Be alert for false friends, falsos amigos,when learning Spanish vocabulary


1.	Embarazada	Unless you want to say you are pregnant, steer clear of this false friend! To say you are embarrassed, use instead emotional
2.	En absoluto	Strange to say, this means the opposite of what you might think: 'not at all'. Use instead, totalmente or completamente.
3.	Molestar	In Spanish, this verb has no sexual overtones. Simply means to bother or annoy.
4.	Sano	If you are sano, you are healthy. If you are sane, use en su juicio .
5.	Agonia	Bad enough to be in agony, but in Spanish agonia means you are on your death-bed.
6.	Honesto	Can mean 'honest' but more usually has sexula overtones, and means 'chaste' while deshonest0 means 'slutty' or 'lewd'.
7.	soportar	Can mean 'to support' ; more often means 'to tolerate' or to endure. Sostener or apoyar would be safer!
8.	vicioso	Sometimes can mean 'vicious' but more often means 'depraved'.
9.	violar, violador	More often than in English, these words have a sexual connotation. A violador is a rapist - rathe rthan someone who breaks the speed-limit!
10.	fastidioso	This means you are 'bothersome' rather than merely fastidious.
11.	topico	this means a 'cliche' rather than 'topic'.
12.	regular	not so much regular as in 'a regular good guy', but more often, it means 'not so good' or 'so-so'.
13.	informal	not much informal or casully dressed as 'unreliable'.
14.	excitado	not just excited but rather 'aroused' as in sexually aroused.
15.	disgustado	you are angry rather than just disgusted.
16.	rape	simply means angler fish of monkfish.
17.	constipado	'Estoy constipado' means 'I have a cold'. Nothing more.
18.	preservativo	No, not jams, jellies or preserves but like French, a 'condom'.

After these 18 false friends, let's continue learning Spanish vocabulary and look at some words who are also falsos amigos but whose meaning is toned down and lose some of their venom when morphed into English. When you are learning Spanish vocabulary, try to get a feel for how Spanish speakers use words. Don't be fooled by 'false friends'. Don't just try to translate word for word.

1	molestar	In Spanish, simple means to bother or annoy.
2.	ignorar	Not to 'ignore' but simply to be 'unaware of'.
3.	Compromiso	Not a 'compromise' but a 'committment' or 'obligation'. An engaged couple as described as 'comprometidos'.
4.	disgacia	not a 'disgrace' but rather a 'misfortune'. Use instead, 'verguenza'
5.	sensible	As in French, 'sensible' means 'sensitive' rather than 'sensible'.
6.	simpatico	friendly or charming rather than 'sympathetic'.
7.	ilusion	not so much under an illusion as 'optimistic' 'excited'.
8.	una decepci�n	Simply a disapppointment. Use rather, 'enga�o'.
9.	notorio	as in English 'notorious' but without the negative overtones.
10	propaganda	usually simply means 'advertising'.
11.	preservativo	No, not jams, jellies or preserves but like French, a 'condom'.
12.	contestar	simply 'to answer'. To contest a will , use 'contender'.

AS you are learning Spanish vocabulary, watch out for the 'false friends', the 'falsos amigos'.There are also many false friends who can contribute to inaccuracy or a sloppy style and are best avoided.

1.	remover	not to remove but to 'stir'.
2.	libreria	just a bookshop, not a library. (For library,use 'biblioteca'.
3.	carpeta	not a carpet but a folder. A carpet is 'alfombra'.
4.	pariente	any relative. Parents are 'padre', 'madre' or, for both, 'padres'.
5.	gracioso	funny or amusing. Gracious can be expressed by 'gentil', or 'cortes'.
6.	suplir	The verb means 'to substitute', not 'to supply'.
7.	quieto	Not 'quiet' but rather 'still', 'unmoving'.
8.	actual	Means 'current'; for 'actual' as opposed to imaginary, use 'real'..
9.	compexi�n	Not your complexion, but your build, your physique. Your complexion is 'tez' or 'cutis'.
10.	correspondar	No to correspond except in the sense of 'to match'. If you are corresponding with your Spanish pen-pal, try 'excribir con' or 'mantener correspondencia'

If you make a point of learning Spanish vocabulary ACTIVELY, studies show that you will make real progress faster than if you just absorb vocabulary passively. We have some more tips on how to learn Spanish vocubulary.

Take a look at our tips for learning Spanish vocabulary If you are learning Spanish vocabulary, you can kick-start the process painlessly by browsing list of cognates or espangles. Find answers to your questions about learning Spanish by using our Site Search (on the Home Page). Learn Spanish, tips advice and resources