October 25th, 2008

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False Spanish English Cognates

Saturday, October 25th, 2008
The convertible words between Spanish and English are called “cognates“. These Spanish English cognates usually have the same roots. The Spanish English cognates are a hidden gem for English speakers who are learning Spanish (or for Spanish speakers who are learning English).

However, there are also many “false Spanish English cognates“. These pairs of words look similar in Spanish and English but their actual meanings can be very different. It is not uncommon for English speakers to use these false cognate words incorrectly without knowing it. To avoid making such mistakes in Spanish, it is to the student’s advantage to learn and master these Spanish English false cognates.

Following is a list of 56 common false Spanish English cognates. You can download a PDF of this false Spanish English cognates list at the end of this page.


Word Explanation (if any)


advertencia

n. warning, piece of advice, reminder, or preface

advertisement
n. un anuncio


aguardar

to wait for

guard
guardar; defender; proteger


argumento

n. reasoning (as in a courtroom)

argument
n. 1) argumento (in the sense of reasoning);
2) discusión, pelea, disputa, or polémica (in the sense of disagreement)


asesor

n. advisor

assessor
n. evaluador


asunto


n. subject, topic

assumption
n. suposición


atender

(Latin America) to attend; (Spain) to pay attention to, to heed, or to care for

attend

asistir

billete


n. item of paper money

bill
Besides money, bill has several other meanings in English: cuenta; proyecto de legislación.


bizarro

adj. 1) valient, gallant, brave, or 2) generous

bizarre

adj. extraño or raro

cámara


n. 1) a camera, 2) a camera operator, 3) a chamber.

camera
n. a still camera: una cámara


carrera

n. running, race; row, line; beam, girder, joist; route, ride, journey, course; avenue; career; university studies

career

n. una carrera profesional, una profesión (Note that career does not have the many meanings that ‘carrera’ has.)

cartera


n. wallet

card
n. tarjeta; naipe


colorado

adj. red or reddish

colored

adj. de color

comodidad


n. comfort

commodity
n. producto agrícola, especialmente mercancía


conexión

n. a physical or logical connection, not human connection

connection

n.1) conexión, 2) (when referring to human connection) relación

conformar


to be in agreement, but also to adapt

conform
adaptar, pero no significa estar de acuerdo


conveniente

adj. suitable, fitting, proper, useful, or advantageous

convenient

adj. cómodo, práctico, útil, or accesible

convenir


to be in one’s interest; to be suitable

convene
convocar


crudo

adj. raw, cruel

crude

adj. bruto, sin pulido

decente


adj.1) honest, 2) decent

decent
adj. decente; gentil; amable


decepción

n. disappointment (verb form: decepcionar = to disappoint)

deception

n. un engaño, un fraude

desgracia


n. misfortune, mishap, accident, setback, bad luck

disgrace
n. deshonra, ignominia


digno

adj. worthy

dignified

adj. distinguido

disco


n. 1) disco, 2) disk, discus, traffic-light, or (audio) record

disco
n. disco, discoteca, sala de baile


divisar

to discern

devise

idear, inventar, hacer con imaginación


editor

adj. publishing;
n. publisher, editor

editor
n. editor, director, redactor


elaborar

to make, to manufacture

elaborate
entrar en más detalle


excitar

to excite sexually

excite
entusiasmar or provocar


excusar


to exempt; to excuse (rarely used)

excuse


firma

n. 1) (commonly) a signature, 2) a firm

firm
adj. firme, sólido, duro, seguro;
n. una firma or una empresa

forzoso


adj. necessary, obligatory

forced
adj. involuntario, forzado


fundir

to melt, to smelt

found

establecer, fundar

fútbol


n. soccer

football
n. el fútbol americano


grosería

n. (only refers to) rudeness, crudeness, or vulgarity

grocery store

n. tienda de abarrotes/comestibles

ignorar


v. to not know, to be unaware of

ignore
v. no hacer caso de, desatender, or dejar a un lado


informal

adj. unreliable (person)

informal

adj. sin etiqueta o ceremonia

joven


adj. young (person)

juvenile
adj. inmaduro


librería

n. bookstore

library

n. biblioteca

librero


n. a bookseller or bookcase

library
n. una biblioteca


macro

n. picture, door or window frame

mark

n. mancha; señal or símbolo escrito; una característica sobresaliente


minorista

n. (Caribbean and South American) retail or retail seller

minority
n. la minoría;
adj. minoritario


negocio

n. a business, deal, or transaction

negotiation
n. una negociación


oculto

adj. 1) hidden, concealed, or secret, 2) occult

occult
adj. oculto or misterioso


ordinario


adj. 1) ordinary, common, coarse (in reference to a person);
2) fine or ok, as in answer to ¿Cómo estás?

ordinary
adj. normal or corriente


pareja

n. couple

pair

n. par

patrón


n. 1) a boss or owner; 2) a pattern or standard

patron
n. patrocinador or cliente


pie

n. foot.

pie

n. pastel

pila


n. small battery; basin

pile


plata

n. silver; money

plate

n. lámina; plato

presente


n. current, present. There is no ‘gift’ meaning

present
n. presente. ‘Gift’ in Spanish is ‘regalo’.


procurar

to try and to manage to do something (rarely means to procure)

procure

obtener, conseguir

propio


adj. one’s own; also proper

proper
adj. apropiado


red

n. network

red

n. the color rojo;
adj. rojo


ropa

n. clothing

rope
n. una cuerda or una soga


suceder

to happen or to follow, come next

succeed
1) tener éxito, triunfar; 2) suceder


trato

n. treaty, contract, but also social treatment

treatment
n. tratamiento


vaso

n. a glass or tumbler

vase
n. un florero or jarrón

Where to go next?



  1. Download the current page of false Spanish English cognates in PDF

  2. Learn More about Spanish English cognates

  3. Purchase the list of the most common Spanish-English Cognates. (And get a list 255 false Spanish English cognates as well.)