ESEN
English-Spanish false cognates
Also called false friends: words that trick Spanish speakers, like library (it does not mean "librería") and embarrassed (it does not mean "embarazada"). Here is the full list. 185 words registered.
A
13 wordsactual
≠ actual (de ahora)Means real / genuine
«actual (de ahora)» is current / presentactually
≠ actualmenteMeans in reality / in fact
«actualmente» is currently / nowadaysadvertisement
≠ advertenciaMeans ad / commercial
«advertencia» is warningadvice
≠ avisoMeans a recommendation
«aviso» is notice / warningagenda
≠ agenda (libreta)Means the list of topics for a meeting
«agenda (libreta)» is planner / diaryancient
≠ ancianoMeans very old, from a distant era
«anciano» is elderly personapology
≠ apologíaMeans an expression of regret for doing something wrong
«apología» is defense / praiseapt
≠ aptoMeans likely to / well-chosen
«apto» is suitable / fitarena
≠ arena (de playa)Means a stadium or venue
«arena (de playa)» is sandargument
≠ argumentoMeans a heated discussion or fight
«argumento» is plotassist
≠ asistir (a un lugar)Means to help
«asistir (a un lugar)» is to attendassume
≠ asumir (un cargo)Means to suppose / take for granted
«asumir (un cargo)» is to take on / to take chargeattend
≠ atenderMeans to go to / be present at
«atender» is to serve / to help
B
9 wordsbachelor
≠ bachillerMeans an unmarried man / a bachelor's degree
«bachiller» is high-school graduateballoon
≠ balónMeans an inflatable rubber toy
«balón» is ballbigot
≠ bigoteMeans an intolerant, prejudiced person
«bigote» is mustachebillion
≠ billónMeans a thousand million (1,000,000,000)
«billón» is trillionbizarre
≠ bizarroMeans strange / odd
«bizarro» is brave (antiguo)bland
≠ blandoMeans tasteless / flavorless
«blando» is softblank
≠ blanco (color)Means empty / unfilled
«blanco (color)» is whitebomber
≠ bomberoMeans a bombing plane / someone who plants bombs
«bombero» is firefighterbrave
≠ bravoMeans courageous
«bravo» is angry / fierce
C
27 wordscabin
≠ cabinaMeans a small wooden house / a cottage
«cabina» is booth / cockpitcamp
≠ campoMeans a campsite / campground
«campo» is field / countrysidecandid
≠ cándidoMeans frank / straightforward
«cándido» is naivecareer
≠ carreraMeans a profession / professional path
«carrera» is race / degreecargo
≠ cargo (puesto)Means freight / goods being transported
«cargo (puesto)» is position / postcarpet
≠ carpetaMeans a rug that covers the floor
«carpeta» is foldercarton
≠ cartón (material)Means a cardboard box or container
«cartón (material)» is cardboardcasserole
≠ cacerolaMeans a baked one-dish meal
«cacerola» is pot / pancasualty
≠ casualidadMeans a victim of an accident or conflict
«casualidad» is coincidencecigar
≠ cigarroMeans a rolled tobacco leaf smoked whole
«cigarro» is cigarettecipher
≠ cifraMeans a secret code / encryption system
«cifra» is number / figurecollar
≠ collar (joya)Means a shirt collar / a dog collar
«collar (joya)» is necklacecollege
≠ colegioMeans university
«colegio» is schoolcommodity
≠ comodidadMeans goods / raw materials traded commercially
«comodidad» is comfortcomplexion
≠ complexiónMeans the skin tone and appearance of the face
«complexión» is build (body)comprehensive
≠ comprensivoMeans complete / thorough
«comprensivo» is understandingcompromise
≠ compromisoMeans an agreement where both sides give something up
«compromiso» is commitmentconcur
≠ concurrirMeans to agree with someone
«concurrir» is to attend / to gathercondescend
