FIFTY ENGLISH-SPANISH FALSE FRIEND WORDS
Learning English for Spanish speakers can seem quite simple at first because as much as 40% of English words have cognates in Spanish. Cognates are words that sound similar, have similar spelling and have the same meaning in the two languages. Examples of cognates are: teléfono-telephone; persona- person; invitar-invite. However, there are many words called FALSE COGNATES or FALSE FRIENDS. In the case of False Friends, the English word sounds like a word in Spanish but the two words do NOT have the same meaning
| English word | Spanish Translation | Spanish word | English Translation |
| Actually | En realidad | Actualmente | Currently |
| to Advertise | Anunciar | Advertir | Warn/Caution |
| Advice | Consejo | Aviso | Warning |
| Argument | Discusión | Argumento (film) | Plot |
| to Assist | Ayudar | Asistir | Go to, Attend |
| Billion | Mil millones | Billón | Trillion |
| Cap | Gorra | Capa | Layer |
| Career | Carrera professional | Carrera (universitaria) | Degree |
| Carpet | Alfombra | Carpeta | Folder |
| Cartoon | Dibujos animados | Cartón | Cardboard |
| Casualty | Víctima o herido | Casualidad | Coincidence |
| Collar | Cuello (prendas de vestir) | Collar | Necklace |
| College | Universidad, facultad | Colegio | School |
| Complexion | Tono de piel | Complejo | Complex |
| Conductor | Director de orquesta | Conductor | Driver |
| to be Constipated | estar Estreñido | estar Constipado | to have a Cold |
| Contest | Concurso | Contestar | Answer |
| Deception | Engaño | Decepción | Disappointment |
| Dessert | Postre | Desierto | Desert |
| Embarrassed | Avergonzado | Embarazada | Pregnant |
| Exit | Salida | Éxito | Success |
| Fabric | Tela | Fábrica | Factory |
| Idiom | Modismo | Idioma | Language |
| Intoxicated | Ebrio | Intoxicado | Food poisoning |
| Jam | Mermelada | Jamón | Ham |
| Large | Grande | Largo | Long |
| Lentil | Lenteja | Lentilla | Contact lens |
| Letter | Carta, letra de abecedario | Letra | Lyrics |
| Library | Biblioteca | Librería | Book shop |
| Mayor | Alcalde | Mayor | Older |
| Notice | Notar, aununcio | Noticia | piece of News |
| Office | Oficina | Oficio | Job or trade |
| Pan | Cazuela | Pan | Bread |
| Pie | Tarta | Pie | Foot |
| Place | Lugar | Plaza | Square |
| Prize | Premio | Precio | Price |
| to Quit | Abandonar | Quitar | Remove, take away |
| Quote | Cita/presupuesto | Cuota | Fee |
| to Realize | Darse cuenta | Realizar | to Do/Make |
| to Record | Grabar | Recordar | Remember |
| Relative | Pariente | Relativo (adj) | Relative |
| Remove | Quitar | Remover | Stir |
| Rope | Cuerda | Ropa | Clothes |
| Sane | Cuerdo | Sano | Healthy |
| Sensible | Sensato | Sensible | Sensitive |
| Soap | Jabón | Sopa | Soup |
| Spade | Pala | Espada | Sword |
| Stranger | Desconocido | Extranjero | Foreigner |
| to Stretch | Estirar | Estrechar | to become narrow |
| Suburb | Barrio rico periférico ciudad | Suburbio de casas pobres | Slum |
| to Support | Apoyar | Soportar | to Handle/ Put up with |
| Sympathetic | Comprensivo | Simpático | Nice |
| Target | Objetivo | Tarjeta | Card |
| Terrific | Fenomenal | Terrorífico | Terrifying |
| to Translate | Traducir | Trasladarse | to Move (house) |
| Vacuum | Vacío | Vacuna | Vaccine |
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