What it's NOT
firm does NOT translate to firma.
To say "firma" in English, use signature.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
firm
Does NOT mean firma
It means a company / business
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
firm means a company / business.
Why it's confused
Spanish "firme" is something solid, stable, or a strong-willed person. English "firm" keeps that sense as an adjective, but "a firm" as a noun is a professional company or business.
How it's pronounced
firmFERM
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
She works for a law firm.
Spanish
Trabaja en un despacho de abogados.
English
A consulting firm hired him.
Spanish
Una empresa de consultoría lo contrató.
A trick to remember it
Firm (noun) = a company/business. A signature (Spanish "firma") = signature.
Mini quiz
"She works for a law firm" means she works at a...
Frequently asked questions
What does "firm" mean in English?
"Firm" means "a company / business". It looks a lot like "firma", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "firma" in English?
To say "firma" in English, use "signature". If you use "firm" instead, you would actually be saying "a company / business".
Do "firm" and "firma" mean the same thing?
Spanish "firme" is something solid, stable, or a strong-willed person. English "firm" keeps that sense as an adjective, but "a firm" as a noun is a professional company or business.
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