![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/spanish\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/03\/thinking-350x220.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
What is a false friend? No, it is not exactly that lousy fellow from your neighborhood. We are talking here about a false cognate.<\/p>\n
But what is a cognate? Well, a cognate is a word that is not only written practically the same, but also has the same meaning as in another language. For instance, ‘terrible’ and terrible<\/em>, ‘minute’ and minuto<\/em>, ‘idea’ and idea<\/em>, ‘sofa’ and sof\u00e1<\/em>, etc.<\/p>\n Now, false cognates are words that have quite similar spelling and pronunciation from one language to the other, but whose meanings are completely different. Not by coincidence they are also known as falsos amigos<\/em> or false friends. Just like a mischievous enemy can lead us to funny misunderstandings.<\/p>\n There are a lot of false cognates shared by Spanish and English, and chances are that you have been using them without even knowing. But don’t worry! I’ve got your back. Read on to find out which false friends you should avoid no matter what to avoid finding yourself in awkward situations.<\/p>\n Embarazado\/a\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Embarrassed<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Pregnant<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Avergonzado\/a, apenado\/a<\/p>\n Sopa<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Soap<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Soup<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Jab\u00f3n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Carpeta<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Carpet<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Folder, file<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Alfombra<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bizarro\/a<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Bizarre<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Bold, courageous; although today this is being used by some Spanish-speakers as a synonym of ‘weird, strange’<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Extra\u00f1o\/a, raro\/a<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Actualmente<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Actually<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Currently<\/p>\n What you should be saying: En realidad, de hecho<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Delito<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Delight<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Offense, crime<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Deleite, placer<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Terror\u00edfico\/a<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Terrific<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Frightening, horrific<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Incre\u00edble, estupendo\/a, b\u00e1rbaro\/a<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sensible<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Sensible<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Sensitive<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Sensato<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cuesti\u00f3n<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Question, synonym of ‘inquiry’<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Issue, problem, matter, key subject<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Pregunta, interrogante<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Eventualmente<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Eventually<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Possibly<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Finalmente, al final<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00c9xito<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Exit<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Success<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Salida<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Realizar<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: To realize, to become aware of something<\/p>\n What you are really saying: To make, to do, to carry out<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Darse cuenta (de algo), percatarse (de algo)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n F\u00e1brica<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Fabric<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Factory, (manufacturing) plant<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Tela, tejido<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excitado\/a<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Excited<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Aroused<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Emocionado\/a<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chocar<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: To choke<\/p>\n What you are really saying: To shock; to crash into something<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Ahogar(se), extrangular<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suceso<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Success<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Event, happening<\/p>\n What you should be saying: \u00c9xito<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Molestar<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: To harass, to molest (sexually)<\/p>\n What you are really saying: To annoy, to disturb<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Abusar (sexualmente) de alguien, acosar<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Introducir<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: To introduce (someone to someone else)<\/p>\n What you are really saying: To put in\/into something, to insert<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Presentar (a alguien)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Recordar<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: To record<\/p>\n What you are really saying: To remember<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Grabar<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Contestar<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: To contest<\/p>\n What you are really saying: To answer (back), to reply<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Protestar (contra algo), refutar, impugnar<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Actual<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Actual<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Current, present<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Real<\/p>\n Largo<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Large<\/p>\n What you are really saying: Long<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Grande; numeroso\/a; amplio\/a<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Preservativo<\/strong><\/p>\n What you think you are saying: Preservative<\/p>\n What you are really saying: This word is most commenly used as a synonym for ‘prophylactic’ or ‘condom’<\/p>\n What you should be saying: Conservante<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Right from the beginning, we detect the notable differences between seemingly related words. However, there lies the beauty of understanding cognates: they will let you get a good grasp of the many nuances that Spanish contains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What is a false friend? No, it is not exactly that lousy fellow from your neighborhood. We are talking here about a false cognate. But what is a cognate? Well, a cognate is a word that is not only written practically the same, but also has the same meaning as in another language. For instance…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/spanish\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/03\/road-sign-464659_960_720-350x247.jpg\")