False friend (en) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Abismal
Enormous |
Abysmal
Pésimo |
Actual
Current |
Actual
Real or Verdadero |
|
|
Alcoba
Bedroom |
Alcove
Nicho |
Asistir
To attend |
To assist
Atender or Ayudar |
|
|
Atender
To assist |
To attend
Asistir |
Balón
Ball |
Balloon
Globo |
|
|
Bizarro
Brave |
Bizarre
Extraño |
Blanco
White |
Blank
Vacío |
|
|
Blando
Soft or Gentle |
Bland
Insípido |
Boda
Wedding |
Body
Cuerpo |
|
|
Campo
Field or Countryside |
Camp
Campamento |
Cara
Face |
Car
Coche or Carro |
|
|
Carpeta
Folder |
Carpet
Alfombra |
Chillar
To shriek |
To chill
Enfriar |
|
|
Complexión
Physical build |
Skin complexion
Tez or Cutis |
Comprensivo
Understanding or Tolerant |
Comprehensive
Exhaustivo or Completo |
|
|
Constipado
Having a cold |
Constipated
Estreñido |
Construir
To build |
To construe
Interpretar |
|
|
Costumbre
Habit |
Costume
Traje |
Disgusto
Displeasure or Misfortune |
Disgust
Asco or Repugnancia |
|
|
Embarazada
Pregnant |
Embarrassed
Avergonzada |
Éxito
Success |
Exit
Salida |
|
|
Fábrica
Factory |
Fabric
Tejido |
Globo
Balloon |
Glove
Guante |
|
|
Inhabitable
Uninhabitable |
Inhabitable
Habitable |
Injuria
Insult |
Injury
Lesión |
|
|
Librería
Bookshop |
Library
Biblioteca |
Mano
Hand |
Man
Hombre |
|
|
Molestar
To annoy |
To molest
Agredir |
Moroso
Debtor |
Morose
Malhumorado |
|
|
Nombre
Name |
Number
Numero |
Pariente
Relative |
Parents
Padres |
|
|
Periódico
Newspaper |
Periodical
Revista |
Preservativo
Condom |
Preservative
Conservante |
|
|
Profesor (at any level)
Teacher |
Professor
Catedrático (at University) |
Recipiente
Container |
Recipient
Destinatario |
|
|
Recordar
To remember or To remind |
To record
Anotar (writing), or Grabar (on tape). |
Refrán
Saying |
Refrain
Estribillo |
|
|
Regalo
Gift |
Regal
Majestuoso |
Retirado
Withdrawn |
Retired
Jubilado |
|
|
Ropa
Clothing |
Rope
Cuerda |
Resumir
To summarise |
To resume
Reanudar |
|
|
Sanidad
Health |
Sanity
Cordura |
Sensible
Sensitive |
Sensible
Sensato |
|
|
Silla
Chair |
Sill
Alféizar |
Sopa
Soup |
Soap
Jabón |
|
|
Suave
Soft or Smooth |
Suave
Afable |
Vicioso
Addict or depraved |
Vicious
Salvaje |
|
|
Vacunar
To vaccinate |
To vacuum
Aspirar |