≠ condescenderMeans to treat someone as inferior
«condescender» is to comply / to yieldconductor
≠ conductor (de auto)Means an orchestra conductor / a ticket collector
«conductor (de auto)» is driverconfident
≠ confidenteMeans self-assured
«confidente» is confidantconstipated
≠ constipado (resfriado)Means unable to have a bowel movement
«constipado (resfriado)» is to have a coldcontest
≠ contestarMeans a competition
«contestar» is to answerconvene
≠ convenirMeans to formally gather a group of people
«convenir» is to suit / to agreecostume
≠ costumbreMeans a disguise / dress-up outfit
«costumbre» is habit / customcrude
≠ crudo (comida)Means rude / crass / vulgar
«crudo (comida)» is raw / undercookedcurse
≠ cursoMeans a curse / a swear word
«curso» is course
D
18 wordsdeception
≠ decepciónMeans deceit / the act of deceiving
«decepción» is disappointmentdeliberate
≠ deliberar (debatir)Means intentional / on purpose
«deliberar (debatir)» is to debate / to discussdelight
≠ delitoMeans pleasure / joy
«delito» is crimedemand
≠ demandarMeans to require / to insist on
«demandar» is to suedeputy
≠ diputadoMeans a second-in-command / assistant
«diputado» is congressman / representativedessert
≠ desiertoMeans a sweet dish eaten after a meal
«desierto» is desertdestitute
≠ destituidoMeans extremely poor / without resources
«destituido» is dismissed / removeddevolve
≠ devolverMeans to delegate / transfer power
«devolver» is to return / give backdiary
≠ diario (periódico)Means a personal journal / planner
«diario (periódico)» is newspaperdinner
≠ dineroMeans the main evening meal
«dinero» is moneydiscrete
≠ discretoMeans separate / individual
«discreto» is discreetdiscussion
≠ discusión (pelea)Means a conversation / talk
«discusión (pelea)» is argumentdisgrace
≠ desgraciaMeans shame / dishonor
«desgracia» is misfortunedisgust
≠ disgustoMeans a strong feeling of revulsion
«disgusto» is annoyance / upsetdispose
≠ disponerMeans to throw away / get rid of
«disponer» is to arrange / to have availabledistinct
≠ distintoMeans clear / unmistakable
«distinto» is differentdiversion
≠ diversiónMeans a detour / distraction
«diversión» is fun / entertainmentdivert
≠ divertirMeans to redirect / reroute
«divertir» is to amuse / to entertain
E
10 wordseducated
≠ educado (con modales)Means schooled / well-read
«educado (con modales)» is polite / well-manneredembarrassed
≠ embarazadaMeans ashamed / self-conscious
«embarazada» is pregnantenroll
≠ enrollarMeans to register / sign up
«enrollar» is to roll upestate
≠ estadoMeans a large property / land holding
«estado» is stateeventual
≠ eventual (temporal)Means final / ultimate
«eventual (temporal)» is temporary / occasionaleventually
≠ eventualmenteMeans finally / in the end
«eventualmente» is occasionallyexcited
≠ excitadoMeans enthusiastic / thrilled
«excitado» is arousedexit
≠ éxitoMeans a way out
«éxito» is successexpedient
≠ expedienteMeans convenient / advantageous
«expediente» is file / recordextravagant
≠ extravaganteMeans wasteful with money / excessive
«extravagante» is eccentric
F
9 wordsfabric
≠ fábricaMeans cloth / textile material
«fábrica» is factoryfacility
≠ facilidadMeans a building or venue built for a purpose
«facilidad» is ease / skillfamiliar
≠ familiar (pariente)Means recognizable / that rings a bell
«familiar (pariente)» is relativefastidious
≠ fastidiosoMeans meticulous / very particular about details
«fastidioso» is annoyingfin
≠ fin (el final)Means a fish's or shark's fin
