What it's NOT
tuna does NOT translate to tuna (fruta).
To say "tuna (fruta)" in English, use prickly pear.
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False cognate · False friend
tuna
Does NOT mean tuna (fruta)
It means the fish (canned or fresh)
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
tuna means the fish (canned or fresh).
Why it's confused
Spanish "tuna" is the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, a sweet red fruit. English "tuna" is the ocean fish, often sold canned. Same sound, a completely different object depending on the language.
How it's pronounced
tunaTÚ-na
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Examples of correct use
English
I made a tuna sandwich.
Spanish
Hice un sándwich de atún.
English
A can of tuna.
Spanish
Una lata de atún.
A trick to remember it
Tuna = the fish. The cactus fruit (Spanish "tuna") = prickly pear.
Mini quiz
"A tuna salad" is a salad with...
Frequently asked questions
What does "tuna" mean in English?
"Tuna" means "the fish (canned or fresh)". It looks a lot like "tuna", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "tuna" in English?
To say "tuna" in English, use "prickly pear". If you use "tuna" instead, you would actually be saying "the fish (canned or fresh)".
Do "tuna" and "tuna" mean the same thing?
Spanish "tuna" is the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, a sweet red fruit. English "tuna" is the ocean fish, often sold canned. Same sound, a completely different object depending on the language.
Other confusing false friends
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