FALSE FRIENDS OR COGNATES

Se denominan false friends (falsos amigos) o cognates (cognados) a las palabras que por escribirse de la misma forma (o parecida) en español son confundidas, pero que en realidad en inglés significan otra cosa.

Por ejemplo, "conductor " en inglés no significa conductor, sino que se refiere al director de la orquesta o al cobrador que se encuentra en los autobuses. Aquí se encuentra una lista de los false friends o cognados más conocidos.

 

an abstract: resumen (y no abstracto)actual: real, efectivo (y no actual, que se dice current)actually: en realidad (y no actualmente, que se dice nowadays, at present)to advertise: anunciar (y no advertir, que se dice to warn)advice: consejos (y no aviso, que se dice warning, notice)to apologise: pedir disculpas (y no apología, que se dice defence)apt: propenso (y no apto, que se dice qualified, able)argument: discusión, pelea (y no argumento de un libro/una película, que se dice plot)arm: brazo (y no arma, que se dice gun)to assist: ayudar (y no asistir a un lugar, que se dice to attend)balloon: globo (y no balón, que se dice ball)bank: banco - la institución (y no banco de plaza, que se dice bench)billet: acuartelamiento, alojamiento militar (y no billete, que se dice ticket o note)billion: mil millones (y no billón, que se dice trillion)brave: valiente (y no bravo, que se dice fierce)camp: base militar o campamento (y no campo en general, que se dice field)carpet: alfombra (y no carpeta, que se dice folder)cartoon: dibujos animados, tira cómica (y no cartón, que se dice cardboard)casualty: víctima o herido (y no casualidad, que se dice coincidence)cellular: celular, relativo a la célula (y no teléfono celular, que se dice mobile telephone)collar: cuello de las prendas de vestir (y no collar, que se dice necklace)college: facultad, colegio universitario (y no colegio, que se dice school)command: orden, mandato (y no comando, que se dice commando unit)commodity: mercancía o materia prima (y no comodidad, que se dice comfort)complexion: tez, tono de la piel (y no complexión, que se dice body type)conductor: director de orquesta o cobrador (y no conductor, que se dice driver)confident: seguro de sí mismo (y no confidente, que se dice confidant)(to be) constipated: sufrir de estreñimiento (y no estar constipado, que se dice to have a cold/chill)council: consejo (y no conciliar, que se dice to reconcile)deception: engaño (y no decepción, que se dice disappointment)dessert: postre (y no desierto, que se dice desert)dinner: cena (y no dinero, que se dice money)diversion: desviación (y no diversión, alegría, que se dice fun)dramatic: drástico, espectaculareconomics: economía (y no económicos, que se dice cheap)embarrassed: avergonzado/a (y no embarazada, que se dice pregnant)eventual: definitivo o posible (y no eventual, que se dice casual, incidental)eventually: finalmente, tarde o temprano (y no eventualmente que se dice by chance, possibly)exit: salida (y no éxito, que se dice success)fabric: tela (y no fábrica, que se dice factory)form: formulario (y no forma, que se dice shape)fume: vapor o gas (y no fumar, que se dice smoke)gracious: cortés (y no gracioso, que se dice funny)grocery: tienda de comestibles (y no grosería, que se dice rudeness o rude word/expression)horn: cuerno (y no horno, que se dice oven)idiom: modismo, locución (y no idioma, que se dice language)inhabitant: habitante (y no inhabitado, que se dice uninhabited)

