Top 100 Mistakes in Spanish - False Cognates
The most common mistake made when speaking is to use a Spanish word that looks or sounds similar to an English word but has a totally different meaning. This can result in confusion and embarrassment!. A Spanish word that is similar to an English word, but has a different meaning, is known as a false cognate. Some examples are shown below.
| Spanish Word | English Translation | Confused With | Spanish Translation |
| abandonar | to quit | to remove | quitar |
| absoluto | absolute | absolutely | absolutamente, completamente |
| en absoluto | not at all | absolutely | totalmente |
| actual | current | actual | verdadero |
| acuartelamiento | billet | ticket | billete |
| advertencia | a warning | advertisement | anuncio |
| agonía | dying moments | agony | dolor fuerte |
| aguacate | avocado | lawyer | abogado |
| alcalde | mayor | bigger | mayor |
| alfombra | carpet | folder | carpeta |
| anunciar | to advertise | to warn | advertir |
| apoyar | to support | to put up with | soportar |
| árbitro | umpire | empire | imperio |
| asistencia | attendance | attention | atención |
| avergonzado | embarrassed | pregnant | embarazada |
| ayudar | to assist | to attend | asistir a un lugar |
| banco | bank | bench | banco de plaza |
| basamento | base of a column | basement | el sótano |
| base militar | camp | field | campo en general |
| biblioteca | library | bookshop | librería |
| bizarro | brave | bizarre | extraño or estrafalario |
| brazo | arm | gun | arma |
| cacerola | pan | bread | pan |
| calumniar | to traduce | to translate | traduce |
| carpeta | file folder | carpet | alfombra |
| ceder | to compromise | commitment | compromiso |
| cena | dinner | money | dinero |
| chocar | to crash | choke | ahogar, sofocar |
| compasión | sympathy | affection | simpatía |
| complexión | physiological build | skin complexion | tez or cutis |
| comprensivo | sympathetic | likeable | simpático |
| común | ordinary | ordinary | vulgar |
| conocido | familiar | relative | pariente |
| concurso | contest | to answer | contestar |
| conferencia | lecture | reading | lectura |
| consejo | council | to reconcile | conciliar |
| consejos | advice | warning, notice | aviso |
| conservante | preservative | condom | preservativo |
| cortés | gracious | funny | gracioso |
| cuerda | rope | clothes | ropa |
| cuerdo | sane | healthy | sano |
| cuerno | horn | oven | horno |
| cuerpo | body | wedding | boda |
| darse cuenta | to realize | to make | realizar |
| decepción | disappointment | to deceive someone | engañar a alguien |
| delito | crime | delight | deleite |
| desconocido | stranger | foreigner | extranjero |
| desesperado | desperate | to wake up | despertar |
| desfile | parade | wall | pared |
| desgracia | mistake | something shameful | una vergüenza |
| desviación | diversion | fun | diversión |
| dibujos animados | cartoon | cardboard | cartón |
| diferenciado | discrete | discreet | discreto |
| discusión | argument | plot | argumento de un libro |
| disgusto | displeasure | disgust | asco or repugnancia |
| ebrio | intoxicated | food poisoning | intoxicado |
| emocionante | thrilling or emotionally moving | emotional | emocional |
| entusiasta | zealous | jealous | celoso |
| éxito | success | event | suceso |
| ensalada | salad | salty | salado |
| economía | economics | cheap | económicos |
| ejército | army | navy | marina |
| engaño | deception | disappointment | decepción |
| estadio | arena | sand | arena |
| evaluación | assessment | consultancy | asesoría |
| eventual | incidental | eventual | definitivo |
| fábrica | factory | cloth | tejido and tela |
| facultad | college | school | colegio |
| fecha | date | data | dato |
| fenomenal, genial | terrific | terrifying | terrorífico |
| final | ultimate | last | último |
| finalmente | eventually | by chance, possibly | eventualmente |
| firma | signature | subject | asignatura |
| formulario | form | shape | forma |
| fútil | trivial or insignificant | futile | ineficaz, vano or inútil |
| ganga | bargain | gang | pandilla |
| globo | balloon | ball | balón |
| grabar | to record | to remember | recordar |
| grande | large | long | largo |
| habitante | inhabitant | uninhabited | inhabitado |
| impuesto | tax | taxi | taxi |
| inconsecuente | contradictory | inconsequential | de poca importancia |
| ingenio | ingenuity | naivety | ingenuidad |
| involucrar | involve | wrap | envolver |
| jabón | soap | soup | sopa |
| ladrar o ladrido | bark | boat, ship | barco |
| lograr | to attain | to tie | atar |
| lugar | place | square | plaza |
| lujo | luxury | lust | lujuria |
| maldición | curse | course | curso |
| maleducado | rude | rough | rudo |
| medios | media | sock | media |
| mil millones | billion | trillion | billón |
| minorista | retailer | minority | una minoría |
| modismo | idiom | language | idioma |
| molestar | to bother or to annoy | to molest | abusar sexualmente |
| objetivo | target | card | tarjeta |
| oficina | office | job | oficio |
| orden | command | commando unit | comando |
| padres | parents | relatives | parientes |
| pala | spade | sword | espada |
| parientes | relatives | relative (adjective) | relativos |
| pecado | sin | without | sin |
| pedir disculpas | to apologize | defence | apología |
| política | policy | police | policía |
| postre | dessert | desert | desierto |
| pretender | to try | to pretend | fingir or simular |
| propenso | apt | qualified, able | apto |
| quedarse | to stay | to be | estar |
| quejarse | to complain | to please | complacer |
| quitar | to remove | to stir | remover |
| rapista | barber | someone who attacks sexually | violador |
| real | actual | current | actual |
| reanudar | to resume | to sum up | resumir |
| recordar | to remember | to record (audio or video) | grabar |
| recuerdo | recollection | harvest | recolección |
| salida | exit | success | éxito |
| sensiblemente | appreciably | sensibly | sesudamente |
| sensitivo | sensible | sensitive | sensible |
| soportar | put up with | support | mantener |
| suceso | event or happening | success | un éxito |
| sufrir de estreñimiento | (to be) constipated | to have a cold/chill | estar constipado |
| de tamaño normal | regular | bad | regular |
| tela | fabric | factory | fábrica |
| traducir | to translate | to move | trasladarse |
| tristeza | misery | poverty | miseria |
| tienda de comestibles | grocery | rudeness | grosería |
| últimamente | lately | ultimately | al final |
| vagabundo | tramp | trap | trampa |
| valiente | brave | fierce | bravo |
| vapor | fume | smoke | fumar |
| vaso | drinking glass | vase | jarrón |
| una vez | once | eleven | once |
| vieira | scallop | scallop(meal) | escalope |
WARNING: Too much time on this website may lead to learning Spanish quickly
Popular Phrase: dar mandato conjugation | Spanish Word for Love | Conjugated Verb: cascabelear - to rattle [ click for full conjugation ]