What it's NOT
excited does NOT translate to excitado.
To say "excitado" in English, use aroused.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
excited
Does NOT mean excitado
It means enthusiastic / thrilled
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
excited means enthusiastic / thrilled.
Why it's confused
Spanish "excitado" has a sexual connotation in many Spanish-speaking contexts. English "excited" expresses enthusiasm or thrill about something, with no sexual connotation. Spanish "emocionado" is exactly "excited" in English.
How it's pronounced
excitedek-SÁI-ted
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Examples of correct use
English
I'm so excited about the trip!
Spanish
¡Estoy muy emocionado por el viaje!
English
The kids were excited to see the puppy.
Spanish
Los niños estaban entusiasmados de ver al cachorro.
A trick to remember it
Excited = thrilled, eager (like a kid on Christmas morning). Avoid translating it as Spanish "excitado."
Mini quiz
"I'm excited about my new job" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "excited" mean in English?
"Excited" means "enthusiastic / thrilled". It looks a lot like "excitado", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "excitado" in English?
To say "excitado" in English, use "aroused". If you use "excited" instead, you would actually be saying "enthusiastic / thrilled".
Do "excited" and "excitado" mean the same thing?
Spanish "excitado" has a sexual connotation in many Spanish-speaking contexts. English "excited" expresses enthusiasm or thrill about something, with no sexual connotation. Spanish "emocionado" is exactly "excited" in English.
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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