A few Spanish/English False Friends

the false friends: the English

English - part of
meaning
speech - Spanish

the Spanish
meaning

library - n - librera

a place where you

borrow books

a place where you

buy books

to divert - v - divertir

to change the direction

to have a good time
of something

sympathetic - adj simptico

understanding

nice, friendly

argument - n argumento

a verbal fight

the plot of a book,

film or play

to prove - v - probar

to make certain that

something is true

to try something
new, to try some
clothes on

topic - n - tpico

a subject/theme

clich

eventually -adv eventualmente

in the end/finally

possibly

informal - adj informal

casual, not formal

irresponsible

crime - n - crimen

something illegal

a murder, serious
crime

to realise - v - realizar

to be fully conscious
of something

to carry something
out

sensible - adj sensible

to have good sense

sensitive

actually - adv actualmente

in fact

nowadays

educated - adj educado

a person who has

received a good
education

polite

conductor - n conductor

a person who leads an the driver of a

orchestra
vehicle

particular - adj particular

special

private

content - adj contento

satisfied

happy

success - n - suceso

someone/thing that
turns out well

an event

parent - n - pariente

mother or father

family member

direction - n direccin

move to
something/where

address

Note: sometimes the two words do correspond more or less. The

false friend concerns a different meaning of the same word.

Here are some more false friends.

This is a nice error analysis activity to use as a warmer, cooler ...
You could look at five a lesson in this way.

False Friends
There is a fault in each of the sentences
below, including this one! What is it & what
is the correct version?
1. When you make a sauce, remove it
slowly.
2. It was a tramp - they were waiting for
him so he couldn't escape.
3. English is an easy idiom to learn.
4. She couldn't go to the party as she
already had a compromise.
5. It was a good notice - Sheila had twins.
6. They went to the bar for a vase of wine.
7. He was feeling insane so he went for a
run.
8. The film was a great exit - it won 8
Oscars.
9. He put the papers inside the carpet.
10. They have a reunion every morning at
10am.

FALSE FRIENDS OR COGNATES

Se denominan false friends (falsos amigos) o cognates (cognados) a las palabras que por
escribirse de la misma forma (o parecida) en espaol son confundidas, pero que en realidad en
ingls significan otra cosa. Por ejemplo, "conductor " en ingls no significa conductor, sino que
se refiere al director de la orquesta o al cobrador que se encuentra en los autobuses. Aqu se
encuentra una lista de los cognados ms conocidos.

abstract: resumen (y no abstracto)

actual: real, efectivo (y no actual, que se dice current)
actually: en realidad (y no actualmente)
to advertise: anunciar (y no advertir, que se dice to warn)

advice: consejos (y no aviso)

agenda: orden del da (y no agenda, que se dice diary)
application: solicitud
to assist: ayudar (y no asistir, que se dice to attend)
camp: base militar (y no campo, que se dice field)
caravan: casa rodante (y no caravana)
carpet: alfombra (y no carpeta)
casualty: vctima o herido (y no casualidad, que se dice coincidence)
commodity: producto (y no comodidad)
conductor: director de orquesta o cobrador (y no conductor, que se dice driver)
(to be) constipated: sufrir de estreimiento (y no estar constipado)
crime: delito (crimen se dice murder)
deception: engao (y no decepcin, que se dice disappointment)
diversion: desviacin (y no diversin, que se dice fun)
dramatic: drstico, espectacular
embarrassed: avergonzado/a (y no embarazada, que se dice pregnant)
eventual: definitivo (y no eventual, que se dice casual, incidental)
eventually: finalmente, tarde o temprano (y no eventualmente que se dice by chance, possibly)
facilities: instalaciones (y no facilidades)
form: formulario (y no forma, que se dice shape)
funeral: entierro (y no funeral, que se dice memorial service)
gracious: corts (y no gracioso, que se dice funny)
to ignore: hacer caso omiso (y no ignorar, que se dice not know)
inhabitant: habitante (y no inhabitado)
involve: involucrar (y no envolver, que se dice wrap)
large: grande (y no largo, que se dice long)
lecture: conferencia (y no lectura, que se dice reading)
library: biblioteca (y no librera, que se dice bookshop)
media: medios (y no media, que se dice sock)
misery: tristeza (y no miseria, que se dice poverty)
notice: nota, anuncio (y no noticia, que se dice a piece of news)
occurrence: aparicin (y no ocurrencia, que se dice absurd idea)
ordinary: comn (y no vulgar, que dice vulgar)
pigeon: paloma (y no pichn)
policy: poltica (y no polica, que se dice police)
regular: habitual, normal
to realize: darse cuenta (y no realizar, que se dice make)
sensible: sensitivo (y no sensible, que se dice sensitive)
sensitive: sensible (y no sensitivo, que se dice sensible)
success: xito (y no suceso, que se dice event)
target: objetivo (y no tarjeta, que se dice card)
to traduce: calumniar (y no traducir, que se dice translate)

English Term

Spanish Translation

Actual

Real (The English equivalent for the Spanish actual is: present,
current)

Actually

Ciertamente, verdaderamente, en realidad, en efecto. (The

English equivalent for the Spanish actualmente is currently,
nowadays, at present)

Advertise

Anunciar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish Advertir is:

Warn).

