Spanish False Cognates

Embarazada means pregnant, not embarrassed! 18 words that trick English speakers.

Looks like English but means something different!

SpanishLooks likeActually meansEnglish word is
embarazadaembarrassedpregnantavergonzada
sensiblesensiblesensitivesensato
actualactualcurrent, presentreal, verdadero
realizarto realizeto carry out, achievedarse cuenta de
éxitoexitsuccesssalida
carpetacarpetfolderalfombra
constipadoconstipatedhaving a coldestreñido
libreríalibrarybookstorebiblioteca
molestarto molestto bother, annoyabusar
asistirto assistto attendayudar

More false friends

SpanishLooks likeActually meansEnglish word is
recordarto recordto remembergrabar
soportarto supportto tolerate, bearapoyar
pretenderto pretendto intend, tryfingir
largolargelonggrande
fábricafabricfactorytela
conducirto conductto drivedirigir
contestarto contestto answerdisputar
lecturalecturereadingconferencia
True cognates (they DO match!)

Many words are reliable: chocolate, hotel, radio, hospital, animal, idea, normal, terrible, horrible, possible, important, elegant, interesting, university.

Quick quiz

1. "Embarazada" means _____.

2. "I'm embarrassed" = Estoy _____.

3. "Éxito" means _____.

4. "The current situation" = la situación _____.

5. "Library" in Spanish = _____.

6. "Sensible" in Spanish means _____.

7. "Largo" means _____.

8. "To attend a meeting" = _____ a una reunión.

9. "To remember" = _____.

10. "Factory" = _____.

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