False friends: Spanish/English false cognates

Spanish is a Latin language, it has similarities with Italian, French and Portugues. English, in turn, is a Germanic language; it has similarities with German and Dutch.

However, you might be surprised to learn that many English words come from Latin. Some experts say that 60% of the English words come from Latin and that around 30% to 40% of all vocabulary in English have related words in Spanish.

What are false friends in linguistics?

Those similar words are known as cognates.

Cognates can be:

Perfect cognates
Near perfect cognates
False Cognates

Perfect Cognates

Perfect Cognates are those words that are spelled exactly the same in two languages and have the same meaning. Pronunciation is often different, though.

For example:

Spanish	English
Actor	Actor
Colonial	Colonial
Experimental	Experimental
Idea	Idea
Social	Social

Near Perfect Cognates

Near Perfect Cognates are words that are very similar and have the same meaning but the spelling is slightly different.

For example:

Spanish	English
Attention	Atención
Contrario	Contrary
Salario>	Salary
Solitario	Solitary
Vocabulario	Vocabulary

False Cognates

False Cognates are words that sound very similar but mean something totally different.

These are the words we will talk about in this post!

False Cognates are commonly known as false friends. They have taken this name because they actually fool you.

False friends often confuse people learning both Spanish and English. It’s totally normal to make mistakes while learning a new language, but there is no need to be played for a fool.

We have prepared a very comprehensive list of the most common Spanish-English false friends.

Let’s take a look!

What are some examples of false friends in Spanish?

Abogado Vs. Avocado

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Abogado	Lawyer, advocate	Avocado	Aguacate

Ropa Vs. Rope

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Ropa	Clothes	Rope	Cuerda

Librería Vs. Library

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Librería	Bookstore	Library	Biblioteca

Embarazado/a Vs. Embarrassed

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Embarazado/a	Pregnant	Embarrassed	avergonzado/a

Realizar Vs. Realize

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Realizar	To carry out, perform or achieve	Realize	Darse cuenta

Gangas Vs. Gangs

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Gangas	Bargains	Gangs	Pandillas

Lectura Vs. Lecture

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Lectura	Reading	Lecture	Charla, Conferencia

Recordar Vs. Record

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Recordar	To remember	Record	Grabar

Introducir Vs. Introduce

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Introducir	To insert (an object)	Introduce	Presentar (people)

Carta Vs. Cart

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Carta	Letter	Cart	Carro (supermarket, trolley, etc.)

Advertir Vs. Advertise

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Advertir	To warn	Advertise	Anunciar, hacer publicidad

Asignatura Vs. Signature

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Asignatura	Subject	Signature	Firma

Blanco Vs. Blank

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Blanco	White	Blank	en blanco, vacío

Campo Vs. Camp

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Campo	Field, pitch, countryside	Camp	Campamento

Carpeta Vs. Carpet

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Carpeta	Folder	Carpet	Alfombra

Comodidad Vs. Commodity

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Comodidad	Confort	Commodity	Producto, mercancía

Cuota Vs. Quote

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Cuota	Membership, fee	Quote	Cita literaria

Envolver Vs. Involve

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Envolver	To wrap up	Involve	Involucrar, implicar

Éxito Vs. Exit

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Éxito	Success	Exit	Salida

Extranjero Vs. Stranger

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Extranjero	Foreigner	Stranger	Extraño, desconocido

Fábrica Vs. Fabric

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Fábrica	Factory, Plant	Fabric	Tela

Firma Vs. Firm

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Firma	Signature	Firm	Empresa, compañía

Grabar Vs. Grab

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Grabar	To tape, to record	Grab	Agarrar, coger, tomar

Gracioso Vs. Gracious

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Gracioso	Funny	Gracious	Cortés, amable

Grosería Vs. Grocery

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Grosería	Rude remarkrude expression, rudeness	Grocery	Tienda de alimentos

Horno Vs. Horn

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Horno	Oven	Horn	Cuerno, bocina

Idioma Vs. Idiom

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Idioma	Language	Idiom	Modismo

Largo Vs. Large

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Largo	Long	Large	Grande, numeroso, amplio

Mayor Vs. Mayor

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Mayor	Bigger, biggest, older, oldest	Mayor	Alcalde

Media Vs. Media

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Media	Stocking, or one sock	Media	Medios de comunicación

Noticia Vs. Notice

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Noticia	News	Notice	Anuncio, aviso

Nudo Vs. Nude

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Nudo	Knot	Nude	Desnudo

Once Vs. Once

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Once	Eleven	Once	Una vez, una vez que, en cuanto

Pan Vs. Pan

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Pan	Bread	Pan	Sartén, cacerola

Pie Vs. Pie

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Pie	Foot	Pie	Tarta

Presumir Vs. Presume

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Presumir	To show off, to boast	Presume	Suponer

Quieto Vs. Quiet

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Quieto	Still	Quiet	Silencioso, callado

Red Vs. Red

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Red	Network	Red	Rojo

Relativo Vs. Relative

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Relativo	Related to	Relative	Pariente, familiar

Restar Vs. Rest

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Restar	To subtract	Rest	Descansar

Soportar Vs. Support

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Soportar	To put up with, to bear	Support	Apoyar

Suceso Vs. Success

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Suceso	Event, happening, incident	Success	Éxito

Trasladarse Vs. Translate

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Trasladarse	To move, to transfer	Translate	Traducir

Tuna Vs. Tuna

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Tuna	School or University musical group	Tuna	Atún

Últimamente Vs. Ultimately

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Últimamente	Lately	Ultimately	Finalmente

Vaso Vs. Vase

Spanish Word	English translation	English word	Spanish translation
Vaso	Glass	Vase	Jarrón

False friends are fun sometimes but you don’t want to be taken as a fool, so make sure you learn the differences.

There are false friends that can put you in trouble. For example:

It’s not the same saying:

“Estoy embarazada” (I’m pregnant)

than

“Estoy avergonzada” (I’m embarrassed)

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