What it's NOT
tramp does NOT translate to trampa.
To say "trampa" in English, use trap.
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False cognate · False friend
tramp
Does NOT mean trampa
It means a homeless wanderer
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
tramp means a homeless wanderer.
Why it's confused
Spanish "trampa" is a deliberate deception or a device to catch someone. English "tramp" is a person who wanders without a fixed home. A trap in English is "trap."
How it's pronounced
trampTRAMP
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Examples of correct use
English
A tramp slept on the bench.
Spanish
Un vagabundo dormía en la banca.
English
He dressed like a tramp.
Spanish
Se vistió como un vagabundo.
A trick to remember it
Tramp = a homeless wanderer. A trap (Spanish "trampa") = trap.
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"A tramp" is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "tramp" mean in English?
"Tramp" means "a homeless wanderer". It looks a lot like "trampa", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "trampa" in English?
To say "trampa" in English, use "trap". If you use "tramp" instead, you would actually be saying "a homeless wanderer".
Do "tramp" and "trampa" mean the same thing?
Spanish "trampa" is a deliberate deception or a device to catch someone. English "tramp" is a person who wanders without a fixed home. A trap in English is "trap."
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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