What it's NOT
fabric does NOT translate to fábrica.
To say "fábrica" in English, use factory.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
fabric
Does NOT mean fábrica
It means cloth / textile material
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
fabric means cloth / textile material.
Why it's confused
Spanish "fábrica" is a manufacturing plant or factory. English "fabric" is the cloth or textile material. English "factory" is actually the equivalent of Spanish "fábrica." The word "fabric" was the material once produced in those facilities.
How it's pronounced
fabricFÁ-bric
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
This dress is made of soft fabric.
Spanish
Este vestido está hecho de una tela suave.
English
She chose a blue fabric for the curtains.
Spanish
Ella eligió una tela azul para las cortinas.
A trick to remember it
Fabric = the cloth you touch. The building (Spanish "fábrica") is "factory."
Mini quiz
Cotton and silk are types of...
Frequently asked questions
What does "fabric" mean in English?
"Fabric" means "cloth / textile material". It looks a lot like "fábrica", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "fábrica" in English?
To say "fábrica" in English, use "factory". If you use "fabric" instead, you would actually be saying "cloth / textile material".
Do "fabric" and "fábrica" mean the same thing?
Spanish "fábrica" is a manufacturing plant or factory. English "fabric" is the cloth or textile material. English "factory" is actually the equivalent of Spanish "fábrica." The word "fabric" was the material once produced in those facilities.
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