What it's NOT
jam does NOT translate to jamón.
To say "jamón" in English, use ham.
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False cognate · False friend
jam
Does NOT mean jamón
It means a sweet fruit spread / a traffic blockage
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
jam means a sweet fruit spread / a traffic blockage.
Why it's confused
Spanish "jamón" sounds similar to "jam" but is unrelated. English "jam" is a fruit spread with pieces of fruit in it. Cured meat (Spanish "jamón") in English is "ham."
How it's pronounced
jamYAM
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Examples of correct use
English
I spread jam on my toast.
Spanish
Le unté mermelada a mi pan tostado.
English
We're stuck in a traffic jam.
Spanish
Estamos atascados en el tráfico.
A trick to remember it
Jam = a fruit spread (or a traffic jam). Cured meat (Spanish "jamón") = ham.
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Frequently asked questions
What does "jam" mean in English?
"Jam" means "a sweet fruit spread / a traffic blockage". It looks a lot like "jamón", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "jamón" in English?
To say "jamón" in English, use "ham". If you use "jam" instead, you would actually be saying "a sweet fruit spread / a traffic blockage".
Do "jam" and "jamón" mean the same thing?
Spanish "jamón" sounds similar to "jam" but is unrelated. English "jam" is a fruit spread with pieces of fruit in it. Cured meat (Spanish "jamón") in English is "ham."
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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