3.7 Spanish False Friends Flashcards
This deck presents many of the most common English-to-Spanish mistranslations.
Translate to Spanish:
actual
verdadero, real
Note: The Spanish word actual means “current, present, contemporary.”
Translate to Spanish:
actually
de hecho, casualmente
Note: The Spanish word actualmente means “currently, presently.”
Translate to Spanish:
an apology
una disculpa
Note: The Spanish word una apología means “a defense, a justification of.”
Translate to Spanish:
an arena
un estadio
Note: The Spanish word arena means “sand.”
Translate to Spanish:
to attend
asistir a
Note: The Spanish word atender means “to take care of.”
Translate to Spanish:
a billion
mil millones
Note: The Spanish word un billón means “a trillion (American English).”
Translate to Spanish:
bizarre
extraño
Note: The Spanish word bizarro means “brave.”
Translate to Spanish:
blind
ciego
Note: The Spanish word blindado means “armor-plated, shielded, or bullet-proof.”
Translate to Spanish:
a camp
un campamento
Note: The Spanish word el campo means “the countryside.”
Translate to Spanish:
cargo
carga, cargamento
Note: The Spanish word un cargo means “a position (at a job), a crime.”
Translate to Spanish:
a carpet
una alfombra, un tapete
Note: The Spanish word una carpeta means “a file folder.”
Translate to Spanish:
a cart
un carrito, una carretilla
Note: The Spanish word una carta means “a letter, map, menu.”
Translate to Spanish:
a casualty
una víctima, una baja
Note: The Spanish word una casualidad means “a coincidence.”
Translate to Spanish:
a city
una ciudad
Note: The Spanish word una cita means “an appointment.”
Translate to Spanish:
to choke
atragantarse, ahogar
Note: The Spanish word chocar means “to strike.”
Translate to Spanish:
college
la universidad
Note: The Spanish word el colegio means “high school (usually private).”
Translate to Spanish:
complexion
el cutis, la tez
Note: The Spanish word la complexión means “build, physique.”
Translate to Spanish:
a compromise
un mutuo acuerdo
Note: The Spanish word compromiso means “commitment.”
Translate to Spanish:
a contest
una competencia, un concurso
Note: The Spanish word contestar means “to answer (a question).”
Translate to Spanish:
a question
una pregunta
Note: The Spanish word una cuestión means “a matter, an issue.”
Translate to Spanish:
damned
maldito, condenado
Note: The Spanish word un damnificado means “a victim.”
Translate to Spanish:
deception
un engaño
Note: The Spanish word la decepción means “disappointment.”
Translate to Spanish:
delight
la delicia, el placer
Note: The Spanish word un delito means “a crime, an offense.”
Translate to Spanish:
disgrace
la deshonra, un escándalo
Note: The Spanish word la desgracia means “misfortune, bad luck.”
Translate to Spanish:
disgust
repulción, asco
Note: The Spanish word el disgusto means “misfortune, displeasure.”
Translate to Spanish:
embarrassed
avergonzado
Note: The Spanish word embarazada means “pregnant.”
Translate to Spanish:
the exit
la salida
Note: The Spanish word éxito means “success.”
Translate to Spanish:
fault
la culpa
Note: The Spanish word falta means “lack, want, need.”
Translate to Spanish:
the fabric
la tela
Note: The Spanish word fábrica means “factory.”
Translate to Spanish:
football
el fútbol americano
Note: The Spanish word fútbol means “soccer.”
Translate to Spanish:
to grab
coger, agarrar
Note: The Spanish word grabar means “record, engrave.”
Translate to Spanish:
gracious
cortés, elegante
Note: The Spanish word gracioso means “funny, amusing.”
Translate to Spanish:
groceries
las proviciones, la comida
Note: The Spanish word grosería means “indecency.”
Translate to Spanish:
an idiom
un modismo
Note: The Spanish word idioma means “language.”
Translate to Spanish:
jubilation
el júbilo, el alborozo
Note: The Spanish word la jubilación means “retirement.”
Translate to Spanish:
large
grande
Note: The Spanish word largo means “long.”
Translate to Spanish:
a lecture
un discurso, un sermón
Note: The Spanish word una lectura means “a reading.”
Translate to Spanish:
a letter (card)
una carta
Note: The Spanish word una letra means “a letter of the alphabet.”
Translate to Spanish:
a library
una biblioteca
Note: The Spanish word una librería means “a bookstore.”
Translate to Spanish:
the mayor
el alcalde
Note: The Spanish word mayor means “major, older.”
Translate to Spanish:
to molest
abusar sexualmente
Note: The Spanish word molestar means “to bother, annoy.”
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a number
un número
Note: The Spanish word un nombre means “a name.”
Translate to Spanish:
nude
desnudo
Note: The Spanish word un nudo means “a knot.”
Translate to Spanish:
the office
la oficina
Note: The Spanish word un oficio means “a profession, job.”
Translate to Spanish:
a pan
una sartén, la olla, el tazón
Note: The Spanish word el pan means “bread.”
Translate to Spanish:
Papa (father)
Papá
Note: The Spanish words la papa and el Papa mean “potato” (fem.) and “the Pope” (masc.), respectively.
Translate to Spanish:
a parent
un padre
Note: The Spanish word un pariente means “a relative.”
Translate to Spanish:
a patron
un cliente habitual
Note: The Spanish word el patrón means “the boss, owner.”
Translate to Spanish:
a pie
una tarta
Note: The Spanish word un pie means “a foot.”
Translate to Spanish:
to record
grabar
Note: The Spanish word recordar means “to remember, remind.”
Translate to Spanish:
red
rojo
Note: The Spanish word una red means “a network” or “a net” (like a fisherman’s net).
Translate to Spanish:
to rest
descansar
Note: The Spanish word restar means “to subtract, remain.”
Translate to Spanish:
a revolver
un revólver
Note: The Spanish word revolver means “to stir, turn upside down.”
Translate to Spanish:
a rope
una cuerda
Note: The Spanish word la ropa means “clothing.”
Translate to Spanish:
sane
cuerdo
Note: The Spanish word sano means “healthy.”
Translate to Spanish:
sensible
sensato, razonable
Note: The Spanish word sensible means “sensitive.”
Translate to Spanish:
sober
sobrio
Note: The Spanish word sobre means “on, over, above; envelope.”
Translate to Spanish:
a success
un éxito
Note: The Spanish word un suceso means “an event, incident.”
Translate to Spanish:
a table
una mesa
Note: The Spanish word una tabla means “a board, plank, table (of contents).”
Translate to Spanish:
a tramp
una golfa, una zorra
Note: The Spanish word una trampa means “a trap, trick.”
Translate to Spanish:
tuna
el atún
Note: The Spanish word una tuna means “a student music group.”
Translate to Spanish:
ultimately
finalmente, por último
Note: The Spanish word últimamente means “recently.”
Translate to Spanish:
a vase
un jarrón, un florero
Note: The Spanish word un vaso means “a glass, cup.”
