{"id":135004,"date":"2023-03-07T05:41:23","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T10:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/false-cognates-spanish\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T03:44:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T08:44:07","slug":"false-cognates-spanish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/false-cognates-spanish\/","title":{"rendered":"Common False Cognates in Spanish"},"content":{"rendered":"

A cognate is a word that is spelled similarly and has the same meaning across two different languages. For instance, the English word \u201csofa\u201d is el sof\u00e1<\/em> in Spanish.\u00a0But sometimes, a word only looks the same in both languages, but the two words actually have completely different meanings. These are what we call false cognates.<\/p>\n

And learning about Spanish false cognates<\/strong> can save you from making huge Spanish slip-ups.<\/a>\u00a0We’ll teach you about 20 commonly mixed-up false cognates in Spanish so you can avoid some embarrassing misunderstandings.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Actual<\/em> <\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Actual<\/p>\n

What it means<\/strong>: Current<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Actual<\/em> <\/strong>in Spanish means \u201ccurrent\u201d as in eventos<\/strong> actuales<\/strong><\/em>, or \u201ccurrent events.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you want the Spanish equivalent of the English \u201cactual,\u201d use the word real<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually\u201d would translate to en realidad<\/em>,<\/strong> which is a quite common expression.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

El presidente actual<\/strong> de ese pa\u00eds es muy popular.\u00a0<\/em>
\n(The current<\/strong> president of that country is very popular.)<\/p>\n

2. Asistir<\/em> <\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> To assist<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> To attend<\/p>\n

This one has the potential to set your head spinning. Asistir<\/em> <\/strong>means \u201cto attend\u201d as you would do a meeting or lecture.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The word for “to help\u201d is ayudar<\/em>, and the noun \u201chelp\u201d is ayuda<\/em>. Always a good one to keep in mind.<\/p>\n

Note: Asistir<\/em> can sometimes be used to mean “to help,” but that meaning has mostly fallen out of use.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Asist\u00ed<\/strong> a todas mis clases la semana pasada.<\/em>
\n(I attended<\/strong> all of my classes last week.)<\/p>\n

3. Chocar <\/em><\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Choke<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> To collide; to clash<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chocar<\/em> <\/strong>is what happens when two cars run into each other or two people get into a disagreement. It means \u201cto collide\u201d or \u201cto clash,\u201d not \u201cto choke.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Spanish, “to choke\u201d is ahogarse, <\/em>assuming you’re talking about\u00a0choking on food or drowning. Estrangular<\/em> is when a person chokes another person.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Los autos chocaron<\/strong> afuera en el estacionamiento.\u00a0<\/em>
\n(The cars collided<\/strong> outside in the parking lot.)<\/p>\n

4. Constipaci\u00f3n<\/em> <\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Constipation<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> A cold<\/p>\n

Be sure you get this one right before calling in sick to work; otherwise, you might accidentally be giving your co-workers a bit too much information.<\/p>\n

If you are actually constipated, the word for constipation is estre\u00f1imiento<\/em>, but you might still want to keep that to yourself.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Est\u00e1 estornudando y tosiendo. Tiene s\u00edntomas de constipaci\u00f3n<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n(She is sneezing and coughing. She has the symptoms of a cold<\/strong>.)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Contestar <\/em><\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> To contest<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> To answer<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This seemingly strange translation actually makes sense when you think about it.<\/p>\n

In English, the word \u201ccontest\u201d is used when you must answer an argument in court. So it\u2019s easy to see how it could have some relation to the Spanish word contestar<\/em><\/strong>, which means \u201cto answer\u201d a question or a telephone.<\/p>\n

However, in court, you would use the Spanish word impugnar<\/em> to contest a verdict.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

La estudiante contest\u00f3<\/strong> las preguntas del profesor.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n(The student answered<\/strong> the professor’s questions.”)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

6. Delito<\/em> <\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Delight<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Crime<\/p>\n

Whatever you do, don\u2019t say “es un delito conocerte<\/strong>.”<\/em> That means \u201cIt\u2019s a crime to meet you,\u201d and probably won\u2019t make you very many friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cDelight\u201d translates to deleite<\/em>, but when meeting someone it’s better to say, “es un placer conocerte.” Placer<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>means \u201cpleasure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fue a la c\u00e1rcel despu\u00e9s de cometer delitos<\/strong> financieros.\u00a0<\/em>
\n(He went to jail after committing financial crimes<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

7. Embarazada<\/em> <\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Embarrassed<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Pregnant<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Using the word embarazada<\/em> <\/strong>incorrectly could leave you, well\u2026 embarrassed.<\/p>\n

