What it's NOT
dessert does NOT translate to desierto.
To say "desierto" in English, use desert.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
dessert
Does NOT mean desierto
It means a sweet dish eaten after a meal
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
dessert means a sweet dish eaten after a meal.
Why it's confused
Spanish "desierto" is the arid landscape with little vegetation. English "dessert" is the sweet dish eaten at the end of a meal. One extra "s" separates the landscape from the sweet treat.
How it's pronounced
dessertdi-SÉRT
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
We had ice cream for dessert.
Spanish
De postre comimos helado.
English
What would you like for dessert?
Spanish
¿Qué te gustaría de postre?
A trick to remember it
Dessert has a double s, like something extra sweet. The sandy desert is "desert," one s.
Mini quiz
Ice cream and cake are...
Frequently asked questions
What does "dessert" mean in English?
"Dessert" means "a sweet dish eaten after a meal". It looks a lot like "desierto", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "desierto" in English?
To say "desierto" in English, use "desert". If you use "dessert" instead, you would actually be saying "a sweet dish eaten after a meal".
Do "dessert" and "desierto" mean the same thing?
Spanish "desierto" is the arid landscape with little vegetation. English "dessert" is the sweet dish eaten at the end of a meal. One extra "s" separates the landscape from the sweet treat.
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