What it's NOT
ordinary does NOT translate to ordinario (grosero).
To say "ordinario (grosero)" in English, use vulgar / rude.
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False cognate · False friend
ordinary
Does NOT mean ordinario (grosero)
It means common / normal
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
ordinary means common / normal.
Why it's confused
Spanish "ordinario" can be an insult: someone classless or vulgar. English "ordinary" is completely neutral: something common, normal, nothing special or bad. Spanish "ordinario" as an insult in English is "vulgar" or "coarse."
How it's pronounced
ordinaryÓR-di-ne-ri
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Examples of correct use
English
It was an ordinary day.
Spanish
Fue un día común y corriente.
English
They're just ordinary people.
Spanish
Son gente común.
A trick to remember it
Ordinary = common/normal. Vulgar/rude (Spanish "ordinario") = vulgar/rude.
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Frequently asked questions
What does "ordinary" mean in English?
"Ordinary" means "common / normal". It looks a lot like "ordinario", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "ordinario" in English?
To say "ordinario" in English, use "vulgar / rude". If you use "ordinary" instead, you would actually be saying "common / normal".
Do "ordinary" and "ordinario" mean the same thing?
Spanish "ordinario" can be an insult: someone classless or vulgar. English "ordinary" is completely neutral: something common, normal, nothing special or bad. Spanish "ordinario" as an insult in English is "vulgar" or "coarse."
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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