involve: involucrar (y no envolver, que se dice wrap)large: grande (y no largo, que se dice long)lecture: conferencia (y no lectura, que se dice reading)lentil: lenteja (y no lentilla, que se dice contact lens)library: biblioteca (y no librería, que se dice bookshop)mayor: alcalde (y no mayor, que se dice bigger)media: medios (y no media, que se dice sock)misery: tristeza (y no miseria, que se dice poverty)to molest: abusar sexualmente (y no molestar, que se dice to bother o to annoy)notice: nota, anuncio (y no noticia, que se dice a piece of news)occurrence: aparición (y no ocurrencia, que se dice absurd idea)ordinary: común (y no vulgar, que se dice vulgar)pan: cacerola, cazuela (y no pan, que se dice bread)parents: padres (y no parientes, que se dice relatives)policy: política (y no policía, que se dice police)preservative: conservante (y no preservativo, que se dice condom)to quit: abandonar, dejar (y no quitar, que se dice to remove o to put away)regular: de tamaño normal (y no regular, que se dice bad, not so good)rude: maleducado, descortés (y no rudo, que se dice rough)to realize: darse cuenta (y no realizar, que se dice to make)to record: grabar (y no recordar, que se dice to remember)to remove: quitar, eliminar (y no remover, que se dice to stir)to resume: reanudar, continuar o reasumir (y no resumir, que se dice to summarize o to sum up)salad: ensalada (y no salado, que se dice salty)sane: cuerdo (y no sano, que se dice healthy)sensible: sensitivo (y no sensible, que se dice sensitive)sensitive: sensible (y no sensitivo, que se dice sensible)signature: firma (y no asignatura, que se dice subject)sin: pecado (y no sin, que se dice without)spade: pala (y no espada, que se dice sword)success: éxito (y no suceso, que se dice event)to support: apoyar (y no soportar, que se dice to put up with)sympathy: compasión, comprensión, pésame (y no simpatía, que se dice friendliness, affection)target: objetivo (y no tarjeta, que se dice card)terrific: fenomenal, genial (y no terrorífico, que se dice terrifying)to traduce: calumniar (y no traducir, que se dice to translate)to translate: traducir (y no trasladarse, que se dice to move)tramp: vagabundo (y no trampa, que se dice trap)zealous: entusiasta (y no celoso, que se dice jealous)

English Term Spanish Translation

Actual Real (The English equivalent for the Spanish actual is: present, current)

Actually Ciertamente, verdaderamente, en realidad, en efecto. (The English equivalent for the Spanish actualmente is currently, nowadays, at present)

Advertise Anunciar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish Advertir is: Warn).

Advise Aconsejar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish Avisar is: Warn).

Agenda Actividades, programa del dÃa. (The English equivalent for the Spanish Agenda is: Diary).

Anxious Inquieto, nervioso. (The English equivalent for the Spanish Ansioso (deseoso) is: Eager, greedy).

Arena Estadio. (The English equivalent for the Spanish arena is: sand)

Argument Discusión debate. (The English equivalent for the Spanish argumento is: plot, topic, issue)

Assist Ayudar, auxiliar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish asistir is: attend)

Attempt Intento. (The English equivalent for the Spanish atentado is:terrorist attack)

Attend Asistir a, ir a (The English equivalent for the Spanish atender is: pay attention, take care of)

Avocado Aguacate. (The English equivalent for the Spanish abogado is: lawyer)

Card Tarjeta. (The English equivalent for the Spanish carta is: letter)

Career Años de trabajo, promoción laboral. (The English equivalent for the Spanish carrera is: studies)

Carpet Alfombra. (The English equivalent for the Spanish carpeta is: folder, file)

Casual Informal, desenfadado. (The English equivalent for the Spanish casual is: accidental)

Cigar Puro. (The English equivalent for the Spanish cigarro is: cigarette)

Collar Cuello (de camisa). (The English equivalent for the Spanish collar is: necklace)

College Facultad (Universidad). (The English equivalent for the Spanish colegio is: primary school)

Compass Brújula. (The English equivalent for the Spanish compás is: A pair of compasses)

Conductor Cobrador de autobús, director de orquesta. (The English equivalent for the Spanish conductor is: driver)

Conference Congreso. (The English equivalent for the Spanish conferencia is: lecture)

Conform Seguir, aceptar las normas o reglas. (The English equivalent for the Spanish "conformarse" is: To be happy with).

