False Friends

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  (E= English; S = Spanish)

(E) ACTUAL = (E) REAL, VERDADERO
(S) ACTUAL = (E) CURRENT

(E) TO ASSIST = (S) AYUDAR              
(S) ASISTIR = TO ATTEND, TO BE PRESENT
(
E) SENSIBLE = (S) SENSATO                
(S) SENSIBLE = (E) SENSITIVE

(E) DISGUST = (S) ASCO, REPUGNANCIA
(S) DISGUSTO = (E) DISPLEASURE, MISFORTUNE

(E) TO RECORD = (S) ANOTAR (writing), GRABAR (on tape)
(S) RECORDAR = (E) TO REMEMBER, TO REMIND

(E) ROPE = (S) CUERDA
(S) ROPA = (N) CLOTHING

(E) BIZARRE = (S) EXTRAÑO, ESTRAFALARIO
(S) BIZARRO = (E) BRAVE

(E) CARPET = (S) MOQUETA
(S) CARPETA = (E) FOLDER

(E) TO VACUUM = (S) ASPIRAR
(S) VACUNAR = (E) TO VACCINATE

(E) CONSTIPATED = (S) ESTREÑIDO
(S) CONSTIPADO = (E) HAVING A COLD

(E) EMBARRASSED = (S) AVERGONZADO
(S) EMBARAZADA = (E) PREGNANT

(E) EXIT = (S) SALIDA
(S) ÉXITO = (E) SUCCESS

Do you want to learn more?


MOLEST: Agredir sexualmente
MOLESTAR: to annoy

CHILL: Frío
CHILLAR: to shriek

SILL: Alféizar
SILLA: Chair

PARCEL: Paquete
PARCELA: Lot

CONTEST: Concurso, prueba
CONTESTAR: to answer, to reply

REGAL: Majestuoso
REGALO: Present

PRESUME: Suponer
PRESUMIR: to show off

RESUME: Reanudar
RESUMIR: to sum up

CIGAR: Puro
CIGARRO: Cigarette

appropriate: adecuado
adequate: suficient, idóneo

diary, notebook, agenda: agenda
agenda: orden del día

entertainment, enjoyment: amenidad
amenities: comodidades

notify, warn: avisar
advise: aconsejar, asesorar

white, light, pale: blanco
blank: en blanco, vacío

soft, mild, weak, gentle: blando/a
bland: insípido

understanding, tolerant: comprensivo
comprehensive: exhaustivo, completo

commitment, prommmise, agreement: compromiso
compromise: transigencia, arreglo

build: construir
construe: interpretar

habit, custom: costumbre
costume: traje

disappointment: decepción
deception: engańo, fraude

displease, anger, offend: disgustar
disgust: dar asco, repugnar

escape, excursion: escapada
escapade: aventura

stage, scene: escenario
scenery: paisaje, decorado

incite, irritate, arouse: excitar
excite: emocionar, estimular

factory: fábrica
fabric: tejido

créme caramel: flan
flan: tarteleta de frutas

genius: genialidad
genial: afable

uninhabitable: inhabitable
inhabitable: habitable

insult, harm: injuria
injury: lesión, herida

insert, put in: introducir
introduce: presentar

long: largo
large: grande

reading material: lectura
lecture: discurso

bookshop: librería
library: biblioteca

mask: máscara
mascara: rímel

poverty, misfortune: miseria
misery: tristeza

annoy: molestar
molest: atacar, agredir

piece of news: noticia
notice: aviso, anuncio

well-known: notorio/a
notorious: de mala reputación

relative: pariente
parent: padre/madre

newspaper: periódico
periodical: boletín, revista

arrogant, conceited: petulante
petulant: enfurruñado

condom: preservativo
preservative: conservante

conceited: presuntuoso/a
presumptuous: impertinente, osado

aspire to, try: pretender
pretend: fingir

teacher: profesor
professor: catedrático

container, vessel: recipiente
recipient: destinatario

remember, remind: recordar
record: archivar, registrar, grabar

summarise: resumir
resume: reanudar, proseguir con

reward, remuneraction: retribucón
retribution: castigo justo

health: sanidad
sanity: cordura

friendly: simpático/a
sympathetic: comprensivo, cordial

stand, bear, put up with: soportar
support: sostener, ayudar, mantener

smooth, soft, gentle, mild: suave
suave: afable, cortés

slum area: suburbio
suburb: barrio periférico

happen, follow on: suceder
succeed: tener éxito

commonplace: tópico
topic: tema