False Spanish English Cognates
Written by admin on 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. |
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| Word | Explanation (if any) |
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advertencia |
n. warning, piece of advice, reminder, or preface |
| advertisement |
n. un anuncio |
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aguardar |
to wait for |
| guard |
guardar; defender; proteger |
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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) |
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asesor |
n. advisor |
| assessor |
n. evaluador |
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asunto |
n. subject, topic |
| assumption |
n. suposición |
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atender |
(Latin America) to attend; (Spain) to pay attention to, to heed, or to care for |
| attend | asistir |
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billete |
n. item of paper money |
| bill |
Besides money, bill has several other meanings in English: cuenta; proyecto de legislación. |
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bizarro |
adj. 1) valient, gallant, brave, or 2) generous |
| bizarre | adj. extraño or raro |
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cámara |
n. 1) a camera, 2) a camera operator, 3) a chamber. |
| camera |
n. a still camera: una cámara |
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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.) |
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cartera |
n. wallet |
| card |
n. tarjeta; naipe |
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colorado |
adj. red or reddish |
| colored | adj. de color |
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comodidad |
n. comfort |
| commodity |
n. producto agrícola, especialmente mercancía |
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conexión |
n. a physical or logical connection, not human connection |
| connection | n.1) conexión, 2) (when referring to human connection) relación |
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conformar |
to be in agreement, but also to adapt |
| conform |
adaptar, pero no significa estar de acuerdo |
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conveniente |
adj. suitable, fitting, proper, useful, or advantageous |
| convenient | adj. cómodo, práctico, útil, or accesible |
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convenir |
to be in one’s interest; to be suitable |
| convene |
convocar |
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crudo |
adj. raw, cruel |
| crude | adj. bruto, sin pulido |
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decente |
adj.1) honest, 2) decent |
| decent |
adj. decente; gentil; amable |
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decepción |
n. disappointment (verb form: decepcionar = to disappoint) |
| deception | n. un engaño, un fraude |
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desgracia |
n. misfortune, mishap, accident, setback, bad luck |
| disgrace |
n. deshonra, ignominia |
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digno |
adj. worthy |
| dignified | adj. distinguido |
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disco |
n. 1) disco, 2) disk, discus, traffic-light, or (audio) record |
| disco |
n. disco, discoteca, sala de baile |
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divisar |
to discern |
| devise | idear, inventar, hacer con imaginación |
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editor |
adj. publishing; n. publisher, editor |
| editor |
n. editor, director, redactor |
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elaborar |
to make, to manufacture |
| elaborate |
entrar en más detalle |
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excitar |
to excite sexually |
| excite |
entusiasmar or provocar |
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excusar |
to exempt; to excuse (rarely used) |
| excuse |
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firma |
n. 1) (commonly) a signature, 2) a firm |
| firm |
adj. firme, sólido, duro, seguro; n. una firma or una empresa |
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forzoso |
adj. necessary, obligatory |
| forced |
adj. involuntario, forzado |
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fundir |
to melt, to smelt |
| found | establecer, fundar |
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fútbol |
n. soccer |
| football |
n. el fútbol americano |
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grosería |
n. (only refers to) rudeness, crudeness, or vulgarity |
| grocery store | n. tienda de abarrotes/comestibles |
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ignorar |
v. to not know, to be unaware of |
| ignore |
v. no hacer caso de, desatender, or dejar a un lado |
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informal |
adj. unreliable (person) |
| informal | adj. sin etiqueta o ceremonia |
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joven |
adj. young (person) |
| juvenile |
adj. inmaduro |
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librería |
n. bookstore |
| library | n. biblioteca |
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librero |
n. a bookseller or bookcase |
| library |
n. una biblioteca |
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macro |
n. picture, door or window frame |
| mark | n. mancha; señal or símbolo escrito; una característica sobresaliente |
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minorista |
n. (Caribbean and South American) retail or retail seller |
| minority |
n. la minoría; adj. minoritario |
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negocio |
n. a business, deal, or transaction |
| negotiation |
n. una negociación |
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oculto |
adj. 1) hidden, concealed, or secret, 2) occult |
| occult |
adj. oculto or misterioso |
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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 |
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pareja |
n. couple |
| pair | n. par |
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patrón |
n. 1) a boss or owner; 2) a pattern or standard |
| patron |
n. patrocinador or cliente |
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pie |
n. foot. |
| pie | n. pastel |
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pila |
n. small battery; basin |
| pile |
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plata |
n. silver; money |
| plate | n. lámina; plato |
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presente |
n. current, present. There is no ‘gift’ meaning |
| present |
n. presente. ‘Gift’ in Spanish is ‘regalo’. |
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procurar |
to try and to manage to do something (rarely means to procure) |
| procure | obtener, conseguir |
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propio |
adj. one’s own; also proper |
| proper |
adj. apropiado |
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red |
n. network |
| red | n. the color rojo; adj. rojo |
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ropa |
n. clothing |
| rope |
n. una cuerda or una soga |
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suceder |
to happen or to follow, come next |
| succeed |
1) tener éxito, triunfar; 2) suceder |
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trato |
n. treaty, contract, but also social treatment |
| treatment |
n. tratamiento |
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vaso |
n. a glass or tumbler |
| vase |
n. un florero or jarrón |
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