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, espectacular
economics: 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)