What it's NOT
rope does NOT translate to ropa.
To say "ropa" in English, use clothes.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
rope
Does NOT mean ropa
It means a thick cord for tying or climbing
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
rope means a thick cord for tying or climbing.
Why it's confused
Spanish "ropa" is clothing, the garments you wear. English "rope" is a thick cord used for tying or climbing. Clothes in English is "clothes" or "clothing."
How it's pronounced
ropeROUP
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
They tied the boat with a strong rope.
Spanish
Amarraron el barco con una cuerda resistente.
English
He climbed down using a rope.
Spanish
Bajó usando una cuerda.
A trick to remember it
Rope = a thick cord (think of climbing with a rope). The clothes you wear are "clothes."
Mini quiz
"Rope" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "rope" mean in English?
"Rope" means "a thick cord for tying or climbing". It looks a lot like "ropa", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "ropa" in English?
To say "ropa" in English, use "clothes". If you use "rope" instead, you would actually be saying "a thick cord for tying or climbing".
Do "rope" and "ropa" mean the same thing?
Spanish "ropa" is clothing, the garments you wear. English "rope" is a thick cord used for tying or climbing. Clothes in English is "clothes" or "clothing."
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