What it's NOT
support does NOT translate to soportar.
To say "soportar" in English, use to put up with / to tolerate.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
support
Does NOT mean soportar
It means to back / help someone actively
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
support means to back / help someone actively.
Why it's confused
Spanish "soportar" often implies putting up with someone or something difficult, with patience or resignation. English "support" is actively and positively backing someone or something. Tolerating something in the sense of Spanish "soportar" in English is "tolerate."
How it's pronounced
supportsu-PÓRT
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Examples of correct use
English
My family supports my decision.
Spanish
Mi familia apoya mi decisión.
English
Thanks for supporting me through this.
Spanish
Gracias por apoyarme en todo esto.
A trick to remember it
Support = to actively back/help. To put up with (Spanish "soportar") = put up with/tolerate.
Mini quiz
"My family supports my decision" means my family...
Frequently asked questions
What does "support" mean in English?
"Support" means "to back / help someone actively". It looks a lot like "soportar", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "soportar" in English?
To say "soportar" in English, use "to put up with / to tolerate". If you use "support" instead, you would actually be saying "to back / help someone actively".
Do "support" and "soportar" mean the same thing?
Spanish "soportar" often implies putting up with someone or something difficult, with patience or resignation. English "support" is actively and positively backing someone or something. Tolerating something in the sense of Spanish "soportar" in English is "tolerate."
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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