False Friends: 14 Fascinating English and Spanish Examples that can Confuse Learners
One thing that often frustrates students is false friends. But what are they? These are words that look similar between the 2 languages, but can have radically different meanings. In this article, we will look at 14 of the most oftenly confused words
1. Actual/Actually vs Actual/ Actualmente
This is a very common one. In Spanish, actual means current and actualmente means currently. In English however, actual means real or the thing itself and actually can be used in 2 ways. The first means in reality or the truth of a situation, as in “we need to listen to what they are actually saying”. The second meaning is a lot more colloquial, it is used to emphasise that someone has done or said something surprising or shocking. For example, “I can’t believe he actually said the world was flat!”
2. Sensible vs Sensible
These two are spelt the same, but have completely different meanings. In Spanish, sensible is equivalent to the English sensitive. The English sensible has 2 meanings. One being that an item is practical, rather than decorative or attractive, for example sensible shoes (in Spanish this would be apropriado). The second means based on good judgement and practical ideas and understanding for example a sensible person or a sensible idea. In Spanish this definition would be sensato.
3. Assist vs Assistir
This pair is very easily confused as there are a couple of meanings of the Spanish assistir. The more common, every-day meaning is to attend, or be present at. The more formal meaning matches the English assist meaning to help, but this is less common in day-to-day conversation.
4. Embarrassed vs Embarazada
This is one I think every English speaking Spanish learner has confused once, and once you make this mistake, the embarrassment prevents you from making it again. Embarrassed in English is avergozado/a, ashamed. However, embarazada means pregnant. Make this mistake and either be met with congratulations or confusion.
5.Exit vs Éxito
Exit in English is related to leaving. As a noun, it is the door or the way out of a location, salida . As a verb, it means to leave a location, salir. In Spanish, the meaning is totally different, it means success.
6. Misery vs miseria
In the past, these two meant something very similar, but definitions can change drastically over time. Today, misery in English is deep unhappiness or depression. In Spanish, miseria is poverty.
7. Pretend vs pretender
This is one that still confuses me, even after learning Spanish for 23 years. Pretend in English means to act as if something is real or true, even though it isn’t. So children play pretend games, when they use their imagination to create fantastical situations. Pretender in Spanish has a few different meanings, the most common being to intend or plan to do something or to claim rights to something.
8. Soap vs sopa
This is a false friend and a common pronunciation error for Spanish learners of English. Soap is what we use to wash our hands (jabón) and is pronounced with an /əʊ/, the same sound as in show. Soup has the same meaning as sopa in spanish and you pronounce it with an /u:/ sound, the same as boot.
9. Bizarre vs Bizarro
This pair have completely opposite meanings. If something is bizarre in English, it is strange, weird or unusual. But if someone calls you bizarro in Spanish, it is a compliment. It means brave or vallaint, like Prince Charming or Prinicpe Azúl if you prefer the spanish version of the fairytale character.
10. Bomber vs bombero
Another pair of false friends that are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Seeing a vehicle with the word bombero may be confusing for English speakers as it looks a lot like the word bomber, the person responsible for explosive devices. In Spanish, it is a lot less sinister, they are firefighters.
11. Introduce vs introducir
If you want to introduce someone, you present them to the group, in Spanish this is presentar. However, introducir has many meanings in Spanish. English translations include, to put, to insert, to fill in, and to take someone into somewhere. They all have the idea, though very loosely of putting someone or something into a new location.
13. Parade vs parada
Everyone loves a parade, the music, the energy, the atmosphere. The translation of this in Spanish would be procesión. Parada comes from the word parar, which means to stop. So a parada would be a stop on a journey, or a place where public transport stops to allow passengers on and off, like a bus or metro stop.
13. Record vs recordar
Recordar in Spanish deals with memory. It means to remember, to remind or to recall. Record as verb means to make a copy of something, as evidence of something or to keep as a reference, or in the case of music or film, that can be listened to or watched time and time again. As a noun, it is the copy or the the item that can be referred to or listened to and watched.
14.Support vs soportar
If I support something in English, I am in favour of it. It is a very positive idea. It’s false friend however, in Spanish soportar is to tolerate or to cope with something, a much less positive idea.
How do we conclude? There are many more false friends, but these are dwarfed by the number of “true friends” that can really help you in your language learning exploits. Keep track of the false friends you find.
Want to learn more? Why not book a session for a 1-1 session or take a look at our other posts here follow me on social media for more English tips.
