What it's NOT
rude does NOT translate to rudo.
To say "rudo" in English, use rough / tough.
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False cognate · False friend
rude
Does NOT mean rudo
It means impolite / disrespectful
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
rude means impolite / disrespectful.
Why it's confused
Spanish "rudo" describes someone rough, tough, or unrefined, without necessarily being a serious insult. English "rude" is someone impolite or deliberately disrespectful. Spanish "rudo" in English is "rough" or "rugged."
How it's pronounced
rudeRÚD
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Examples of correct use
English
Don't be rude to your sister.
Spanish
No seas grosero con tu hermana.
English
That was a rude comment.
Spanish
Ese fue un comentario grosero.
A trick to remember it
Rude = impolite/disrespectful. Rough/tough (Spanish "rudo") = rough/tough.
Mini quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What does "rude" mean in English?
"Rude" means "impolite / disrespectful". It looks a lot like "rudo", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "rudo" in English?
To say "rudo" in English, use "rough / tough". If you use "rude" instead, you would actually be saying "impolite / disrespectful".
Do "rude" and "rudo" mean the same thing?
Spanish "rudo" describes someone rough, tough, or unrefined, without necessarily being a serious insult. English "rude" is someone impolite or deliberately disrespectful. Spanish "rudo" in English is "rough" or "rugged."
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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