What it's NOT
bomber does NOT translate to bombero.
To say "bombero" in English, use firefighter.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
bomber
Does NOT mean bombero
It means a bombing plane / someone who plants bombs
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
bomber means a bombing plane / someone who plants bombs.
Why it's confused
Spanish "bombero" puts out fires. English "bomber" is someone who drops bombs, or the plane built for that purpose. These are opposite social roles. The word "bombero" actually comes from "bomba" in the sense of a water pump, not an explosive.
How it's pronounced
bomberBÓ-mer
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Examples of correct use
English
The bomber flew over the city.
Spanish
El bombardero sobrevoló la ciudad.
English
He wore a bomber jacket.
Spanish
Llevaba una chamarra estilo bombardero.
A trick to remember it
Bomber = a bombing plane/bomb-planter. A firefighter (Spanish "bombero") = firefighter.
Mini quiz
"A bomber" is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "bomber" mean in English?
"Bomber" means "a bombing plane / someone who plants bombs". It looks a lot like "bombero", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "bombero" in English?
To say "bombero" in English, use "firefighter". If you use "bomber" instead, you would actually be saying "a bombing plane / someone who plants bombs".
Do "bomber" and "bombero" mean the same thing?
Spanish "bombero" puts out fires. English "bomber" is someone who drops bombs, or the plane built for that purpose. These are opposite social roles. The word "bombero" actually comes from "bomba" in the sense of a water pump, not an explosive.
Other confusing false friends
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Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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