What it's NOT
bigot does NOT translate to bigote.
To say "bigote" in English, use mustache.
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False cognate · False friend
bigot
Does NOT mean bigote
It means an intolerant, prejudiced person
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
bigot means an intolerant, prejudiced person.
Why it's confused
In Old French, "bigot" described someone excessively devout or self-righteous. In English it evolved into someone with strong prejudice and intolerance toward other social, racial, or religious groups.
How it's pronounced
bigotBÍ-got
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Examples of correct use
English
Don't be such a bigot.
Spanish
No seas tan intolerante.
English
He was called a bigot.
Spanish
Lo llamaron fanático intolerante.
A trick to remember it
Bigot = an intolerant, prejudiced person. Facial hair (Spanish "bigote") = mustache.
Mini quiz
"A bigot" is a person who is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "bigot" mean in English?
"Bigot" means "an intolerant, prejudiced person". It looks a lot like "bigote", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "bigote" in English?
To say "bigote" in English, use "mustache". If you use "bigot" instead, you would actually be saying "an intolerant, prejudiced person".
Do "bigot" and "bigote" mean the same thing?
In Old French, "bigot" described someone excessively devout or self-righteous. In English it evolved into someone with strong prejudice and intolerance toward other social, racial, or religious groups.
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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