What it's NOT
soap does NOT translate to sopa.
To say "sopa" in English, use soup.
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False cognate · False friend
soap
Does NOT mean sopa
It means a bar or liquid used to wash
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
soap means a bar or liquid used to wash.
Why it's confused
Spanish "sopa" is the hot broth-based dish with ingredients. English "soap" is what you use to wash yourself. One vowel changes the object entirely, from the dining table to the bathroom.
How it's pronounced
soapSÓUP
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
Wash your hands with soap and water.
Spanish
Lávate las manos con jabón y agua.
English
This soap smells like lavender.
Spanish
Este jabón huele a lavanda.
A trick to remember it
Soap = what you wash with. The soup you eat is "soup" (pronounced "sup").
Mini quiz
You use this to wash your hands:
Frequently asked questions
What does "soap" mean in English?
"Soap" means "a bar or liquid used to wash". It looks a lot like "sopa", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "sopa" in English?
To say "sopa" in English, use "soup". If you use "soap" instead, you would actually be saying "a bar or liquid used to wash".
Do "soap" and "sopa" mean the same thing?
Spanish "sopa" is the hot broth-based dish with ingredients. English "soap" is what you use to wash yourself. One vowel changes the object entirely, from the dining table to the bathroom.
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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