What it's NOT
diary does NOT translate to diario (periódico).
To say "diario (periódico)" in English, use newspaper.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
diary
Does NOT mean diario (periódico)
It means a personal journal / planner
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
diary means a personal journal / planner.
Why it's confused
Spanish "diario" can also mean the printed newspaper. English "diary" is the personal notebook where you write your thoughts and daily experiences. A newspaper in English is "newspaper."
How it's pronounced
diaryDÁI-a-ri
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Examples of correct use
English
She writes in her diary every night.
Spanish
Escribe en su diario cada noche.
English
Let me check my diary.
Spanish
Déjame revisar mi agenda.
A trick to remember it
Diary = a personal journal/planner. A newspaper (Spanish "diario") = newspaper.
Mini quiz
"My diary" is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "diary" mean in English?
"Diary" means "a personal journal / planner". It looks a lot like "diario", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "diario" in English?
To say "diario" in English, use "newspaper". If you use "diary" instead, you would actually be saying "a personal journal / planner".
Do "diary" and "diario" mean the same thing?
Spanish "diario" can also mean the printed newspaper. English "diary" is the personal notebook where you write your thoughts and daily experiences. A newspaper in English is "newspaper."
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