What it's NOT
divert does NOT translate to divertir.
To say "divertir" in English, use to amuse / to entertain.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
divert
Does NOT mean divertir
It means to redirect / reroute
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
divert means to redirect / reroute.
Why it's confused
Spanish "divertir" means to entertain and make someone have a good time. English "divert" means to reroute or redirect something onto another path. "To entertain" in English is "entertain" or "amuse."
How it's pronounced
divertdi-VÉRT
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Examples of correct use
English
Police diverted the traffic.
Spanish
La policía desvió el tráfico.
English
They diverted the river.
Spanish
Desviaron el río.
A trick to remember it
Divert = to redirect/reroute. To entertain (Spanish "divertir") = amuse/entertain.
Mini quiz
"Divert the traffic" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "divert" mean in English?
"Divert" means "to redirect / reroute". It looks a lot like "divertir", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "divertir" in English?
To say "divertir" in English, use "to amuse / to entertain". If you use "divert" instead, you would actually be saying "to redirect / reroute".
Do "divert" and "divertir" mean the same thing?
Spanish "divertir" means to entertain and make someone have a good time. English "divert" means to reroute or redirect something onto another path. "To entertain" in English is "entertain" or "amuse."
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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