Spanish false friends: 39 words that don't mean what they look like

They look like English, they sound like English, and they mean something else. Here's what each one really means, and what to say instead.

A false friend is a Spanish word that looks like an English one and means something different. Embarazada isn't embarrassed, it's pregnant. Éxito isn't the exit, it's success. Spanish and English share thousands of Latin roots, so most look-alikes are honest (hospital, animal, importante), and that's exactly why the dishonest ones catch you: under pressure, your brain trusts the resemblance.

The list below groups the ones English speakers really do trip on, starting with the ones that can make a room go quiet. Each row shows what the word looks like, what it actually means and what to say instead. Where a word has its own page, with a scene, examples and a free grader to test your own sentence, it links there. Don't try to memorise the lot: read it once, and the next time a Spanish word looks too easy, check it.

Teaching Spanish? Download the one-page printable (PDF, A4): every word below with what it means and what to say instead. Free to print and share in class.

Jump to: the embarrassing ones · at work and school · feelings and people · everyday things · verbs that trick you

The embarrassing ones

The ones that make a room go quiet. If you only learn one group, learn this one.

embarazada is not "embarrassed"
It means pregnant. For "embarrassed", say me da pena, me da vergüenza. The full story →
excitado is not "excited"
It means aroused, in most of Latin America. For "excited", say emocionado. The full story →
preservativo is not "preservative"
It means condom. For "preservative", say conservador (conservante in Spain). The full story →
constipado is not "a cold"
It means constipated, in most of Latin America (it means a cold only in Spain). For "a cold", say resfriado. The full story →
groserías is not "groceries"
It means swear words, rude remarks. For "groceries", say el súper, el mandado (Mexico), las compras. The full story →
introducir is not "introduce"
It means to insert, to bring in. For "introduce", say presentar (a person). The full story →
molestar is not "molest"
It means to bother, to annoy. For "molest", say acosar (to harass).

At work and school

The ones that sound professional and quietly say something else in a meeting, an email or a classroom.

actualmente is not "actually"
It means currently, at the moment. For "actually", say en realidad, la verdad, de hecho. The full story →
aplicar is not "apply (for a job)"
It means to apply a cream, a rule or a discount. For "apply (for a job)", say solicitar, postularse. The full story →
carpeta is not "carpet"
It means folder, binder. For "carpet", say alfombra (tapete for a rug in Mexico). The full story →
colegio is not "college"
It means school, often a private one. For "college", say universidad.
lectura is not "lecture"
It means reading, a reading passage. For "lecture", say conferencia, clase.
librería is not "library"
It means bookshop. For "library", say biblioteca. The full story →
compromiso is not "compromise"
It means commitment, obligation, engagement (to marry). For "compromise", say llegar a un acuerdo, ceder.

Feelings and people

The ones that describe someone, and can describe them very differently from what you meant.

sensible is not "sensible"
It means sensitive. For "sensible", say sensato, razonable. The full story →
decepcionado is not "deceived"
It means disappointed. For "deceived", say engañado.
simpático is not "sympathetic"
It means nice, friendly, likeable. For "sympathetic", say comprensivo.
pariente is not "parent"
It means relative. For "parent", say padres (papás in Mexico).
educado is not "educated"
It means polite, well brought up. For "educated", say culto, con estudios.
sano is not "sane"
It means healthy. For "sane", say cuerdo.
soportar is not "support"
It means to put up with, to stand. For "support", say apoyar. The full story →

Everyday things

Shops, hotels, markets and the street: the ones you'll need on your first day.

ropa is not "rope"
It means clothes. For "rope", say cuerda, soga, mecate (Mexico). The full story →
éxito is not "exit"
It means success. For "exit", say salida. The full story →
sopa is not "soap"
It means soup. For "soap", say jabón. The full story →
largo is not "large"
It means long. For "large", say grande. The full story →
fábrica is not "fabric"
It means factory. For "fabric", say tela.
billón is not "billion"
It means a million million (an English trillion). For "billion", say mil millones.
tuna is not "tuna"
It means prickly pear, a cactus fruit (Mexico). For "tuna", say atún.
dormitorio is not "dorm"
It means bedroom. For "dorm", say residencia estudiantil.
casualidad is not "casualty"
It means coincidence, chance. For "casualty", say víctima, herido.
ganga is not "gang"
It means bargain. For "gang", say pandilla.

Verbs that trick you

Real, common verbs, which is why nobody stops you: the sentence is grammatical, it just says something else.

realizar is not "realise"
It means to carry out, to make happen. For "realise", say darse cuenta. The full story →
asistir is not "assist"
It means to attend (asistir a). For "assist", say ayudar. The full story →
atender is not "attend"
It means to serve, to look after, to deal with. For "attend", say asistir a, ir a. The full story →
recordar is not "record"
It means to remember, to remind. For "record", say grabar.
discutir is not "discuss"
It means to argue (and, more formally, to discuss). For "discuss", say hablar de, platicar (Mexico).
pretender is not "pretend"
It means to intend, to aim to. For "pretend", say fingir, hacer como que.
resumir is not "resume"
It means to summarise. For "resume", say retomar, reanudar.
advertir is not "advertise"
It means to warn. For "advertise", say anunciar, hacer publicidad.

Think you'd catch these in the moment? Play Spot the slip, or browse all 48 common Spanish mistakes, each with what a local says instead.

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Questions people ask

What is the most embarrassing Spanish false friend?

Embarazada, which means pregnant, not embarrassed. Close behind are excitado (aroused in most of Latin America, so say emocionado) and preservativo (a condom, not a preservative).

What is the difference between a false friend and a false cognate?

A false friend looks like an English word but means something different, whatever its origin. Strictly, a false cognate is a pair that looks related but comes from different roots: mucho and much look and mean alike but are unrelated. Most learners use the two terms interchangeably.

Is actual a false friend in Spanish?

Yes. Actual means current (el precio actual is the current price) and actualmente means currently. For actually, say en realidad, la verdad or de hecho.

Do false friends change between Spain and Latin America?

Some do. Constipado means a cold in Spain but constipated in much of Latin America, and tuna is a cactus fruit in Mexico. This list uses Latin American meanings and notes Spain where it differs.

How do you remember Spanish false friends?

Learn each one together with the word you should use instead, in a short sentence: me da pena, not estoy embarazada. Saying the right version out loud a few times works better than memorising a list of wrong ones.