What it's NOT
blank does NOT translate to blanco (color).
To say "blanco (color)" in English, use white.
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False cognate · False friend
blank
Does NOT mean blanco (color)
It means empty / unfilled
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
blank means empty / unfilled.
Why it's confused
"Blank" and Spanish "blanco" share a Germanic root meaning "bright, unmarked." Spanish kept the sense of the color. English "blank" specialized into empty or unfilled, like a blank space on a form.
How it's pronounced
blankBLANK
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Examples of correct use
English
Leave the answer blank.
Spanish
Deja la respuesta en blanco.
English
My mind went blank.
Spanish
Me quedé en blanco.
A trick to remember it
Blank = empty/unfilled. The color white (Spanish "blanco") = white.
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Frequently asked questions
What does "blank" mean in English?
"Blank" means "empty / unfilled". It looks a lot like "blanco", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "blanco" in English?
To say "blanco" in English, use "white". If you use "blank" instead, you would actually be saying "empty / unfilled".
Do "blank" and "blanco" mean the same thing?
"Blank" and Spanish "blanco" share a Germanic root meaning "bright, unmarked." Spanish kept the sense of the color. English "blank" specialized into empty or unfilled, like a blank space on a form.
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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