What it's NOT
crude does NOT translate to crudo (comida).
To say "crudo (comida)" in English, use raw / undercooked.
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False cognate · False friend
crude
Does NOT mean crudo (comida)
It means rude / crass / vulgar
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
crude means rude / crass / vulgar.
Why it's confused
Spanish "crudo" describes something uncooked or unprocessed. English "crude" keeps that sense ("crude oil"), but its most common conversational use is for something rude, vulgar, or lacking refinement.
How it's pronounced
crudeCRÚD
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Examples of correct use
English
He made a crude joke.
Spanish
Hizo un chiste de mal gusto.
English
Crude oil prices rose.
Spanish
El precio del petróleo crudo subió.
A trick to remember it
Crude = rude/vulgar (or crude oil). Raw food (Spanish "crudo") = raw.
Mini quiz
"A crude joke" is a joke that is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "crude" mean in English?
"Crude" means "rude / crass / vulgar". It looks a lot like "crudo", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "crudo" in English?
To say "crudo" in English, use "raw / undercooked". If you use "crude" instead, you would actually be saying "rude / crass / vulgar".
Do "crude" and "crudo" mean the same thing?
Spanish "crudo" describes something uncooked or unprocessed. English "crude" keeps that sense ("crude oil"), but its most common conversational use is for something rude, vulgar, or lacking refinement.
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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