What it's NOT
relative does NOT translate to relativo (adjetivo).
To say "relativo (adjetivo)" in English, use relative (adj.).
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
relative
Does NOT mean relativo (adjetivo)
It means a family member
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
relative means a family member.
Why it's confused
Spanish "relativo" is something that depends on context or point of view. English "relative" can be that too, but as a noun it means a family member. A family member in Spanish is "pariente," which doesn't always map to "relative" in every English sense.
How it's pronounced
relativeRÉ-la-tiv
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Examples of correct use
English
All my relatives came to the party.
Spanish
Todos mis parientes vinieron a la fiesta.
English
She's a distant relative.
Spanish
Es una pariente lejana.
A trick to remember it
Relative (noun) = a family member. "Relativo" (adjective) does map to "relative."
Mini quiz
"A close relative" is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "relative" mean in English?
"Relative" means "a family member". It looks a lot like "relativo", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "relativo" in English?
To say "relativo" in English, use "relative (adj.)". If you use "relative" instead, you would actually be saying "a family member".
Do "relative" and "relativo" mean the same thing?
Spanish "relativo" is something that depends on context or point of view. English "relative" can be that too, but as a noun it means a family member. A family member in Spanish is "pariente," which doesn't always map to "relative" in every English sense.
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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