What it's NOT
deception does NOT translate to decepción.
To say "decepción" in English, use disappointment.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
deception
Does NOT mean decepción
It means deceit / the act of deceiving
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
deception means deceit / the act of deceiving.
Why it's confused
Spanish "decepción" is the disappointment you feel when something doesn't meet your expectations. English "deception" is the deliberate act of deceiving someone. One is a passive emotion, the other an active deed.
How it's pronounced
deceptiondi-SÉP-shon
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Examples of correct use
English
The trick was pure deception.
Spanish
El truco fue puro engaño.
English
He was accused of deception.
Spanish
Lo acusaron de engaño.
A trick to remember it
Deception = deceit/the act of deceiving. Feeling let down (Spanish "decepción") = disappointment.
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Frequently asked questions
What does "deception" mean in English?
"Deception" means "deceit / the act of deceiving". It looks a lot like "decepción", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "decepción" in English?
To say "decepción" in English, use "disappointment". If you use "deception" instead, you would actually be saying "deceit / the act of deceiving".
Do "deception" and "decepción" mean the same thing?
Spanish "decepción" is the disappointment you feel when something doesn't meet your expectations. English "deception" is the deliberate act of deceiving someone. One is a passive emotion, the other an active deed.
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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