What it's NOT
vase does NOT translate to vaso.
To say "vaso" in English, use glass.
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False cognate · False friend
vase
Does NOT mean vaso
It means a decorative container for flowers
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
vase means a decorative container for flowers.
Why it's confused
Spanish "vaso" is the container you drink liquids from. English "vase" is the decorative container for flowers. A drinking glass in English is "glass" or "cup."
How it's pronounced
vaseVÉIS
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Examples of correct use
English
She put the roses in a vase.
Spanish
Puso las rosas en un florero.
English
The vase broke on the floor.
Spanish
El florero se rompió en el piso.
A trick to remember it
Vase = a flower container. A drinking glass (Spanish "vaso") = glass.
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Frequently asked questions
What does "vase" mean in English?
"Vase" means "a decorative container for flowers". It looks a lot like "vaso", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "vaso" in English?
To say "vaso" in English, use "glass". If you use "vase" instead, you would actually be saying "a decorative container for flowers".
Do "vase" and "vaso" mean the same thing?
Spanish "vaso" is the container you drink liquids from. English "vase" is the decorative container for flowers. A drinking glass in English is "glass" or "cup."
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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