False Cognates: Detailed Guide

Words that look similar to English but have different meanings - learn to avoid these common traps.

Very Common False Cognates

embarazada ≠ embarrassed embarazada = pregnant avergonzado/a = embarrassed

Está embarazada. (She's pregnant.) Estoy avergonzado. (I'm embarrassed.)

actual ≠ actual actual = current real/verdadero = actual

El presidente actual (The current president) El precio real (The actual price)

actualmente ≠ actually actualmente = currently en realidad/de hecho = actually

Actualmente vivo en Madrid. (I currently live in Madrid.) En realidad, no sé. (Actually, I don't know.)

Food False Cognates

pretender ≠ to pretend pretender = to intend/try/seek fingir = to pretend

Pretendo ir mañana. (I intend to go tomorrow.) Finge que está enfermo. (He pretends he's sick.)

sopa ≠ soap sopa = soup jabón = soap

constipado ≠ constipated constipado = having a cold estreñido = constipated

Estoy constipado. (I have a cold.) Estoy estreñido. (I'm constipated.)

Professional False Cognates

librería ≠ library librería = bookstore biblioteca = library

éxito ≠ exit éxito = success salida = exit

Tuvo mucho éxito. (It was very successful.) ¿Dónde está la salida? (Where's the exit?)

fábrica ≠ fabric fábrica = factory tela = fabric

Social False Cognates

compromiso ≠ compromise compromiso = commitment/engagement acuerdo = compromise

Tengo un compromiso. (I have a commitment.) Llegamos a un acuerdo. (We reached a compromise.)

pariente ≠ parent pariente = relative padre/madre = parent

Mis parientes (My relatives) Mis padres (My parents)

Education False Cognates

lectura ≠ lecture lectura = reading conferencia = lecture

asistir ≠ to assist asistir = to attend ayudar = to assist

Asistí a la reunión. (I attended the meeting.) Te ayudo con eso. (I'll assist you with that.)

Descriptive False Cognates

largo ≠ large largo = long grande = large

Un vestido largo (A long dress) Una casa grande (A large house)

sensible ≠ sensible sensible = sensitive sensato = sensible

Es muy sensible. (He's very sensitive.) Es muy sensato. (He's very sensible.)

Medical False Cognates

intoxicado ≠ intoxicated (drunk) intoxicado = poisoned borracho/ebrio = drunk/intoxicated

Action False Cognates

molestar ≠ to molest molestar = to bother/annoy abusar = to abuse/molest

No me molestes. (Don't bother me.)

realizar ≠ to realize realizar = to carry out/accomplish darse cuenta = to realize

Realizó su sueño. (He accomplished his dream.) Me di cuenta de que... (I realized that...)

Time False Cognates

eventualmente ≠ eventually eventualmente = possibly/potentially finalmente/al final = eventually

Location False Cognates

campo ≠ camp campo = countryside/field campamento = camp

colegio ≠ college colegio = school (K-12) universidad = college

Emotion False Cognates

disgusto ≠ disgust disgusto = displeasure/upset asco = disgust

More Tricky Pairs

recordar ≠ to record recordar = to remember grabar = to record

contestar ≠ to contest contestar = to answer impugnar = to contest

suceso ≠ success suceso = event éxito = success

carpeta ≠ carpet carpeta = folder alfombra = carpet

Practice Tips

• Don't assume similar words mean the same thing
• Learn the correct Spanish word, not the false cognate
• Create flashcards for false friends
• Practice in context to remember differences

Practice