What it's NOT
sensible does NOT translate to sensible (emocional).
To say "sensible (emocional)" in English, use sensitive.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
sensible
Does NOT mean sensible (emocional)
It means practical / showing good judgment
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
sensible means practical / showing good judgment.
Why it's confused
Spanish "sensible" is someone who feels deeply, is emotional or delicate. English "sensible" is someone with good judgment and practical sense in situations. Emotionally sensitive in English is "sensitive."
How it's pronounced
sensibleSÉN-si-bol
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Examples of correct use
English
That's a sensible decision.
Spanish
Esa es una decisión sensata.
English
Be sensible and save some money.
Spanish
Sé sensato y ahorra algo de dinero.
A trick to remember it
Sensible (English) = showing good sense/practical judgment. Emotionally sensitive (Spanish "sensible") = sensitive.
Mini quiz
A "sensible person" is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "sensible" mean in English?
"Sensible" means "practical / showing good judgment". It looks a lot like "sensible", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "sensible" in English?
To say "sensible" in English, use "sensitive". If you use "sensible" instead, you would actually be saying "practical / showing good judgment".
Do "sensible" and "sensible" mean the same thing?
Spanish "sensible" is someone who feels deeply, is emotional or delicate. English "sensible" is someone with good judgment and practical sense in situations. Emotionally sensitive in English is "sensitive."
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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