What it's NOT
idiom does NOT translate to idioma.
To say "idioma" in English, use language.
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False cognate · False friend
idiom
Does NOT mean idioma
It means a fixed expression / saying
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
idiom means a fixed expression / saying.
Why it's confused
Spanish "idioma" is a language, a people's linguistic system. English "idiom" is an expression whose meaning can't be deduced from its individual words. A language in English is "language."
How it's pronounced
idiomÍ-di-om
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Examples of correct use
English
"Break a leg" is a common English idiom.
Spanish
"Break a leg" es un modismo común en inglés.
English
Idioms are hard to translate word by word.
Spanish
Los modismos son difíciles de traducir palabra por palabra.
A trick to remember it
Idiom = a fixed expression/saying. The language you speak (Spanish "idioma") = language.
Mini quiz
"English idiom" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "idiom" mean in English?
"Idiom" means "a fixed expression / saying". It looks a lot like "idioma", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "idioma" in English?
To say "idioma" in English, use "language". If you use "idiom" instead, you would actually be saying "a fixed expression / saying".
Do "idiom" and "idioma" mean the same thing?
Spanish "idioma" is a language, a people's linguistic system. English "idiom" is an expression whose meaning can't be deduced from its individual words. A language in English is "language."
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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