What it's NOT
recipient does NOT translate to recipiente.
To say "recipiente" in English, use container.
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False cognate · False friend
recipient
Does NOT mean recipiente
It means the person who receives something
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
recipient means the person who receives something.
Why it's confused
Spanish "recipiente" is the container you store things in. English "recipient" is the person who receives something, like the addressee of a letter or the winner of an award.
How it's pronounced
recipientri-SÍ-pient
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Examples of correct use
English
He was the recipient of the award.
Spanish
Fue el destinatario del premio.
English
Check the recipient's address.
Spanish
Revisa la dirección del destinatario.
A trick to remember it
Recipient = the person receiving something. A container (Spanish "recipiente") = container.
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Frequently asked questions
What does "recipient" mean in English?
"Recipient" means "the person who receives something". It looks a lot like "recipiente", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "recipiente" in English?
To say "recipiente" in English, use "container". If you use "recipient" instead, you would actually be saying "the person who receives something".
Do "recipient" and "recipiente" mean the same thing?
Spanish "recipiente" is the container you store things in. English "recipient" is the person who receives something, like the addressee of a letter or the winner of an award.
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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