Advise

Aconsejar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish Avisar is:

Warn).
Agenda

Actividades, programa del da. (The English equivalent for the

Spanish Agenda is: Diary).

Anxious

Inquieto, nervioso. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

Ansioso (deseoso) is: Eager, greedy).

Arena

Estadio. (The English equivalent for the Spanish arena is: sand)

Argument

Discusin debate. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

argumento is: plot, topic, issue)

Assist

Ayudar, auxiliar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish asistir

is: attend)

Attempt

Intento. (The English equivalent for the Spanish atentado

is:terrorist attack)

Attend

Asistir a, ir a (The English equivalent for the Spanish atender is:

pay attention, take care of)

Avocado

Aguacate. (The English equivalent for the Spanish abogado is:

lawyer)

Card

Tarjeta. (The English equivalent for the Spanish carta is: letter)

Career

Aos de trabajo, promocin laboral. (The English equivalent for

the Spanish carrera is: studies)

Carpet

Alfombra. (The English equivalent for the Spanish carpeta is:

folder, file)

Casual

Informal, desenfadado. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

casual is: accidental)

Cigar

Puro. (The English equivalent for the Spanish cigarro is:

cigarette)

Collar

Cuello (de camisa). (The English equivalent for the Spanish

collar is: necklace)

College

Facultad (Universidad). (The English equivalent for the Spanish

colegio is: primary school)

Compass

Brjula. (The English equivalent for the Spanish comps is: A

pair of compasses)

Conductor

Cobrador de autobs, director de orquesta. (The English

equivalent for the Spanish conductor is: driver)

Conference

Congreso. (The English equivalent for the Spanish conferencia

is: lecture)

Conform

Seguir, aceptar las normas o reglas. (The English equivalent for

the Spanish "conformarse" is: To be happy with).

Conservatory

Invernadero. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

conservatorio is: music academy)

Constipated

Estreido. (The English equivalent for the Spanish costipado is:

a cold)

Content

Satisfecho. (The English equivalent for the Spanish contento is:

happy)

Crime

Acto delictivo. (The English equivalent for the Spanish crimen

is: murder, serious crime)

Curse

Maldicin. (The English equivalent for the Spanish 'curso' is:

Course)

Discussion

Conversacion. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

discusin is: argument)

Disgust

Repugnancia. (The English equivalent for the Spanish disgusto

is: annoyance)

Divert

Desviar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish divertir is:

enjoy, have a good time)

Educated

Con una buena educacin. (The English equivalent for the

Spanish educado is: polite)

Embarrassed

Avergonzado. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

embarazada is: pregnant)

Eventually

Finalmente. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

eventualmente is: temporarily, by chance)

Exit

Salida. (The English equivalent for the Spanish xito is:

success)

Fabrics

Tela, textil. (The English equivalent for the Spanish fbrica is:
factory)

Faculty

Profesorado. (The English equivalent to the Spanish "facultad"

would be College).

Figure

Cifra, nmero, cantidad (The English equivalent for the Spanish

'figura' is: appearance, although figure can also be used.)

Grape

Uva. (The English equivalent for the Spanish "Grapa" is Staple).

Idiom

Expresin idiomtica, frase hecha. (The English equivalent for

the Spanish idioma is: language)

Informal

Desenfadado. (The English equivalent for the Spanish informal

is: irresponsible)

Large

Grande. (The English equivalent for the Spanish largo is: long)

Lecture

Conferencia. (The English equivalent for the Spanish lectura is:

reading)

Library

Biblioteca. (The English equivalent for the Spanish librera is:

bookshop)

Mayor

Alcalde. (The English equivalent for the Spanish mayor is:

main, bigger, older)

Note

Nota. But if you talk about "qualifications" the word is Marks or

Grades instead of "notes".