There are a few different ways of saying \u201cembarrassed\u201d in Spanish depending on the dialect, but what I usually go for is tener verg\u00fcenza<\/em>. It literally means, \u201cto have shame,”\u00a0but it does the same job.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ella est\u00e1 embarazada<\/strong> y necesita descansar m\u00e1s.<\/em>
\n(She is pregnant<\/strong> and needs to rest more.)<\/p>\n

8. Enviar <\/em><\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> To envy<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> To send<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Far from being one of the 7 deadly sins, enviar<\/em> <\/strong>simply means \u201cto send.\u201d You can \u201cenviar<\/em><\/strong>\u201d a letter, a package, or an email, but you can\u2019t “enviar<\/strong><\/em>” your friends (well, I guess you could, but you should punch holes in the box).<\/p>\n

If someone has something you wish you had, you can tener celos<\/em> (to have jealousy) or envidiar<\/em>\u00a0(to envy) them.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Puedo enviarte<\/strong> un mensaje cuando llegue a la oficina.\u00a0<\/em>
\n(I can send you<\/strong> a message when I get to the office.)<\/p>\n

9. \u00c9xito <\/em><\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Exit<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Success<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you were to ask someone where you can find the \u00e9xito<\/em> <\/strong>you might be in for a bit of a philosophical reply. Instead, look for the signs marked salida<\/em>, and get on with your day.<\/p>\n

To make things even more confusing, the word\u00a0suceso<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>in Spanish means \u201cevent\u201d or \u201csomething that happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoy anunciamos el \u00e9xito<\/strong> de nuestro \u00faltimo proyecto.\u00a0<\/em>
\n(Today we announce the success<\/strong> of our latest project.)<\/p>\n

10. F\u00e1brica <\/em><\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong>\u00a0Fabric<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Factory<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As much as I\u2019d like to wear a shirt that\u2019s made of factories, I don\u2019t think it sounds very practical.<\/p>\n

Instead, just opt for one made of tela<\/em>\u00a0like everyone else, it\u2019s probably much cooler and more environmentally friendly.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

La f\u00e1brica<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>hace juguetes de pl\u00e1stico.\u00a0<\/em>
\n(The factory<\/strong> makes plastic toys.)<\/p>\n

11. Introducir<\/em> <\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Introduce<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Insert<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Introductions can be awkward enough without accidentally telling your friends that you\u2019d like to insert them into each other.<\/p>\n

A correct introduction for your friends would be, \u201cQuiero presentarte a mi amigo [Miguel]<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em> No insertion necessary.<\/p>\n

Note: While introducir<\/em> is not used for describing introducing people to each other, it can be used in the cases when “introduce” is being used to mean something like “bring forward” or “add.”<\/p>\n

For instance, introducir <\/em>is acceptable if you’re talking about introducing a new topic or introducing some new legislation. This also applies for introducing someone to a hobby or introducing an animal to a new habitat.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Necesito introducir<\/strong> los platos en el lavavajillas. <\/em>
\n(I need to put<\/strong> the dishes in<\/strong> the dishwasher.)<\/p>\n

12. Largo <\/em><\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Large<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Long<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This is an easy one to mix up when you\u2019re a beginner because the two meanings are so similar.<\/p>\n

However, largo<\/em> <\/strong>is only used to refer to length, whereas grande<\/em> is used to refer to the overall size. So something could be both largo<\/em> <\/strong>and grande<\/strong>,<\/em> or just one or the other.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mi pelo era muy largo<\/strong> antes de cortarlo.\u00a0<\/em>
\n(My hair was very long<\/strong> before I cut it.)<\/p>\n

13. Molestar<\/em> <\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Molest<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> To annoy<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This one does take a while to get used to actually saying out loud, but it\u2019s important to know. You don\u2019t want to get the wrong impression from someone complaining that their boss \u201cmolested\u201d them all day in the office.<\/p>\n

You might want to know that the true translation of \u201cmolest\u201d is abusar<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0(sexualmente<\/strong>)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

El gatito siempre molesta<\/strong> a los gatos adultos.\u00a0<\/em>
\n(The kitten always bothers<\/strong> the adult cats.)<\/p>\n

14. Pie<\/em>\u00a0<\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Pie<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Foot<\/p>\n

