Avoid mistakes! Learn 50+ False Friends in English & Spanish
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Discover words that look familiar but can lead to big misunderstandings
In this episode I explore False Friends, or Falsos Amigos, words in English and Spanish that look or sound similar but have completely different meanings. I share humorous personal experiences and practical examples of 10 common false friends, such as "embarrassed" vs. "embarazada" and "sensible" vs. "sensible”. The lesson also explains the meanings of these misleading word pairs, how to use them in a sentence and offers useful tips to recognize and avoid them.
Don't forget to download the free transcript with vocabulary and an extended list of over 50 false friends. Improve your English skills and avoid embarrassing mix-ups!
List of the 10 False Friends in English and Spanish used in the video.
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Hi. Welcome to another video from Learning English with James. Today we are going to be learning about False Friends, or in Spanish, Falsos Amigos. We are going to talk about 10 False Friends that are often misunderstood.
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There is a link in the description for a Free Transcript of this video with vocabulary and a list of 50 sets of false friends. There are a lot of words in Spanish and English that sound very similar but have completely different meanings. We call these words false friends. They are also known as false cognates or falsos cognados.
1. Embarrassed vs. Embarazada
[00:48]
A good example of this is the word Embarrassed which sounds a lot like the Spanish word Embarazada.
Years ago, when I was beginning to really learn Spanish by working with people who didn’t speak much English, I tried to explain to someone I worked with that I was embarrassed about something that had just happened. I didn’t know the Spanish word for embarrassed. But I did know that a lot of words in Spanish sounded almost the same as words In English. So, I just tried to make the word embarrassed sound Spanish by adding an “O” sound at the end. And I told my co-worker that I was “embarazado.”
He laughed, pointed at my stomach and asked, “Vas a tener un bebe?”, or in English, “You’re going to have a baby?"
Since he didn’t speak very much English, he didn’t know what I had tried to say. But he did know that I had told him that I was pregnant. He thought it was funny, and once again I was embarrassed. “Yo estaba avergonzado”. This was my first experience with what I later found out was called a False Friend.
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So, where do false friends come from? Most of the Spanish language and a good portion of the English language come from Latin. Over time the meanings of some words that were shared by both languages have changed in one language or the other. And these are our False Friends or Falsos Amigos.
The good news is that there are more than one thousand two hundred words that are almost the same in both Spanish and English. They are called cognates. That means that you already know more than one thousand two hundred words in English. You just have to know how to write them and pronounce them in English, but that is another video.
2. Nude vs. Nudo
[02:48]
Another example of false friends that could be embarrassing are the words Nude in English and Nudo in Spanish. The word nude in English, means naked, or without clothing. The Spanish word nudo means a knot, like you would tie in your shoelaces. I think it is extremely important to know the difference.
So, let’s quickly go through some other false friends and their meanings in English and Spanish. After each set of false friends I will use the English word, or False Friend, in an example sentence, first in English and then translate that into Spanish.
3. Actually vs. Actualmente
[03:27]
Number three on our list today is Advertisement and Advertencia. An advertisement is a public communication in magazines, on the television, radio, social media or on roadside signs trying to sell you something or some idea. Una advertencia is a warning of the existence of a risk, danger or threat.
“So, an advertisement is trying to sell you something that may be safe or may not be safe. Una advertencia is a warning to keep you safe”. And now, in Spanish. “Un anuncio intenta venderte algo que puede ser seguro o no. Una advertencia es un aviso para mantenerte a salvo.”
4. Record vs. Recordar
[04:10]
Next, at number 4 let’s look at Record, and Recordar. Recordar in Spanish means to remember, while the Spanish word for record is grabar.
“Tomorrow we are going to record a new video.”
“Mañana vamos a grabar un nuevo vídeo.”
5. Sensible vs. Sensible
[04:29]
And now our fifth set of false friends are written the same but sound different. Sensible and Sensible. While sensible in Spanish means to be sensitive or emotional, the English word sensible means practical, realistic, or responsible.
For example, “I know that I am not always a sensible person,” becomes “Yo sé que no siempre soy una persona sensate o razonable,” in Spanish.
6. Actually vs. Actualmente
[04:58]
Number 6 on our list of False Friends are the words Actualmente in Spanish which means currently or presently, and Actually in English, which means in reality, truthfully, or exactly.
So, “Do you actually think I'm crazy?” in English becomes “¿De verdad crees que estoy loco?” in Spanish.
7. Constipated vs. Costipado
[05:19]
And at number 7 we have Constipado in Spanish which means having a cold or being congested, and Constipated in English which translates as estreñido, which means to have trouble with bowel movements.
“I felt constipated yesterday. Mmm, maybe that was too much information?”
“Ayer me sentí estreñido. Mmm, ¿quizás fue demasiada información?”
8. Pretend vs. Pretender
[05:50]
Our 8th example of a couple of false friends are Pretend in English and Pretender in Spanish. Pretender in Spanish means to aim for or to try to achieve something and Pretend means to act like something is real or the truth when it is not.
“Politicians always pretend that they tell the truth, but we know better. Don't we?”
“Los políticos siempre simulan que dicen la verdad, pero nosotros sabemos que no es así.”
9. Terrific vs. Terrorifico
[06:22]
And number 9 on our list is a couple of false friends that are almost complete opposites. Terrorifico in Spanish and Terrific in English. Terrorifico means terrifying or extremely scary, and Terrific means wonderful, great, or fantastico.
So, while “You look really terrific today,” or “Te ves realmente fantástico hoy” is a wonderful compliment.
“Te ves realmente terrorifico hoy,” or “You look really terrifying today,” is not.
10. Realize vs. Realizar
[06:54]
And our final pair of False Friends in this video are Realizar in Spanish which means to carry out or to achieve something and Realize which means to become aware of something.
“I realized that I don't have any money.”
“Me di cuenta de que no tengo dinero.”
“Years ago, I had a friend who used to say that when it was time to pay the bill at a restaurant.”
“Hace años, tenía un amigo que solía decir eso cuando llegaba el momento de pagar la cuenta en un restaurante.”
So how can you recognize false friends and avoid confusion.
Learn in Context: Pay attention to how words are used in sentences. Context often reveals the correct meaning.
Read Regularly: Reading books, articles, or news in English can help you understand meanings over time.
Practice with Native English Speakers: Conversations with native English speakers can clarify confusing words.
Don’t forget to click the link in the description for a list of other false friends and their meanings.
See you next time!
Read our False Friends blog
False Friends: Misleading Words Between English and Spanish
How to avoid common language mistakes when learning English as a Spanish speaker. Learning about false friends (false cognates) is like avoiding bad dating advice – they seem trustworthy but can lead to awkward misunderstandings. Knowing them helps you avoid common mistakes, build your vocabulary, and communicate more clearly in English.
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