«fin (el final)» is endfirm
≠ firmaMeans a company / business
«firma» is signatureform
≠ formaMeans a document to fill out
«forma» is shapeformidable
≠ formidable (estupendo)Means intimidating / daunting
«formidable (estupendo)» is wonderful / greatfume
≠ fumarMeans smoke or toxic gas / to be very angry
«fumar» is to smoke
G
8 wordsgang
≠ gangaMeans a group involved in crime
«ganga» is bargaingenial
≠ genial (increíble)Means friendly / warm-hearted
«genial (increíble)» is great / awesomegentle
≠ gentilMeans soft / mild
«gentil» is kind / courteousgracious
≠ graciosoMeans polite / courteous
«gracioso» is funnygrand
≠ grandeMeans magnificent / impressive
«grande» is big / largegripe
≠ gripe (enfermedad)Means to complain / grumble
«gripe (enfermedad)» is flugrocery
≠ groseríaMeans food and household supplies
«grosería» is rude wordgross
≠ gruesoMeans disgusting / revolting
«grueso» is thick / fat
I
7 wordsidiom
≠ idiomaMeans a fixed expression / saying
«idioma» is languageingenious
≠ ingenuoMeans clever / inventive
«ingenuo» is naiveingenuity
≠ ingenuidadMeans cleverness / inventiveness
«ingenuidad» is naivetyinhabit
≠ inhabilitarMeans to live in / reside in
«inhabilitar» is to disqualify / to disableinjury
≠ injuriaMeans a physical wound or hurt
«injuria» is insultintoxicated
≠ intoxicado (de comida)Means drunk
«intoxicado (de comida)» is to have food poisoningintroduce
≠ introducirMeans to present someone to another person
«introducir» is to insert / to put in
J
2 wordsL
6 wordslarge
≠ largoMeans big
«largo» is longlecture
≠ lecturaMeans a talk / class given by an expert
«lectura» is readinglibrarian
≠ librero (vendedor)Means the person who works at a library
«librero (vendedor)» is booksellerlibrary
≠ libreríaMeans a place to borrow books for free
«librería» is bookstoreluxurious
≠ lujuriosoMeans lavish / opulent
«lujurioso» is lustfulluxury
≠ lujuriaMeans opulence / high-end comfort
«lujuria» is lust
M
10 wordsmantle
≠ mantelMeans a covering layer / cloak
«mantel» is tableclothmarmalade
≠ mermelada (cualquiera)Means citrus fruit preserve
«mermelada (cualquiera)» is jam (otras frutas)mascara
≠ máscaraMeans eyelash makeup
«máscara» is maskmascot
≠ mascota (animal)Means a team's symbolic character or animal
«mascota (animal)» is petmayor
≠ mayor (más grande)Means the head of a city government
«mayor (más grande)» is bigger / oldermedia
≠ media (calcetín)Means news outlets / the press
«media (calcetín)» is sock / halfmiserable
≠ miserable (tacaño)Means deeply unhappy
«miserable (tacaño)» is stingymisery
≠ miseriaMeans suffering / deep unhappiness
«miseria» is povertymolest
≠ molestarMeans to sexually abuse
«molestar» is to bother / to annoymorose
≠ morosoMeans gloomy / sullen
«moroso» is late payer / defaulter
N
3 wordsO
3 wordsP
20 wordspan
≠ pan (alimento)Means a frying pan / cooking pot
«pan (alimento)» is breadparade
≠ paradaMeans a festive procession
«parada» is stopparcel
≠ parcelaMeans a package
«parcela» is plot / lotparents
≠ parientesMeans mother and father
«parientes» is relativespendant
≠ pendienteMeans a hanging piece of jewelry
«pendiente» is earring / pendingpetrol
≠ petróleoMeans gasoline
«petróleo» is crude oilpetulant
≠ petulanteMeans irritable / childishly bad-tempered
«petulante» is arrogantphysician
≠ físicoMeans a medical doctor
«físico» is physicistpie
≠ pie (del cuerpo)Means a baked dessert with a crust
«pie (del cuerpo)» is footplain
≠ planoMeans simple / unadorned
«plano» is flatpolicy
