False friends are words that look as though they have the same definitions in both English and Spanish, but in reality mean two very different things!
- Embarasada – Embarrassed
Be careful with this one! You might end up telling an expecting mother that she is embarrassed when you want to say that she is pregnant!
Embarasada = Pregnant
Avergonzado = Embarrassed
- Carpeta – Carpet
This incorrect translation is one that many people make. The thing that is used to keep papers in is a folder, a carpet is a type of fabric that is used to cover floors.
Carpeta = Folder
Moqueta = Carpet
- Fábrica – Fabric
Materials and products are not made in a fabric! They are made in a factory. This is an easy mistake to make, but be careful, fabric and a factory are two different things!
Fábrica = Factory
Tela = Fabric
- Introducir – Introduce
These words in some contexts do have the same definition – to insert or put something inside of something else. It’s important to note that most of the time these words have different meanings. The most common use of introduce in English is to present one person to another as to make them acquainted.
Introducir = To insert
Presentar = To introduce
- Largo – Large
Both of these words are adjectives, but they don’t mean the same thing! Large is another way of saying ²big² without giving any information about the objects¢ shape or length.
Largo = Long
Grande = Large
- Sopa – Soap
Don’t order soap when you go to a restaurant, what you really want is soup! It will sound very funny if you ask for soap (jabón) to eat. To avoid a laughable situation, don’t forget about this false friend.
Sopa = Soup
Jabón = Soap
- Ultimamente – Ultimately
If you want to say that something happened recently, don’t use the word ultimately. The word you want to use in English is lately.
Últimamente = Lately or recently
Al final = Ultimately
- Asistir – Assist
These words are so similar that you would surely think they mean the same thing, but think again!
Asistir = To attend
Ayudar = To assist
- Casualidad – Casualty
These two words have two very different definitions! Casualty is used to refer to someone who has been injured or killed in an accident or attack. A coincidence is an occurence of two or more events at one time by chance.
Casualidad = Coincidence
Víctima o herido = Casualty
- Éxito – Exit
Be careful with these false friends! An exit is what you use to leave a building or other enclosed space, success is what you have when you accomplish your goals.
Éxito = Success
Salida = Exit
