What it's NOT
success does NOT translate to suceso.
To say "suceso" in English, use event.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
success
Does NOT mean suceso
It means a positive achievement / triumph
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
success means a positive achievement / triumph.
Why it's confused
Spanish "suceso" is an event or occurrence that happens. English "success" is a positive achievement or triumph. An event in English is "event" or "occurrence."
How it's pronounced
successsuk-SÉS
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
The event was a great success.
Spanish
El evento fue un gran éxito.
English
Hard work leads to success.
Spanish
El trabajo duro lleva al éxito.
A trick to remember it
Success = a triumph/achievement. An event (Spanish "suceso") = event.
Mini quiz
"A big success" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "success" mean in English?
"Success" means "a positive achievement / triumph". It looks a lot like "suceso", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "suceso" in English?
To say "suceso" in English, use "event". If you use "success" instead, you would actually be saying "a positive achievement / triumph".
Do "success" and "suceso" mean the same thing?
Spanish "suceso" is an event or occurrence that happens. English "success" is a positive achievement or triumph. An event in English is "event" or "occurrence."
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