What it's NOT
embarrassed does NOT translate to embarazada.
To say "embarazada" in English, use pregnant.
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False cognate · False friend
embarrassed
Does NOT mean embarazada
It means ashamed / self-conscious
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
embarrassed means ashamed / self-conscious.
Why it's confused
"Embarrassed" and Spanish "embarazada" share a Latin root, but in English the word drifted toward feeling ashamed or in an awkward social spot. The meaning of being pregnant stayed in Spanish. Spanish "embarazada" in English is "pregnant."
How it's pronounced
embarrassedem-BÁ-rast
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Examples of correct use
English
I was so embarrassed when I forgot his name.
Spanish
Me dio mucha vergüenza cuando olvidé su nombre.
English
She felt embarrassed about her mistake.
Spanish
Ella se sintió avergonzada por su error.
A trick to remember it
Embarrassed has "bar" in it: picture the embarrassment of singing badly at a BAR. Being pregnant is "pregnant."
Mini quiz
"I'm embarrassed" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "embarrassed" mean in English?
"Embarrassed" means "ashamed / self-conscious". It looks a lot like "embarazada", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "embarazada" in English?
To say "embarazada" in English, use "pregnant". If you use "embarrassed" instead, you would actually be saying "ashamed / self-conscious".
Do "embarrassed" and "embarazada" mean the same thing?
"Embarrassed" and Spanish "embarazada" share a Latin root, but in English the word drifted toward feeling ashamed or in an awkward social spot. The meaning of being pregnant stayed in Spanish. Spanish "embarazada" in English is "pregnant."
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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