What it's NOT
apt does NOT translate to apto.
To say "apto" in English, use suitable / fit.
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False cognate · False friend
apt
Does NOT mean apto
It means likely to / well-chosen
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
apt means likely to / well-chosen.
Why it's confused
"Apt" and Spanish "apto" share the Latin root "aptus." Spanish "apto" is used to say someone is qualified or suitable for something. English "apt" also expresses a tendency or likelihood to do something frequently.
How it's pronounced
aptAPT
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Examples of correct use
English
He's apt to forget things.
Spanish
Es propenso a olvidar cosas.
English
That's an apt description.
Spanish
Esa es una descripción muy acertada.
A trick to remember it
Apt = likely to/well-chosen. Qualified/suitable (Spanish "apto") = suitable/fit.
Mini quiz
"She's apt to be late" means she...
Frequently asked questions
What does "apt" mean in English?
"Apt" means "likely to / well-chosen". It looks a lot like "apto", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "apto" in English?
To say "apto" in English, use "suitable / fit". If you use "apt" instead, you would actually be saying "likely to / well-chosen".
Do "apt" and "apto" mean the same thing?
"Apt" and Spanish "apto" share the Latin root "aptus." Spanish "apto" is used to say someone is qualified or suitable for something. English "apt" also expresses a tendency or likelihood to do something frequently.
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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