Los falsos amigos Posted by Adir on May 11, 2009 in Spanish Vocabulary
You’ve been studying Spanish for some time and you’ve definitely come across what we call ‘false friends’.
These are tricky words that lead us to think about a meaning in Spanish that is similar to English but that’s not the case.
Check out some examples, the first word is in Spanish with the translation in English, then you’ll have the English false friend with its Spanish translation.
Barraca – hut, cabin
Barracks – cuartel
Bizarro – gallant, generous
Bizarre – extraño, estrafalario
Carpeta – file, folder
Carpet – alfombra, moqueta
Castigar – to punish
To castigate – censurar, criticar
Casualmente – fortuitously, accidentally
Casually – despreocupadamente, informalmente
Caución – bail
Caution – cautela, prudencia
Cava – wine cellar, sparkling wine
Cave – cueva, caverna
Collar – necklace
Collar – cuello (ropa)
Compás – beat, rhythm
Compass – brújula
Conductor – driver
Conductor – director de orquesta, revisor/cobrador (transporte)
Congelar – to freeze
To congeal – coagular
Corpulento – tall, strong
Corpulent – gordo
(estar) constipado – to have a cold
(to be) constipated – estar estreñido
Contestar – to answer
To contest – negar, poner en tela de juicio
Decepción – disappointment
Deception – engaño
Desgracia – misfortune
Disgrace – vergüenza, escándalo, deshonra
Desmayo – fainting fit
Dismay – consternación
Destitución – dismissal
Destitution – indigencia, miseria
Nos vemos prontito.
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