Even though the two are spelled the same, there is a difference in pronunciation. In Spanish, pie<\/em><\/strong> is pronounced \u201cpee-eh\u201d<\/em> and means \u201cfoot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two feet are dos pies,<\/em> pronounced, \u201cpee-ehs.\u201d<\/em> Something I always found funny is that the translation for \u201ctoes\u201d is dedos del pie<\/em>.<\/strong> Literally, \u201cfingers of the foot.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you want an actual pie, you should order un pastel. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There are regions where you may also hear el p<\/strong>ay<\/strong><\/em> to mean “pie”. This is pronounced the same as “pie” in English. Keep this in mind while exploring delicious Hispanic cuisine<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Me duele el pie<\/strong> de caminar demasiado.\u00a0<\/em>
\n(My foot<\/strong> hurts from walking too much.)<\/p>\n

15. Preservativo<\/em> <\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Preservative<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Condom<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What we call preservatives in English are called conservantes<\/em>\u00a0in Spanish. The word preservativo<\/em> <\/strong>refers to condoms.<\/p>\n

You can also say cond\u00f3n<\/em><\/strong>, but just don\u2019t say that they\u2019re in your food or your roommates might tease you for an entire semester.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00c9l compr\u00f3 preservativos<\/strong> antes de su cita. <\/em>
\n(He bought condoms<\/strong> before his date.)<\/p>\n

16. Rapista <\/em><\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Rapist<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Barber; shaver<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This actually isn\u2019t a very common word, but still good to know. Rapista<\/em> <\/strong>doesn\u2019t mean \u201crapist\u201d but actually means \u201cbarber\u201d or more precisely, \u201ca shaver\u201d from the word rapar<\/em> <\/strong>meaning \u201cto shave\u201d or \u201cto crop.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, a more common word for \u201cbarber\u201d is barbero<\/em> or peluquero<\/em>. The word for \u201crapist\u201d is violador<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Example: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Va al rapista<\/strong> una vez al mes para un corte de pelo.\u00a0<\/em>
\n(He goes to a barber<\/strong> once a month for a haircut.)<\/p>\n

17. Realizar <\/em><\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Realize<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> To do; to perform<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Realizar<\/em> <\/strong>means “to do” or “to perform.” For instance, \u201cYou realized your plan to take over the world.\u201d It\u2019s kind of like the word \u201cexecute\u201d in English.<\/p>\n

If you wanted to say that you “realized” something in a mental sense (as in, you noticed it or came to understand it), you would say \u201cMe di cuenta…\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

El doctor va a realizar<\/strong> una cirug\u00eda.<\/em>
\n(The doctor is going to perform<\/strong> a surgery.)<\/p>\n

18. Recordar<\/em> <\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Record<\/p>\n

What it means:\u00a0<\/strong>To remember; to remind<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

To remember something or to remind someone is recordar.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hint: Grabar<\/em> means \u201cto record.\u201d<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Recu\u00e9rdame<\/strong> ma\u00f1ana que necesito grabar el nuevo cap\u00edtulo de Juego de Tronos.
\n<\/em>(Remind me<\/strong> tomorrow that I need to record the new episode of Game of Thrones<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

19. Ropa<\/em> <\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Rope<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Clothes<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ropa<\/em> <\/strong>actually shares a root with the English word \u201crobe,\u201d so it\u2019s easier to remember.<\/p>\n

Just don\u2019t make the mistake of thinking that Cuban ropa vieja<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0is actually made of old clothes. It\u2019s actually a very tasty dish of shredded beef, usually served with rice.<\/p>\n

Actual \u201crope\u201d is called cuerda<\/em> or soga<\/em>\u00a0in Spanish.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mi hija necesita ropa<\/strong> nueva para la escuela.\u00a0<\/em>
\n(My daughter needs new clothes<\/strong> for school.)<\/p>\n

20. Sopa<\/em> <\/h2>\n

What it looks like:<\/strong> Soap<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Soup<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important, and many people are making an effort to clean up their eating habits, but ordering soap in a restaurant might be taking it a bit too far.<\/p>\n

If you need soap, the word is jab\u00f3n<\/em>, not to be confused with jam\u00f3n<\/em><\/strong>, which is \u201cham\u201d and perfectly fine to order.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00bfEl restaurante tiene sopa<\/strong> de alb\u00f3ndigas?\u00a0<\/em>
\n(Does the restaurant have meatball soup<\/strong>?)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you can remember these 20 false Spanish cognates, you\u2019ll be able to avoid quite a few mix-ups.<\/p>\n

For practice, try watching authentic Spanish content such as news clips<\/a> and YouTube videos to see if you can pick out any of these false cognates in real conversations.<\/p>\n

For a learner-friendly approach, you can use the authentic video library on the language learning program FluentU<\/a>.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

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