100 False Friends — English vs Spanish Words That Trick You

Don't get tricked by false friends! 100 Spanish words that look like English but mean something different. 🎯 What's inside: • 100 false cognates for levels A2-B1 • Real meanings vs misleading translations • Examples to avoid common mistakes

100 flashcards for learning vocabulary

Vocabulary list

actual

current / present [NOT actual]

embarazada

pregnant [NOT embarrassed]

realizar

to carry out / to accomplish [NOT to realize]

sensible

sensitive [NOT sensible]

éxito

success [NOT exit]

carpeta

folder [NOT carpet]

constipado

having a cold [NOT constipated]

fábrica

factory [NOT fabric]

librería

bookstore [NOT library]

asistir

to attend [NOT to assist]

contestar

to answer [NOT to contest]

largo

long [NOT large]

sopa

soup [NOT soap]

ropa

clothes [NOT rope]

campo

countryside / field [NOT camp]

conductor

driver [NOT conductor]

nombre

name / noun [NOT number]

recordar

to remember [NOT to record]

molestar

to bother / annoy [NOT to molest]

gracioso

funny [NOT gracious]

introducir

to insert / to input [NOT to introduce a person]

pretender

to intend / to try [NOT to pretend]

soportar

to tolerate / to bear [NOT to support]

atender

to attend to / to serve [NOT to attend]

suceso

event / incident [NOT success]

lectura

reading [NOT lecture]

idioma

language [NOT idiom]

billón

trillion [NOT billion]

compromiso

commitment / engagement [NOT compromise]

destino

destination / fate [NOT destiny only]

mascota

pet [NOT mascot]

pariente

relative [NOT parent]

particular

private / personal [NOT particular]

quitar

to remove [NOT to quit]

tópico

cliché / commonplace [NOT topic]

advertir

to warn [NOT to advertise]

discusión

argument [NOT discussion]

apuntar

to write down / to aim [NOT to appoint]

arena

sand [NOT arena]

bizarro

brave / generous [NOT bizarre]

carta

letter / menu [NOT card]

casual

coincidental [NOT casual]

colegio

school [NOT college]

collar

necklace [NOT collar]

complexión

body build [NOT complexion]

decepción

disappointment [NOT deception]

dirección

address / direction [NOT direction only]

disgusto

upset / displeasure [NOT disgust]

dormitorio

bedroom [NOT dormitory]

educado

polite [NOT educated]

enviar

to send [NOT to envy]

fastidioso

annoying [NOT fastidious]

firma

signature / company [NOT firm only]

genial

great / brilliant [NOT genial]

honesto

honest [similar but more like decent]

injuria

insult [NOT injury]

jubilación

retirement [NOT jubilation]

mantel

tablecloth [NOT mantel]

menor

younger / smaller [NOT minor only]

miseria

extreme poverty [NOT misery only]

moto

motorcycle [NOT motto]

noticia

news item [NOT notice]

oficina

office [similar but more specific]

once

eleven [NOT once]

pan

bread [NOT pan]

pie

foot [NOT pie]

planta

plant / floor [NOT plant only]

preservativo

condom [NOT preservative]

primo

cousin [NOT prime]

propaganda

advertising [NOT propaganda only]

rata

rat [NOT rate]

red

network [NOT red]

remover

to stir / to turn over [NOT to remove]

resumir

to summarize [NOT to resume]

revolver

to stir / to rummage [NOT revolver]

sanidad

public health [NOT sanity]

seguro

insurance / sure [NOT secure only]

simpático

nice / friendly [NOT sympathetic]

suceder

to happen [NOT to succeed]

tuna

prickly pear / music group [NOT tuna fish]

vaso

drinking glass [NOT vase]

balde

bucket [NOT bald]

bombero

firefighter [NOT bomber]

bravo

fierce / angry [NOT brave]

chocar

to crash / to collide [NOT to choke]

colorado

red / blushing [NOT Colorado only]

contento

happy / pleased [NOT content]

dato

piece of data [NOT date]

delito

crime [NOT delight]

desgracia

misfortune [NOT disgrace]

editorial

publishing house [NOT editorial]

equipo

team / equipment [NOT equip]

solicitar

to apply for / to request [NOT to solicit]

grosero

rude [NOT grocer]

inversor

investor [NOT inverter]

marca

brand / mark [NOT march]

mayor

older / bigger [NOT mayor]

preciso

precise / necessary [NOT precious]

químico

chemist [NOT chemical only]

trampa

trap / trick [NOT tramp]