   

Conservatory Invernadero. (The English equivalent for the Spanish conservatorio is: music academy)

Constipated Estreñido. (The English equivalent for the Spanish costipado is: a cold)

Content Satisfecho. (The English equivalent for the Spanish contento is: happy)

Crime Acto delictivo. (The English equivalent for the Spanish crimen is: murder, serious crime)

Curse Maldición. (The English equivalent for the Spanish 'curso' is: Course)

Discussion Conversacion. (The English equivalent for the Spanish discusión is: argument)

Disgust Repugnancia. (The English equivalent for the Spanish disgusto is: annoyance)

Divert Desviar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish divertir is: enjoy, have a good time)

Educated Con una buena educación. (The English equivalent for the Spanish educado is: polite)

Embarrassed Avergonzado. (The English equivalent for the Spanish embarazada is: pregnant)

Eventually Finalmente. (The English equivalent for the Spanish eventualmente is: temporarily, by chance)

Exit Salida. (The English equivalent for the Spanish éxito is: success)

Fabrics Tela, textil. (The English equivalent for the Spanish fábrica is: factory)

Faculty Profesorado. (The English equivalent to the Spanish "facultad" would be College).    

Figure Cifra, número, cantidad (The English equivalent for the Spanish 'figura' is: appearance, although figure can also be used.)

Grape Uva. (The English equivalent for the Spanish "Grapa" is Staple).

Idiom Expresión idiomática, frase hecha. (The English equivalent for the Spanish idioma is: language)

Informal Desenfadado. (The English equivalent for the Spanish informal is: irresponsible)

Large Grande. (The English equivalent for the Spanish largo is: long)

Lecture Conferencia. (The English equivalent for the Spanish lectura is: reading)

Library Biblioteca. (The English equivalent for the Spanish librería is: bookshop

Mayor Alcalde. (The English equivalent for the Spanish mayor is: main, bigger, older)

Note Nota. But if you talk about "qualifications" the word is Marks or Grades instead of "notes".    

Notice Aviso. (The English equivalent for the Spanish noticia is: news)

Parcel Paquete. (The English equivalent for the Spanish parcela is: plot of land)

Parent Madre o Padre. (The English equivalent for the Spanish pariente is: relative)

Particular Especial. (The English equivalent for the Spanish particular is: private)

Preservative Conservante. (The English equivalent for the Spanish preservativo is: condom)

Presume Asumir, pretender. (The English equivalent for the Spanish presumir is: show off)

Pretend Fingir. (The English equivalent for the Spanish pretender is: intend, try, seek)

Prove Demostrar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish probar is: try, try on)

Quiet Callado. (The English equivalent for the Spanish quieto is: still, motionless)

Realize Darse cuenta. (The English equivalent for the Spanish realizar is: carry out, implement)

Remove Quitar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish remover is: stir)

Resume Continuar, reanudar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish resumir is: summarize)

Rope Cuerda, soga. (The English equivalent for the Spanish ropa is: Clothes, garnment)

Sensible Sensato. (The English equivalent for the Spanish sensible is: sensitive)

Signature Firma. (The English equivalent for the Spanish asignatura is: subject)

Spade Pala (para cavar). (The English equivalent for the Spanish espada is: sword)

Spectacles Gafas. (The English equivalent for the Spanish espectáculos is: shows)

Suburb Barrio residencial. (The English equivalent for the Spanish suburbio is: slum)

Success Éxito. (The English equivalent for the Spanish suceso is: event)

Sympathetic Comprensivo. (The English equivalent for the Spanish simpático is: nice, friendly)

Sympathy Compasión, pésame. (The English equivalent for the Spanish simpatía is: affection, kindness)

Taller Más alto (forma comparativa de superioridad del adjetivo tall:alto). (The English equivalent for the Spanish "Taller" is Workshop.)

Topic Tema. (The English equivalent for the Spanish tópico is: Cliché)

Translate Traducir. The English equivalent for the Spanish trasladar is: Move

Vicious Malvado, saludable. (The English equivalent for the Spanish vicioso is: addict, depraved)