Spanish false friends that will embarrass you
Quick answer
“Embarazada” means pregnant, not embarrassed: to say you are embarrassed, say “Me da vergüenza” or “Estoy avergonzado/a”. It is the most famous of the Spanish false friends, words that look like English but mean something else.
The ten that cause real trouble
| Spanish | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| embarazada | pregnant | embarrassed = avergonzado/a, me da vergüenza |
| constipado | having a cold | constipated = estreñido |
| actualmente | currently, nowadays | actually = en realidad |
| librería | bookshop | library = biblioteca |
| carpeta | folder | carpet = alfombra |
| éxito | success | exit = salida |
| sensible | sensitive | sensible = sensato |
| molestar | to bother | “¿Te molesta?” = does it bother you? |
| asistir | to attend | to assist = ayudar |
| preservativo | condom | preservative = conservante |
What to say when you are embarrassed
| Spanish | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Me da vergüenza. | I’m embarrassed. / It embarrasses me. | the most natural |
| ¡Qué vergüenza! | How embarrassing! | |
| Estoy avergonzado. | I’m embarrassed. | a man speaking |
| Estoy avergonzada. | I’m embarrassed. | a woman speaking |
| Perdona, me he equivocado. | Sorry, I made a mistake. | to fix any false-friend slip |
Why they trip you up
- Most false friends come from the same Latin word that drifted apart in English and Spanish over centuries.
- Words ending in -ción are usually safe (nación, información). Verbs and adjectives are where the traps are.
- If a word sounds too easy, check it once. Saying it in a real scene, with the right reaction, makes it stick.
Watch the Short
Questions people ask
What does “embarazada” mean in Spanish?
Pregnant. “Estoy embarazada” means “I’m pregnant”.
How do you say “embarrassed” in Spanish?
“Me da vergüenza” (it embarrasses me) is the most natural. “Avergonzado/a” is the adjective, and “¡Qué vergüenza!” means “How embarrassing!”.
What does “constipado” mean?
Having a cold. If you are constipated, the word is “estreñido/a”, and you will want it at the pharmacy.
What is a false friend in language learning?
A word that looks or sounds like a word in your language but means something different, like “librería” (bookshop) and library.