What it's NOT
library does NOT translate to librería.
To say "librería" in English, use bookstore.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
library
Does NOT mean librería
It means a place to borrow books for free
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
library means a place to borrow books for free.
Why it's confused
In Spanish, "librería" is where you buy books, so the brain connects it to "library." In English, the distinction between selling and lending books created separate words: "bookstore" for the shop and "library" for the lending institution.
How it's pronounced
libraryLÁI-bre-ri
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Examples of correct use
English
I study at the library every afternoon.
Spanish
Estudio en la biblioteca todas las tardes.
English
She borrowed three books from the library.
Spanish
Ella sacó tres libros prestados de la biblioteca.
A trick to remember it
At the library you borrow books for free. To buy them, you go to a "bookstore."
Mini quiz
Where can you borrow books for free?
Frequently asked questions
What does "library" mean in English?
"Library" means "a place to borrow books for free". It looks a lot like "librería", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "librería" in English?
To say "librería" in English, use "bookstore". If you use "library" instead, you would actually be saying "a place to borrow books for free".
Do "library" and "librería" mean the same thing?
In Spanish, "librería" is where you buy books, so the brain connects it to "library." In English, the distinction between selling and lending books created separate words: "bookstore" for the shop and "library" for the lending institution.
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