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Spanish False Friends

Separate familiar-looking Spanish words from the English meanings they can suggest.

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Spanish false friends that describe people

Embarazada means pregnant; embarrassed is avergonzado or avergonzada. Similar spelling can hide a very different meaning.

Compare these with adjectives, paying attention to the actual English prompt.

  • embarazadapregnant · ehm-bah-rah-SAH-dah
  • actualcurrent · ahk-TWAHL
  • sensiblesensitive · sehn-SEE-bleh
  • sensatosensible (practical) · sehn-SAH-toh
  • estreñidoconstipated · ehs-treh-NYEE-doh
  • simpáticolikable · seem-PAH-tee-koh
  • educadowell-mannered · eh-doo-KAH-doh
  • presuntuosopresumptuous · preh-soon-TWOH-soh
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Spanish False Friends: full list

Review the meanings, pronunciation and usage notes, then use the printable worksheet to recall the Spanish.

Quick answer: pregnant is embarazada, current is actual, sensitive is sensible, sensible (practical) is sensato, constipated is estreñido, likable is simpático, well-mannered is educado, and presumptuous is presuntuoso.

Spanish false friends that describe people

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
pregnantembarazadaehm-bah-rah-SAH-dahNot embarrassed; embarrassed is avergonzado/a.
currentactualahk-TWAHLNot necessarily actual; actual in English can be real or verdadero.
sensitivesensiblesehn-SEE-blehSensible in English is often sensato/a.
sensible (practical)sensatosehn-SAH-tohNot the Spanish word sensible, which means sensitive.
constipatedestreñidoehs-treh-NYEE-dohConstipado commonly means having a cold in Spain.
likablesimpáticoseem-PAH-tee-kohUsually pleasant or likable, not necessarily compassionate.
well-mannerededucadoeh-doo-KAH-dohOften polite; it does not by itself mean highly qualified.
presumptuouspresuntuosopreh-soon-TWOH-sohPresunto usually means alleged, not presumptuous.

Spanish false-friend nouns

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
successel éxitoel EHK-see-tohExit is salida.
folderla carpetalah kahr-PEH-tahCarpet is alfombra.
bookstorela libreríalah lee-breh-REE-ahLibrary is biblioteca.
libraryla bibliotecalah bee-blyoh-TEH-kahA place housing books, not a bookstore.
fabricla telalah TEH-lahFábrica means factory.
factoryla fábricalah FAH-bree-kahNot fabric, which is tela.
drinking glassel vasoel BAH-sohVase is jarrón; vaso is a drinking vessel, regardless of size.
argument (quarrel)la discusiónlah dees-koo-SYOHNCan also mean discussion; context determines whether it is a quarrel.

Spanish false friends in actions and abstract words

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
to attendasistirah-sees-TEERUse asistir a an event; the verb also has specialized helping senses.
to carry outrealizarrreh-ah-lee-SAHRTo realize mentally is darse cuenta.
to introduce (a person)presentarpreh-sehn-TAHRIntroducir usually means put in or introduce a topic or change.
to pretendfingirfeen-HEERPretender usually means intend, seek or claim.
to intendpretenderpreh-tehn-DEHRNot generally to pretend; that is fingir.
to support (emotionally)apoyarah-poh-YAHRSoportar usually means tolerate or bear, though it can support weight.
notice (announcement)el avisoel ah-BEE-sohAdvice is consejo.
long (length)largoLAHR-gohLarge is usually grande.
ropela cuerdalah KWEHR-dahClothes is ropa; rope is cuerda.
Spanish False Friends chart with English meanings and Spanish answers
Spanish False Friends chart with English meanings and Spanish answers. Download the chart · Printable worksheet · Save to Pinterest

Questions about spanish false friends

What are false friends in Spanish?

They are similar-looking words whose meanings differ enough to mislead learners. Some pairs have no shared everyday meaning; others overlap only in certain contexts.

Does embarazada mean embarrassed?

No. Embarazada means pregnant. Embarrassed is avergonzado or avergonzada.

Does actual mean actual?

Usually Spanish actual means current or present-day. English actual often translates as real or verdadero.

What is the difference between librería and biblioteca?

A librería is a bookstore. A biblioteca is a library.

Does asistir mean assist?

It commonly means attend when followed by a, as in asistir a clase. It can also mean assist in certain formal or professional contexts.

Is sensible the same in both languages?

Usually not. Spanish sensible means sensitive, while English sensible is often sensato or razonable.

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