≠ policíaMeans a rule / a set of guidelines
«policía» is policepreoccupied
≠ preocupado (angustiado)Means distracted / lost in thought
«preocupado (angustiado)» is worriedpreservative
≠ preservativoMeans a chemical added to food to keep it fresh
«preservativo» is condompresume
≠ presumirMeans to suppose / take for granted
«presumir» is to show off / to bragpretend
≠ pretenderMeans to fake / act as if
«pretender» is to intend / to tryprize
≠ precioMeans an award won in a competition
«precio» is priceprobe
≠ probarMeans a thorough investigation / a space probe
«probar» is to taste / to tryprocure
≠ procurarMeans to obtain / acquire
«procurar» is to try to / to see toproper
≠ propioMeans correct / appropriate
«propio» is ownprospect
≠ prospecto (folleto)Means a future possibility / a potential customer
«prospecto (folleto)» is leaflet / insert
Q
2 wordsR
13 wordsranch
≠ rancho (humilde)Means a large cattle farm
«rancho (humilde)» is shack / hutrealize
≠ realizarMeans to suddenly become aware
«realizar» is to carry out / to dorecipient
≠ recipienteMeans the person who receives something
«recipiente» is containerrecollect
≠ recolectarMeans to remember
«recolectar» is to collect / to gatherrecord
≠ recordarMeans to save / document something
«recordar» is to rememberred
≠ redMeans the color red
«red» is net / networkregular
≠ regular (más o menos)Means standard / usual
«regular (más o menos)» is average / so-sorelative
≠ relativo (adjetivo)Means a family member
«relativo (adjetivo)» is relative (adj.)remove
≠ removerMeans to take away / eliminate
«remover» is to stirresume
≠ resumirMeans to continue after a pause / a résumé
«resumir» is to summarizeretire
≠ retirarMeans to stop working permanently at the end of a career
«retirar» is to withdraw / to removerope
≠ ropaMeans a thick cord for tying or climbing
«ropa» is clothesrude
≠ rudoMeans impolite / disrespectful
«rudo» is rough / tough
S
15 wordssalad
≠ saladoMeans a dish of raw vegetables
«salado» is saltysane
≠ sanoMeans mentally stable / of sound mind
«sano» is healthyscenario
≠ escenarioMeans a hypothetical situation
«escenario» is stagescholar
≠ escolarMeans an academic / expert
«escolar» is schoolchild / pupilsensible
≠ sensible (emocional)Means practical / showing good judgment
«sensible (emocional)» is sensitivesentence
≠ sentenciaMeans a grammatical statement with subject and predicate
«sentencia» is verdictsoap
≠ sopaMeans a bar or liquid used to wash
«sopa» is soupspade
≠ espadaMeans a digging tool / a card suit
«espada» is swordspectacles
≠ espectáculosMeans eyeglasses
«espectáculos» is showsstationery
≠ estacionarioMeans office/writing supplies
«estacionario» is stationary (quieto)stranger
≠ extranjeroMeans someone you don't know
«extranjero» is foreignersuccess
≠ sucesoMeans a positive achievement / triumph
«suceso» is eventsupport
≠ soportarMeans to back / help someone actively
«soportar» is to put up with / to toleratesympathetic
≠ simpáticoMeans understanding / compassionate
«simpático» is nice / friendlysympathy
≠ simpatíaMeans compassion / condolences
«simpatía» is charm / friendliness
T
5 wordstarget
≠ tarjetaMeans a goal / a mark to aim at
«tarjeta» is cardterrific
≠ terroríficoMeans wonderful / excellent
«terrorífico» is terrifyingtopic
≠ tópicoMeans the subject of a conversation or text
«tópico» is clichétramp
≠ trampaMeans a homeless wanderer
«trampa» is traptuna
≠ tuna (fruta)Means the fish (canned or fresh)
«tuna (fruta)» is prickly pear
U
2 wordsV
2 words