Spanish False Cognates
A Spanish word that is similar to an English word, but has a different meaning, is known as a false cognate. Some examples of Spanish false cognates are shown below.
Spanish Word | English Translation | Confused With | Spanish Translation |
abandonar | to quit | to remove | quitar |
absoluto | absolute | absolutely | absolutamente, completamente |
en absoluto | not at all | absolutely | totalmente |
actual | current | actual | verdadero |
acuartelamiento | billet | ticket | billete |
advertencia | a warning | advertisement | anuncio |
agonía | dying moments | agony | dolor fuerte |
aguacate | avocado | lawyer | abogado |
alcalde | mayor | bigger | mayor |
alfombra | carpet | folder | carpeta |
anunciar | to advertise | to warn | advertir |
apoyar | to support | to put up with | soportar |
árbitro | umpire | empire | imperio |
asistencia | attendance | attention | atención |
avergonzado | embarrassed | pregnant | embarazada |
ayudar | to assist | to attend | asistir a un lugar |
banco | bank | bench | banco de plaza |
basamento | base of a column | basement | el sótano |
base militar | camp | field | campo en general |
biblioteca | library | bookshop | librería |
bizarro | brave | bizarre | extraño or estrafalario |
brazo | arm | gun | arma |
cacerola | pan | bread | pan |
calumniar | to traduce | to translate | traduce |
carpeta | file folder | carpet | alfombra |
ceder | to compromise | commitment | compromiso |
cena | dinner | money | dinero |
chocar | to crash | choke | ahogar, sofocar |
compasión | sympathy | affection | simpatía |
complexión | physiological build | skin complexion | tez or cutis |
comprensivo | sympathetic | likeable | simpático |
común | ordinary | ordinary | vulgar |
conocido | familiar | relative | pariente |
concurso | contest | to answer | contestar |
conferencia | lecture | reading | lectura |
consejo | council | to reconcile | conciliar |
consejos | advice | warning, notice | aviso |
conservante | preservative | condom | preservativo |
cortés | gracious | funny | gracioso |
cuerda | rope | clothes | ropa |
cuerdo | sane | healthy | sano |
cuerno | horn | oven | horno |
cuerpo | body | wedding | boda |
darse cuenta | to realize | to make | realizar |
decepción | disappointment | to deceive someone | engañar a alguien |
delito | crime | delight | deleite |
desconocido | stranger | foreigner | extranjero |
desesperado | desperate | to wake up | despertar |
desfile | parade | wall | pared |
desgracia | mistake | something shameful | una vergüenza |
desviación | diversion | fun | diversión |
dibujos animados | cartoon | cardboard | cartón |
diferenciado | discrete | discreet | discreto |
discusión | argument | plot | argumento de un libro |
disgusto | displeasure | disgust | asco or repugnancia |
ebrio | intoxicated | food poisoning | intoxicado |
emocionante | thrilling or emotionally moving | emotional | emocional |
entusiasta | zealous | jealous | celoso |
éxito | success | event | suceso |
ensalada | salad | salty | salado |
economía | economics | cheap | económicos |
ejército | army | navy | marina |
engaño | deception | disappointment | decepción |
estadio | arena | sand | arena |
evaluación | assessment | consultancy | asesoría |
eventual | incidental | eventual | definitivo |
fábrica | factory | cloth | tejido and tela |
facultad | college | school | colegio |
fecha | date | data | dato |
fenomenal, genial | terrific | terrifying | terrorífico |
final | ultimate | last | último |
finalmente | eventually | by chance, possibly | eventualmente |
firma | signature | subject | asignatura |
formulario | form | shape | forma |
fútil | trivial or insignificant | futile | ineficaz, vano or inútil |
ganga | bargain | gang | pandilla |
Spanish Word | English Translation | Confused With | Spanish Translation |
globo | balloon | ball | balón |
grabar | to record | to remember | recordar |
grande | large | long | largo |
habitante | inhabitant | uninhabited | inhabitado |
impuesto | tax | taxi | taxi |
inconsecuente | contradictory | inconsequential | de poca importancia |
ingenio | ingenuity | naivety | ingenuidad |
involucrar | involve | wrap | envolver |
jabón | soap | soup | sopa |
ladrar o ladrido | bark | boat, ship | barco |
lograr | to attain | to tie | atar |
lugar | place | square | plaza |
lujo | luxury | lust | lujuria |
maldición | curse | course | curso |
maleducado | rude | rough | rudo |
medios | media | sock | media |
mil millones | billion | trillion | billón |
minorista | retailer | minority | una minoría |
modismo | idiom | language | idioma |
molestar | to bother or to annoy | to molest | abusar sexualmente |
objetivo | target | card | tarjeta |
oficina | office | job | oficio |
orden | command | commando unit | comando |
padres | parents | relatives | parientes |
pala | spade | sword | espada |
parientes | relatives | relative (adjective) | relativos |
pecado | sin | without | sin |
pedir disculpas | to apologize | defence | apología |
política | policy | police | policía |
postre | dessert | desert | desierto |
pretender | to try | to pretend | fingir or simular |
propenso | apt | qualified, able | apto |
quedarse | to stay | to be | estar |
quejarse | to complain | to please | complacer |
quitar | to remove | to stir | remover |
rapista | barber | someone who attacks sexually | violador |
real | actual | current | actual |
reanudar | to resume | to sum up | resumir |
recordar | to remember | to record (audio or video) | grabar |
recuerdo | recollection | harvest | recolección |
salida | exit | success | éxito |
sensiblemente | appreciably | sensibly | sesudamente |
sensitivo | sensible | sensitive | sensible |
soportar | put up with | support | mantener |
suceso | event or happening | success | un éxito |
sufrir de estreñimiento | (to be) constipated | to have a cold/chill | estar constipado |
de tamaño normal | regular | bad | regular |
tela | fabric | factory | fábrica |
traducir | to translate | to move | trasladarse |
tristeza | misery | poverty | miseria |
tienda de comestibles | grocery | rudeness | grosería |
últimamente | lately | ultimately | al final |
vagabundo | tramp | trap | trampa |
valiente | brave | fierce | bravo |
vapor | fume | smoke | fumar |
vaso | drinking glass | vase | jarrón |
una vez | once | eleven | once |
vieira | scallop | scallop(meal) | escalope |
False Cognates in Spanish
The most common mistake made when speaking is to use a Spanish word that looks or sounds similar to an English word but has a totally different meaning. This can result in confusion and embarrassment!. Spanish students whose first language is English may begin to assume that all Spanish words that sound the same as English words also have the same meaning. These students fall victim to false cognates and this can lead to embarrassing situations, at best, or start violent disagreements and even death, at worst.
Before you do anything, you should first take our online Spanish test. If you have problems with Spanish false cognates, you may want to consider working with a private tutor one or two hours per week. This will quickly take your Spanish to the next level.
False Cognates Spanish Worksheet
The Spanish false cognates sensitized by nature dye mainly composed of chlorophyll in this study of high conversion efficiency.
States that are signatory parties to conventions such as CEDAW are still exploiting the rights of older women due to the lack of attention the subject has been given by International law.And it will guide the organization to become more competitive, more effective in their business and also to become more profitable. The experiments results that are recorded in the results section are based off of Ionic and Covalent bonds. Children are non co-operative and experience difficulty in understanding Spanish false cognates. Rectal suppositories becomes an inconvenient route of administration. People who are motivated by what they are implementing and the environment they are working, are more likely to be engaged in their work (Erickson dhe Gratton, 2007:105).
Popular Phrase: how to say due | Hello Spanish | Conjugated Verb: zurriagar - scourge, whips [ click for full conjugation ]