What it's NOT
agenda does NOT translate to agenda (libreta).
To say "agenda (libreta)" in English, use planner / diary.
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False cognate · False friend
agenda
Does NOT mean agenda (libreta)
It means the list of topics for a meeting
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
agenda means the list of topics for a meeting.
Why it's confused
In Latin, "agenda" simply meant "things to be done." Spanish kept that neutral sense of a list or schedule. Modern English gained the extra connotation of someone's hidden motive or strategic plan.
How it's pronounced
agendaa-YÉN-da
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
What's on the agenda today?
Spanish
¿Qué hay en el orden del día de hoy?
English
The first item on the agenda is the budget.
Spanish
El primer punto del temario es el presupuesto.
A trick to remember it
Agenda = the meeting's topic list. A personal planner/notebook = planner/diary.
Mini quiz
"The meeting agenda" is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "agenda" mean in English?
"Agenda" means "the list of topics for a meeting". It looks a lot like "agenda", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "agenda" in English?
To say "agenda" in English, use "planner / diary". If you use "agenda" instead, you would actually be saying "the list of topics for a meeting".
Do "agenda" and "agenda" mean the same thing?
In Latin, "agenda" simply meant "things to be done." Spanish kept that neutral sense of a list or schedule. Modern English gained the extra connotation of someone's hidden motive or strategic plan.
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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