They sound similar, but their meanings are completely different
Spanish and English share many words that look very similar. So similar, in fact, that they can easily trick us into thinking they mean the same thing in both languages. But that’s not the case. In reality, they often have very different meanings. These are what we call false friends.Here are five of the funniest ones. Learn them and use them correctly or be ready to make your friends laugh!
- 1. Embarazada ≠ Embarrassed
Spanish: Embarazada means “pregnant.”
English: Embarrassed means “ashamed” or “self-conscious.”Be very careful when expressing that you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed using the word embarazada, because it means something completely different in Spanish. You’ll sound like you’re announcing a pregnancy!
- 2. Constipado ≠ Constipated
Spanish: Constipado means “to have a cold.”
English: Constipated means “unable to have a bowel movement.”So, remember: when you go to the pharmacy looking for medicine, make sure you know whether you're constipado or constipated. It makes a big difference!
- 3. Curse ≠ Curso
Spanish: Curso refers to a course, a series of lessons on a subject.
English: Curse means a “spell” or “malediction” , wishing something bad on someone.Be careful when telling friends and family, “I’m taking a curse in Spanish” — instead of saying you’re studying Spanish, it might sound like you’re under some kind of spell!
- 4. Remove ≠ Remover
Spanish: Remover means “to stir” or “mix,” especially in cooking.
English: Remove means “to take something away.”If you’re doing laundry, saying “I need to remover the stain from my shirt” won’t mean you want to clean it. It’ll sound like you want to stir the stain with enthusiasm!
- 5. Preservativo ≠ Preservative
Spanish: Preservativo means “condom.”
English: Preservative refers to food additives that keep products from spoiling.Here, the difference in meaning is big — and the contexts even more so! So don’t say something like “This jam is natural, it has no preservatives” in Spanish, unless you want to get some laughs.
