What it's NOT
petulant does NOT translate to petulante.
To say "petulante" in English, use arrogant.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
petulant
Does NOT mean petulante
It means irritable / childishly bad-tempered
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
petulant means irritable / childishly bad-tempered.
Why it's confused
Spanish "petulante" describes someone arrogant, conceited, or who thinks they know more than others. English "petulant" describes someone irritable and sulky, especially when they don't get their way. It's not arrogance, it's impatience.
How it's pronounced
petulantPÉ-tiu-lant
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
Don't be so petulant.
Spanish
No seas tan berrinchudo.
English
He gave a petulant reply.
Spanish
Dio una respuesta malhumorada.
A trick to remember it
Petulant = irritable/childishly bad-tempered. Arrogant (Spanish "petulante") = arrogant.
Mini quiz
"A petulant child" is a child who is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "petulant" mean in English?
"Petulant" means "irritable / childishly bad-tempered". It looks a lot like "petulante", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "petulante" in English?
To say "petulante" in English, use "arrogant". If you use "petulant" instead, you would actually be saying "irritable / childishly bad-tempered".
Do "petulant" and "petulante" mean the same thing?
Spanish "petulante" describes someone arrogant, conceited, or who thinks they know more than others. English "petulant" describes someone irritable and sulky, especially when they don't get their way. It's not arrogance, it's impatience.
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