Spanish and English have a lot of words that look very similar and share the same meaning. For example,
el restaurante = restaurant
maravilloso = marvelous
decidir = to decide
However, there are some false cognates, which look quite similar but actually have totally different meanings in Spanish and English. One needs to be extra cautious with these words. Here are some of them:
| Example | Spanish word A | You might think A means B |
|---|---|---|
| What A actually means | How to say B in Spanish | |
| #1 | embarazada | embarrassed |
| pregnant | avergonzado | |
| #2 | excitado | excited |
| (sexually) aroused | emocionado | |
| #3 | actual | actual |
| current | real | |
| #4 | bizarro | bizarre |
| brave | extraño | |
| #5 | eventual | eventual |
| possible, temporary | final | |
| #6 | último | ultimate |
| last, latest | final / máximo | |
| #7 | gracioso | gracious |
| funny, hilarious | cortés | |
| #8 | la carpeta | carpet |
| folder | la alfombra | |
| #9 | la advertencia | advertisement |
| warning | el anuncio / el comercial (LatAm) | |
| #10 | el éxito | exit |
| success | la salida (salir = to leave) | |
| #11 | el suceso | success |
| event, incident | el éxito | |
| #12 | la librería | library |
| bookstore | la biblioteca | |
| #13 | la noticia | notice |
| news | el cartel / el letrero | |
| #14 | la decepción | deception |
| disappointment | el engaño | |
| #15 | introducir | to introduce |
| to insert | presentar | |
| #16 | contestar | to contest |
| to answer | contender | |
| #17 | pretender | to pretend |
| intend, claim (LatAm) | fingir | |
| #18 | realizar | to realize |
| to make real (to carry out, to fulfill) | darse cuenta de | |
| #19 | recordar | to record |
| to remember | grabar | |
| #20 | molestar | to molest |
| to bother, to annoy | abusar / acosar |
