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What are some common false friends between English and Spanish

False friends when learning English: What are some common false friends between English and Spanish
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False friends, or false cognates, are words in English and Spanish that look or sound similar but have different meanings. These can lead to misunderstandings for language learners. Below is a list of some common false friends between English and Spanish:

Common False Friends

  1. Actual (English) vs. Actual (Spanish)

    • English: Real, factual.
    • Spanish: Current, present-day.

  2. Library vs. Librería

    • English: Place to borrow books.
    • Spanish: Bookstore.

  3. Embarassed vs. Embarazada

    • English: Feeling ashamed.
    • Spanish: Pregnant.

  4. Exit vs. Éxito

    • English: Way out.
    • Spanish: Success.

  5. Fabric vs. Fábrica

    • English: Material for clothing.
    • Spanish: Factory.

  6. Rope vs. Ropa

    • English: Cord or string.
    • Spanish: Clothes.

  7. Carpet vs. Carpeta

    • English: Floor covering.
    • Spanish: Folder.

  8. Sympathetic vs. Simpático

    • English: Showing compassion.
    • Spanish: Nice, friendly.

  9. Constipated vs. Constipado

    • English: Having difficulty with bowel movements.
    • Spanish: Having a cold.

  10. Molest vs. Molestar

    • English: To harass sexually.
    • Spanish: To bother or annoy.

  11. Pretend vs. Pretender

    • English: To act as if something is true.
    • Spanish: To attempt or aspire to.

  12. Sensible vs. Sensible (Spanish)

    • English: Practical and reasonable.
    • Spanish: Sensitive.

  13. Disgrace vs. Desgracia

    • English: Shameful situation.
    • Spanish: Misfortune or tragedy.

  14. Lecture vs. Lectura

    • English: Educational talk.
    • Spanish: Reading material.

  15. Support vs. Soportar

    • English: To assist or encourage.
    • Spanish: To tolerate or endure.

  16. Success vs. Suceso

    • English: Achievement of a goal.
    • Spanish: Event or occurrence.

  17. Introduce vs. Introducir

    • English: Present someone formally.
    • Spanish: To insert or put in.

  18. Eventually vs. Eventualmente

    • English: At some point in the future.
    • Spanish: Possibly or occasionally.

  19. Parade vs. Parada

    • English: Procession or march.
    • Spanish: Stop (e.g., bus stop).

  20. Vase vs. Vaso

    • English: Container for flowers.
    • Spanish: Drinking glass.

Tips to Avoid Confusion

  • Always double-check the meaning of words that seem familiar but might have different uses in the other language.
  • Learn these false friends as part of vocabulary practice to avoid embarrassing mistakes in communication 1, 3, 4.

References

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