What it's NOT
morose does NOT translate to moroso.
To say "moroso" in English, use late payer / defaulter.
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False cognate · False friend
morose
Does NOT mean moroso
It means gloomy / sullen
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
morose means gloomy / sullen.
Why it's confused
Spanish "moroso" is someone who doesn't pay their debts on time. English "morose" describes someone gloomy, sullen, and persistently bad-tempered. They have no relation in meaning.
How it's pronounced
morosemo-RÓUS
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Examples of correct use
English
He's been morose since the news.
Spanish
Ha estado hosco desde la noticia.
English
She gave a morose reply.
Spanish
Respondió de mal humor.
A trick to remember it
Morose = gloomy/sullen. A late payer (Spanish "moroso") = late payer/defaulter.
Mini quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What does "morose" mean in English?
"Morose" means "gloomy / sullen". It looks a lot like "moroso", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "moroso" in English?
To say "moroso" in English, use "late payer / defaulter". If you use "morose" instead, you would actually be saying "gloomy / sullen".
Do "morose" and "moroso" mean the same thing?
Spanish "moroso" is someone who doesn't pay their debts on time. English "morose" describes someone gloomy, sullen, and persistently bad-tempered. They have no relation in 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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