What are some funny stories of people using false friends in Spanish
Here are some funny stories and examples of people using false friends in Spanish that lead to amusing or embarrassing situations:
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A classic and very common one is with the word “embarazada.” An English speaker might say “Estoy embarazada” thinking it means “I’m embarrassed,” but it actually means “I’m pregnant.” This mix-up often causes surprise and laughter.
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Another humorous story involves a student in Spain who felt uncomfortable with some local guys flirting with her. To make an excuse to leave, she said “¡Estoy caliente!” thinking it meant “I’m hot” (temperature), but in Spanish it has a strong sexual connotation, causing an awkward and funny moment.
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The word “molestar” in Spanish means “to annoy,” but English speakers often confuse it with the heavy English term “molest.” This can lead to humorous misunderstandings because “molestar” is used casually in everyday conversation in Spanish.
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Someone once got confused by “librería” which looks like “library,” but actually means “bookstore.” So they might look for a library and end up in a bookstore unexpectedly.
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A learner mentioned wanting to say “excited” but accidentally used “excitado,” which means “aroused” in Spanish, leading to an embarrassing situation.
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Another example is “constipado,” which in Spanish means “to have a cold,” but in English “constipated” means a digestive issue, leading to confusion.
These stories highlight how false friends — words that look or sound similar in English and Spanish but have very different meanings — can cause funny or awkward moments in conversation.