What it's NOT
brave does NOT translate to bravo.
To say "bravo" in English, use angry / fierce.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
brave
Does NOT mean bravo
It means courageous
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
brave means courageous.
Why it's confused
Spanish "bravo" means courageous, but it's also used to applaud someone or to describe someone aggressive or violent. English "brave" is exclusively courageous and bold, without the connotation of aggression or the applause use.
How it's pronounced
braveBRÉIV
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
He was brave during the storm.
Spanish
Fue valiente durante la tormenta.
English
What a brave decision!
Spanish
¡Qué decisión tan valiente!
A trick to remember it
Brave = courageous. Angry/fierce (Spanish "bravo") = fierce/angry.
Mini quiz
"A brave soldier" is a soldier who is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "brave" mean in English?
"Brave" means "courageous". It looks a lot like "bravo", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "bravo" in English?
To say "bravo" in English, use "angry / fierce". If you use "brave" instead, you would actually be saying "courageous".
Do "brave" and "bravo" mean the same thing?
Spanish "bravo" means courageous, but it's also used to applaud someone or to describe someone aggressive or violent. English "brave" is exclusively courageous and bold, without the connotation of aggression or the applause use.
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
Publicidad