Notice

Aviso. (The English equivalent for the Spanish noticia is: news)

Parcel

Paquete. (The English equivalent for the Spanish parcela is:

plot of land)

Parent

Madre o Padre. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

pariente is: relative)

Particular

Especial. (The English equivalent for the Spanish particular is:

private)

Preservative

Conservante. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

preservativo is: condom)

Presume

Asumir, pretender. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

presumir is: show off)

Pretend

Fingir. (The English equivalent for the Spanish pretender is:

intend, try, seek)

Prove

Demostrar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish probar is:

try, try on)

Quiet

Callado. (The English equivalent for the Spanish quieto is: still,
motionless)

Realize

Darse cuenta. (The English equivalent for the Spanish realizar

is: carry out, implement)

Remove

Quitar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish remover is: stir)

Resume

Continuar, reanudar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

resumir is: summarize)

Rope

Cuerda, soga. (The English equivalent for the Spanish ropa is:
Clothes, garnment)

Sensible

Sensato. (The English equivalent for the Spanish sensible is:

sensitive)

Signature

Firma. (The English equivalent for the Spanish asignatura is:

subject)

Spade

Pala (para cavar). (The English equivalent for the Spanish

espada is: sword)

Spectacles

Gafas. (The English equivalent for the Spanish espectculos is:

shows)

Suburb

Barrio residencial. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

suburbio is: slum)

Success

xito. (The English equivalent for the Spanish suceso is: event)

Sympathetic

Comprensivo. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

simptico is: nice, friendly)

Sympathy

Compasin, psame. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

simpata is: affection, kindness)

Taller

Ms alto (forma comparativa de superioridad del adjetivo

tall:alto). (The English equivalent for the Spanish "Taller" is
Workshop.)

Topic

Tema. (The English equivalent for the Spanish tpico is: Clich)

Translate

Traducir. The English equivalent for the Spanish trasladar is:

Move

Vicious

Malvado, saludable. (The English equivalent for the Spanish

vicioso is: addict, depraved)

QU SON LOS "FALSOS AMIGOS"?

Los estudiantes hispano-parlantes suelen utilizar indebidamente ciertas palabras en
ingls que, en su idioma natal, se escriben o pronuncian de modo parecido.
EJEMPLO 1:
Para expresar: "Compr dos carpetas en la papelera", un hispano-parlante suele decir:
"I bought two CARPETS at the stationery's". "Carpet" en ingls significa "alfombra",
mientras que la "carpeta" del ejemplo se traduce como "FOLDER".
EJEMPLO 2:
Para decir: "Compr este libro en la librera", suele expresarlo como "I bought this book

at the LIBRARY". "Library" en ingls significa "biblioteca", mientras que la "librera" del
ejemplo debe traducirse como "BOOKSHOP" o "BOOKSTORE".

Hemos recopilado aqu algunos de los FALSE FRIENDS

ms frecuentes y sus correcciones:
"FALSE FRIEND"
USUALMENTE UTILIZADO

PARA EXPRESAR

DEBE UTILIZARSE

agenda personal

DIARY

aviso (advertencia)

ADVERTISEMENT
(aviso de diario)
NOTICE (cartel)

alcoba (dormitorio)

BEDROOM

caramelo, dulce

SWEET (UK)
CANDY (US)

casco (protector)
casco (de un barco)

HELMET (casco protector)

HULL (casco de un barco)

(productos internacionales)

comodidades,
instalaciones

FACILITIES

conductor

conductor (chofer)

DRIVER

crimen (asesinato)

MURDER

decepcin

DISAPPOINTMENT

defraudar (desilusionar)

DISAPPOINT

efectivo (dinero en mano)

CASH

frente (de la cara)

FOREHEAD

himno (nacional)

ANTHEM

largo

LONG

portero (de edificio)

DOORMAN (UK)
JANITOR (US)

raro

STRANGE

regular (no muy bueno)

POOR

realizar

MAKE

rico (en sabor)

DELICIOUS

agenda
(orden del da)

advice
(consejo)

alcove
(nicho)

caramel
(azcar quemado)

cask
(barril)

commodities
(director de orquesta)

crime
(delito, acto ilegal)

deception
(engao)

defraud
(cometer fraude)

effective
(eficaz, eficiente)

front
(ubicado al frente)

hymn
(himno religioso)

large
(grande)

porter
(changador)

rare
(poco cocido)

regular
(estndar, normal)

realize
(darse cuenta)

rich
(rico en grasas)

sensible
(sensato, prudente)

traducer
(calumniador)

vase
(florero)

vice
(actividades inmorales)

sensible

SENSITIVE

traductor

TRANSLATOR

vaso

GLASS

vicios (fumar, lotera)

BAD HABITS