Spanish false friends checker
Type a Spanish or English word to see if it is a false friend, what it really means and the word you wanted. Then take the 10-question quiz.
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All 35 Spanish false friends
| Spanish | Looks like | Really means | Say instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| embarazada | pregnantEstoy embarazada de tres meses.I am three months pregnant. | avergonzado/a, me da vergüenza | |
| constipado | having a coldEstoy constipado, no voy a salir.I have a cold, I am not going out. | estreñido | |
| éxito | successLa fiesta fue un éxito.The party was a success. | salida | |
| librería | bookshopCompré el libro en una librería.I bought the book in a bookshop. | biblioteca | |
| actual | current, present-dayEl precio actual es diez euros.The current price is ten euros. | real, verdadero | |
| actualmente | currently, nowadaysActualmente vivo en Madrid.I currently live in Madrid. | en realidad | |
| carpeta | folderLos papeles están en la carpeta azul.The papers are in the blue folder. | alfombra, moqueta | |
| sensible | sensitiveTengo los dientes muy sensibles.My teeth are very sensitive. | sensato | |
| molestar | to bother, to disturbPerdone que le moleste.Sorry to bother you. | abusar de | |
| asistir | to attendAsistí a la reunión.I attended the meeting. | ayudar | |
| realizar | to carry out, to doRealizamos un estudio.We carried out a study. | darse cuenta | |
| recordar | to remember, to remindNo recuerdo su nombre.I do not remember his name. | grabar | |
| introducir | to insert, to put inIntroduzca la tarjeta.Insert your card. | presentar | |
| pretender | to intend, to try toPretendo terminar hoy.I intend to finish today. | fingir | |
| decepción | disappointmentLa película fue una decepción.The film was a disappointment. | engaño | |
| sopa | soupUna sopa de tomate, por favor.A tomato soup, please. | jabón | |
| ropa | clothesNecesito ropa de invierno.I need winter clothes. | cuerda | |
| once | elevenEl autobús sale a las once.The bus leaves at eleven. | una vez | |
| fábrica | factoryTrabaja en una fábrica de coches.She works in a car factory. | tela | |
| lectura | readingLa lectura es mi pasatiempo.Reading is my hobby. | conferencia, clase | |
| conductor | driverEl conductor del autobús es muy simpático.The bus driver is very friendly. | director de orquesta | |
| excitado | sexually arousedEstoy muy ilusionado con el viaje.I am really excited about the trip. (use ilusionado!) | emocionado, ilusionado | |
| preservativo | condomSin conservantes ni colorantes.No preservatives or colourings. (the right word) | conservante | |
| bizarro | brave, gallantUn soldado bizarro.A brave soldier. | raro, extraño | |
| compromiso | commitment, engagementTengo un compromiso esta noche.I have a commitment tonight. | acuerdo, término medio | |
| discutir | to argueMis vecinos discuten mucho.My neighbours argue a lot. | hablar de, comentar | |
| largo | longEs un viaje largo.It is a long trip. | grande | |
| red | net, networkNo hay red en el metro.There is no signal in the metro. | rojo | |
| campo | countryside, fieldVivo en el campo.I live in the countryside. | campamento | |
| parientes | relativesTengo parientes en México.I have relatives in Mexico. | padres | |
| vaso | drinking glassUn vaso de agua, por favor.A glass of water, please. | jarrón, florero | |
| tuna | prickly pear (fruit); a student music bandUn bocadillo de atún, por favor.A tuna sandwich, please. (atún is the fish) | atún | |
| billón | a million million (10¹²)Mil millones de personas.A billion people. | mil millones | |
| suceso | event, incidentUn suceso extraño en el barrio.A strange incident in the neighbourhood. | éxito | |
| en absoluto | not at all¿Te molesta? — En absoluto.Does it bother you? — Not at all. | totalmente, por supuesto |
What are false friends?
False friends (falsos amigos) are Spanish words that look like English ones but mean something else. Most Spanish words that look English do mean the same thing (hotel, animal, importante), which is exactly why the few that do not catch everyone out.
The famous one: “Estoy embarazada” means “I am pregnant”. To say you are embarrassed, say “Qué vergüenza” or “Me da vergüenza”.
Questions and answers
What does embarazada mean?
“Embarazada” means pregnant. “Embarrassed” is “avergonzado” or “avergonzada”, and in conversation people say “¡Qué vergüenza!” (how embarrassing).
What are the most common Spanish false friends?
Embarazada (pregnant), constipado (having a cold), éxito (success), librería (bookshop), actual (current), carpeta (folder), sensible (sensitive) and molestar (to bother).
What is the Spanish for “library”?
“Biblioteca”. A “librería” is a shop that sells books.
How do you say “I am excited” in Spanish?
Say “Estoy ilusionado” or “Estoy emocionado” (ilusionada / emocionada for a woman). Avoid “excitado”, which has a sexual meaning.
Are all similar-looking words false friends?
No. Most Spanish-English look-alikes are true cognates: hospital, chocolate, natural, posible. Only a few dozen common ones mislead you, and they are the ones on this page.
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