What it's NOT
mayor does NOT translate to mayor (más grande).
To say "mayor (más grande)" in English, use bigger / older.
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False cognate · False friend
mayor
Does NOT mean mayor (más grande)
It means the head of a city government
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
mayor means the head of a city government.
Why it's confused
Spanish "mayor" is the comparative of "big" or a senior military rank. English "mayor" is the head of a city's government. They share a form but not function or meaning.
How it's pronounced
mayorMÉI-or
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Examples of correct use
English
The mayor gave a speech.
Spanish
El alcalde dio un discurso.
English
She was elected mayor of the city.
Spanish
Fue elegida alcaldesa de la ciudad.
A trick to remember it
Mayor = head of the city. Bigger/older (Spanish "mayor") = bigger/older.
Mini quiz
"The mayor of the city" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "mayor" mean in English?
"Mayor" means "the head of a city government". It looks a lot like "mayor", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "mayor" in English?
To say "mayor" in English, use "bigger / older". If you use "mayor" instead, you would actually be saying "the head of a city government".
Do "mayor" and "mayor" mean the same thing?
Spanish "mayor" is the comparative of "big" or a senior military rank. English "mayor" is the head of a city's government. They share a form but not function or meaning.
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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