What it's NOT
topic does NOT translate to tópico.
To say "tópico" in English, use cliché.
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False cognate · False friend
topic
Does NOT mean tópico
It means the subject of a conversation or text
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
topic means the subject of a conversation or text.
Why it's confused
Spanish "tópico" is a cliché, a repeated idea worn out from overuse and lacking originality. English "topic" is simply the subject of a conversation or text, with no negative connotation.
How it's pronounced
topicTÓ-pic
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
Let's change the topic.
Spanish
Cambiemos de tema.
English
That's an interesting topic.
Spanish
Ese es un tema interesante.
A trick to remember it
Topic = the subject of discussion. A cliché (Spanish "tópico") = cliché.
Mini quiz
"The main topic" is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "topic" mean in English?
"Topic" means "the subject of a conversation or text". It looks a lot like "tópico", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "tópico" in English?
To say "tópico" in English, use "cliché". If you use "topic" instead, you would actually be saying "the subject of a conversation or text".
Do "topic" and "tópico" mean the same thing?
Spanish "tópico" is a cliché, a repeated idea worn out from overuse and lacking originality. English "topic" is simply the subject of a conversation or text, with no negative connotation.
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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