False cognates

Overview
Spanish vocabulary can sometimes be quite simple if you are a native English speakers. There are so many
cognates, or words that sound similar in both languages: decidir - to decide, la aplicacin - application, marvilloso marvelous, etc.
However, there are many Spanish words that sound like English words that do not have the same meaning. These are
called false cognates, or false friends.

Spanish False CognateActual English Definition

current, at the present moment
actual
knot, joint, node
el nudo
warning, advice, reminder
la advertencia
death throes, dying moments
la agona
anyone from North America
americano
aplicar

to apply a theory or paint

la apologa
la arena
el argumento
el asesino
la asistencia
asistir

defense, eulogy
sand
reasoning, debate
murderer, killer
attendance
to attend

el bachillerato

high school or A-level diploma

el billn
bizarro
blanco
blindar
el bufete
el campo
el cargo
la carpeta
la carrera

trillion (US)
valiant, gallant; generous
white
to shield
desk
countryside
post or position; charge
folder
race, journey, course; beam

la carta

letter (document), deed, menu

chocar
el colegio
colorado
la complexin
el compromiso

to crash
high school
red, reddish
constitution, temperament
obligation, commitment

el conductor

driver

la conexin
la constipacin
contestar
conveniente
la copa
corresponder
la cuestin
culto
el damnificado
la decepcin

physical or logical connection

cold (illness)
to answer
suitable
glass, goblet; trophy
to agree with, to match
matter or issue to be resolved
cultured, refined
victim
dissapointment

Spanish Alternative
verdadero = actual
desnudo = nude
el anuncio = advertisement
la angustia = agony
estadounidense = US American
solicitar = to apply for a job
dirigirse a uno = to apply oneself
la disculpa = apology
el anfiteatro = arena
argument (disagreement) = la disputa
el asesino pagado = assassin
la ayuda = assistance
ayudar = to assist
el soltero = bachelor
la licenciatura = bachelors degree
mil millones = billion
extrao = bizarre
sin adorno = blank
cegar = to blind
el buf = buffet
el campamento = camp
la carga = cargo
la alfombra = carpet
la profesin = career
el carrito = cart
la tarjeta = card
sofocarse = to choke
la universidad = college
de color = colored
la tez = complexion
la solucin intermedia = compromise
el director = orquestral conductor
el revisor = train conductor
la relacin = emotional connection
el estreimiento = constipation
contender = to contest
prctico = convenient
la taza = cup
escribirse= to correspond (in writing)
la pregunta = question
la secta = cult
maldito = damned
el engao = deception

decepcionar
el delito
la desgracia
deshonesto
despertar
destituido
discutir
disgusto
echar
la educacin
educado
efectivo
el elevador
embarazada
emocionante
eventual
excitar
el xito
la fbrica
la facultad

to dissapoint
crime
misfortune, accident
indecent, lewd
to wake up
lacking
to debate, to argue
annoyance, trouble
to throw, to pour
upbringing
polite
real, actual
hoist
pregnant
exciting
possible
to excite (sexually)
success
factory
mental ability

la falta

absence, shortage, lack

fastidioso
la firma
formal
el ftbol
ftil
grabar
gracioso
la grosera
honesto
el humor
el idioma
ignorar
la jubilacin
largo
la lectura
la letra
la librera
la lujuria
la mama
la marca
la masa
matar
mayor
molestar
el negocio
el nombre
la noticia
la ocasin
el oficio
once
el pan
la papa
el pariente

annoying, boring
signature
reliable, serious
soccer
trivial
to save, to record
funny
rudeness
sincere, decent
mood
language
to be unaware of
retirement
long
reading, reading material
letter of the alphabet; lyrics to a song
bookstore
lust
breast
brand, record
dough
to kill
larger, older
to annoy
business
name; noun
news
opportunity; bargain
trade, function; religious service
eleven
bread
potato
close relative

engaar = to deceive
el placer = delight
la deshonra = disgrace
fraudulento = dishonest
desesperado = desperate
indigente = destitute
hablar de = to discuss
la repugnancia = disgust
resonar = to echo
la formacin = education
culto = educated
eficaz = effective
el ascensor = elevator
avergonzado = embarrassed
emocional = emotional
definitivo = eventual
entusiasmar = to excite
la salida = exit
la tela = fabric
el profesorado = faculty (of teachers)
el defecto = fault (imperfection)
la culpa = fault (guilt)
escrupuloso = fastidious
la empresa = firm
de etiqueta = formal
football = el ftbol americano
vano = futile
asir = to grab
corts = gracious
la tienda de comestibles = grocery store
honrado = honest
la gracia = humor
el modismo = idiom
no hacer caso de = to ignore
el jbilo = jubilation
grande = large
la conferencia = lecture
la carta = letter
la biblioteca = library
el lujo = luxury
la mam = mother
la mancha = mark
la misa = mass (at church)
unir = to mate
el alcalde = mayor
acosar sexualmente = to molest
la negociacin = negotiation
el nmero = number
el aviso = notice
la vez = occasion
la oficina = office
una vez = once
la cacerola = pan
el pap = father
el padre = parent

el patrn
el plagio
prcticamente
el preservativo
pretender
procurar
quitar
raro
real
realizar
la receta
la recoleccin
recordar
la red
restar
revolver
la ropa
el salario
sano
sensible
sobre
la sopa
soportar
suceder
el suceso
la trampa
la tuna
ltimamente
el vaso

boss; standard
el patrocinador = patron
plagiarism
la peste = plague
in a practical way
casi = practically (almost)
condom
el conservador = preservative
to claim
fingir = to pretend
to manage (to do something)
obtener = to procure
to take away, to get rid of
dejar = to quit
odd, strange
poco comn = rare
royal
autntico = real
to fulfill
darse cuenta de = to realize
recipe, prescription
el recibo = receipt
harvest, collection
el recuerdo = recollection
to remember
grabar = to record
network, net
rojo = red
to subtract
descansar = to rest
to turn over
el revlver = revolver
clothing
la cuerda = rope
hourly wages
el sueldo = salary
healthy
cuerdo = sane
sensitive
sensato = sensible
on, above, over
sobrio = sobre
soup
el jabn = soap
to bear, to carry
apoyar = to support
to happen, to follow
tener xito = to succeed
event, incident
el xito = success
trap
el vagabundo
prickly pear; group of student musiciansel atn = tuna
lastly, as a last resort
por ltimo = ultimately
glass, tumbler
el florero = vase