What it's NOT
target does NOT translate to tarjeta.
To say "tarjeta" in English, use card.
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False cognate · False friend
target
Does NOT mean tarjeta
It means a goal / a mark to aim at
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
target means a goal / a mark to aim at.
Why it's confused
Spanish "tarjeta" sounds somewhat similar to "target" but is unrelated. English "target" is a goal, objective, or a mark to aim at. A card in English is "card."
How it's pronounced
targetTÁR-guet
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Examples of correct use
English
Our sales target is high.
Spanish
Nuestro objetivo de ventas es alto.
English
The arrow hit the target.
Spanish
La flecha dio en el blanco.
A trick to remember it
Target = a goal/mark to aim at. A credit card (Spanish "tarjeta") = card.
Mini quiz
"Sales target" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "target" mean in English?
"Target" means "a goal / a mark to aim at". It looks a lot like "tarjeta", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "tarjeta" in English?
To say "tarjeta" in English, use "card". If you use "target" instead, you would actually be saying "a goal / a mark to aim at".
Do "target" and "tarjeta" mean the same thing?
Spanish "tarjeta" sounds somewhat similar to "target" but is unrelated. English "target" is a goal, objective, or a mark to aim at. A card in English is "card."
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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