Decode Spanish: False Friends Are Conceptually Connected

FALSE FRIENDS

Some Spanish and English words look similar but have different meanings. Even so, they are often conceptually related.

CONDUCIR

  • conducir: to drive

  • Note: To 'conduct' means to lead or handle administratively; 'conducir' means to physically handle, such as to drive a car.

  • Example: Conduce con cuidado.

  • Translation: Drive with care.

  • Example: No me gusta conducir de noche.

  • Translation: I don't like to drive at night.

PREOCUPAR

  • preocupar: to worry

  • Note: 'preocupar' means to worry or to 'preoccupy' in a negative way.

  • Example: No te preocupes.

  • Translation: Don't worry.

LARGO

  • largo: long

  • Note: something 'large' is both long and wide; in Spanish, 'largo' focuses on the long part.

  • Example: Es un camino muy largo.

  • Translation: It is a very long road.

  • Example: Es una larga historia.

  • Translation: It's a long story.

ACTUAL

  • actual: present, current

  • Note: Something 'actual' is real rather than imagined; similarly, Spanish 'actual' refers to what exists in the present.

  • Example: ¿Cuál es tu trabajo actual?

  • Translation: What is your current job?

GRACIOSO

  • gracioso: funny

  • Note: imagine that a 'gracious' person is often funny or 'gracioso' as well.

  • Example: Él cuenta chistes muy graciosos.

  • Translation: He tells very funny jokes.

  • Example: Papi se cayó al agua. No es gracioso.

  • Translation: Papi fell into the water. It's not funny.

ARENA

  • arena: sand

  • Note: the Spanish word 'arena' is related to the English word 'arena'; originally, an 'arena' is a stadium full of sand.

  • Example: La arena de la playa es blanca.

  • Translation: The sand on the beach is white.

ÉXITO

  • éxito: success

  • Note: when a startup business has an 'exit', it has success, or 'éxito'.

  • Example: Tengo éxito en mi negocio.

  • Translation: I have success in my business.

QUITAR

  • quitar: to remove

  • Note: To 'quit' means to be free of a job; 'quitar' means to be free of physical things like clothing.

  • Example: Quítate los zapatos.

  • Translation: Take off your shoes.

VASO

  • vaso: (drinking) glass, vase

  • Note: 'vaso' means a drinking glass, similar to a small 'vase'.

  • Example: Un vaso de agua, por favor.

  • Translation: A glass of water, please.

EMBARAZADA

  • embarazada: pregnant

  • Note: 'embarazada' does not mean "embarrassed"; it means "pregnant." Both words share the idea of being constrained—socially in embarrassment, physically in pregnancy.

  • Example: Estoy embarazada.

  • Translation: I'm pregnant.