Twelve false friends in one table
The Spanish word, and the word you want
| Spanish | Means | For the English look-alike, say |
|---|---|---|
| embarazadaem-bah-rah-THAH-dah | pregnant | embarrassed → avergonzado/aah-behr-gon-THAH-doh |
| constipadokons-tee-PAH-doh | having a cold | constipated → estreñidoes-treh-NYEE-doh |
| actualak-TWAL | current, present | actual → real, verdaderorreh-AL |
| realizarrreh-ah-lee-THAR | to carry out | to realise → darse cuentaDAR-seh KWEN-tah |
| la libreríalee-breh-REE-ah | bookshop | library → la bibliotecabee-blyoh-TEH-kah |
| el éxitoEK-see-toh | success | exit → la salidasah-LEE-dah |
| la carpetakar-PEH-tah | folder | carpet → la alfombraal-FOM-brah |
| sensiblesen-SEE-bleh | sensitive | sensible → sensatosen-SAH-toh |
| asistir aah-sees-TEER | to attend | to assist → ayudarah-yoo-DAR |
| recordarrreh-kor-DAR | to remember | to record → grabargrah-BAR |
| largoLAR-goh | long | large → grandeGRAN-deh |
| el compromisokom-proh-MEE-soh | commitment, engagement | compromise → el acuerdo, el término medioah-KWEHR-doh |
Pairs where English has one word
Pedir or preguntar, saber or conocer
pedir · to ask for somethingPEE-doh lah KWEN-tah · “I’ll ask for the bill.”
PidoI-ask-forla cuenta.the bill
preguntar · to ask a questionpreh-GOON-toh lah OH-rah · “I’ll ask the time.”
PreguntoI-askla hora.the time
saber · to know a fact, how toSEH nah-DAR · “I can swim.”
SéI-knownadar.to-swim
conocer · to know a person or placekoh-NOTH-koh mah-DREED · “I know Madrid.”
ConozcoI-knowMadrid.Madrid
llevar · to take (away from here)YEH-boh BEE-noh ah lah FYES-tah · “I’ll take wine to the party.”
LlevoI-takevinowinea la fiesta.to the party
traer · to bring (to here)TRAH-eh BEE-noh, por fah-BOR · “Bring wine, please.”
Traebringvino,winepor favor.please
salir · to go out, leave a placeSAL-goh deh KAH-sah · “I’m leaving the house.”
SalgoI-go-outde casa.from home
dejar · to leave something behinddeh-HEH lahs YAH-bes · “I left the keys.”
DejéI-leftlas llaves.the keys
True friends: endings that translate
-tion = -ción, -ty = -dad, -ous = -oso
Thousands of words follow regular patterns. Learn the ending swap and you can recognise, and often build, the Spanish word yourself.
-tion → -ciónFeminine: la.
-ty → -dadFeminine: la.
-ous → -osoChanges for gender: famosa.
-ly → -menteAdded to the feminine.
-ist → -istaSame for both genders.
-ic → -icoChanges for gender: pública.
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