What it's NOT
commodity does NOT translate to comodidad.
To say "comodidad" in English, use comfort.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
commodity
Does NOT mean comodidad
It means goods / raw materials traded commercially
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
commodity means goods / raw materials traded commercially.
Why it's confused
Spanish "comodidad" is physical well-being and ease of life. English "commodity" is a good or product traded commercially, especially raw materials like oil, wheat, or metals. It has no connection to comfort.
How it's pronounced
commodityco-MÓ-di-ti
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Examples of correct use
English
Oil is a valuable commodity.
Spanish
El petróleo es una mercancía valiosa.
English
Water is a basic commodity.
Spanish
El agua es un bien básico.
A trick to remember it
Commodity = a traded good/raw material. Comfort (Spanish "comodidad") = comfort.
Mini quiz
"A commodity" is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "commodity" mean in English?
"Commodity" means "goods / raw materials traded commercially". It looks a lot like "comodidad", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "comodidad" in English?
To say "comodidad" in English, use "comfort". If you use "commodity" instead, you would actually be saying "goods / raw materials traded commercially".
Do "commodity" and "comodidad" mean the same thing?
Spanish "comodidad" is physical well-being and ease of life. English "commodity" is a good or product traded commercially, especially raw materials like oil, wheat, or metals. It has no connection to comfort.
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