False cognates or false friends

Learning English for Spanish speakers can seem quite simple at first because up to 40% of English words have cognates in Spanish.
Cognates are words that sound similar, have similar spelling, and share the same meaning in both languages. Examples of cognates are: teléfono-telephone; persona-person; invitar-invite.
However, there are many words called “false cognates” or “false friends”. In the case of false friends, the English word sounds like a Spanish word, but the two words do not have the same meaning.
Here is a list of false cognates with the Spanish and English translations.
English word | Spanish Translation | Spanish word | English Translation |
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Actually | En realidad | Actualmente | Currently |
to Advertise | Anunciar | Advertir | Warn/Caution |
Advice | Consejo | Aviso | Warning |
Argument | Discusión | Argumento (film) | Plot |
to Assist | Ayudar | Asistir | Go to, Attend |
Billion | Mil millones | Billón | Trillion |
Cap | Gorra | Capa | Layer |
Career | Professional career | Carrera (universitaria) | Degree |
Carpet | Rug | Carpeta | Folder |
Cartoon | Animated drawings | Cartón | Cardboard |
Casualty | Victim or injured | Casualidad | Coincidence |
Collar | Collar (of clothes) | Collar | Necklace |
College | University, faculty | Colegio | School |
Complexion | Skin tone | Complejo | Complex |
Conductor | Orchestra conductor | Conductor | Driver |
to be Constipated | To be constipated | Estar constipado | To have a cold |
Contest | Contest | Contestar | To answer |
Deception | Deceit | Decepción | Disappointment |
Dessert | Dessert | Desierto | Desert |
Embarrassed | Embarrassed | Embarazada | Pregnant |
Exit | Exit | Éxito | Success |
Fabric | Fabric | Fábrica | Factory |
Idiom | Idiom | Idioma | Language |
Intoxicated | Drunk | Intoxicado | Food poisoning |
Jam | Jam | Jamón | Ham |
Large | Large | Largo | Long |
Lentil | Lentil | Lentilla | Contact lens |
Letter | Letter | Letra | Lyrics |
Library | Library | Librería | Bookstore |
Mayor | Mayor | Mayor | Older |
Notice | To notice, announcement | Noticia | News |
Office | Office | Oficio | Job or trade |
Pan | Pan | Pan | Bread |
Pie | Pie (dessert) | Pie | Foot |
Place | Place | Plaza | Square |
Prize | Prize | Precio | Price |
to Quit | To abandon | Quitar | To remove |
Quote | Quote/estimate | Cuota | Fee |
to Realize | To realize | Realizar | To do/make |
to Record | To record | Recordar | To remember |
Relative | Relative | Relativo | Relative |
Remove | To remove | Remover | To stir |
Rope | Rope | Ropa | Clothes |
Sane | Sane | Sano | Healthy |
Sensible | Sensible | Sensible | Sensitive |
Soap | Soap | Sopa | Soup |
Spade | Spade | Espada | Sword |
Stranger | Stranger | Extranjero | Foreigner |
to Stretch | To stretch | Estrechar | To become narrow |
Suburb | Affluent city district | Suburbio | Poor district (slum) |
to Support | To support | Soportar | To endure |
Sympathetic | Sympathetic | Simpático | Nice |
Target | Target | Tarjeta | Card |
Terrific | Terrific | Terrorífico | Terrifying |
to Translate | To translate | Trasladarse | To move (house) |
Vacuum | Vacuum | Vacuna | Vaccine |
Falsos cognados o falsos amigos

Aprender inglés para hispanohablantes puede parecer bastante simple al principio porque hasta el 40% de las palabras en inglés tienen cognados en español.
Los cognados son palabras que suenan similares, tienen una ortografía similar y tienen el mismo significado en los dos idiomas. Ejemplos de cognados son: teléfono-telephone; persona-person; invitar-invite.
Sin embargo, existen muchas palabras llamadas “falsos cognados” o “falsos amigos”. En el caso de los falsos amigos, la palabra en inglés suena como una palabra en español pero las dos palabras no tienen el mismo significado.
Aquí tienes una lista de falsos cognados con las traducciones de las palabras en español e inglés.
English word | Spanish Translation | Spanish word | English Translation |
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Actually | En realidad | Actualmente | Currently |
to Advertise | Anunciar | Advertir | Warn/Caution |
Advice | Consejo | Aviso | Warning |
Argument | Discusión | Argumento (film) | Plot |
to Assist | Ayudar | Asistir | Go to, Attend |
Billion | Mil millones | Billón | Trillion |
Cap | Gorra | Capa | Layer |
Career | Carrera profesional | Carrera (universitaria) | Degree |
Carpet | Alfombra | Carpeta | Folder |
Cartoon | Dibujos animados | Cartón | Cardboard |
Casualty | Víctima o herido | Casualidad | Coincidence |
Collar | Cuello (prendas de vestir) | Collar | Necklace |
College | Universidad, facultad | Colegio | School |
Complexion | Tono de piel | Complejo | Complex |
Conductor | Director de orquesta | Conductor | Driver |
to be Constipated | Estar estreñido | Estar constipado | To have a cold |
Contest | Concurso | Contestar | Answer |
Deception | Engaño | Decepción | Disappointment |
Dessert | Postre | Desierto | Desert |
Embarrassed | Avergonzado | Embarazada | Pregnant |
Exit | Salida | Éxito | Success |
Fabric | Tela | Fábrica | Factory |
Idiom | Modismo | Idioma | Language |
Intoxicated | Ebrio | Intoxicado | Food poisoning |
Jam | Mermelada | Jamón | Ham |
Large | Grande | Largo | Long |
Lentil | Lenteja | Lentilla | Contact lens |
Letter | Carta, letra de abecedario | Letra | Lyrics |
Library | Biblioteca | Librería | Book shop |
Mayor | Alcalde | Mayor | Older |
Notice | Notar, anuncio | Noticia | Piece of news |
Office | Oficina | Oficio | Job or trade |
Pan | Cazuela | Pan | Bread |
Pie | Tarta | Pie | Foot |
Place | Lugar | Plaza | Square |
Prize | Premio | Precio | Price |
to Quit | Abandonar | Quitar | Remove, take away |
Quote | Cita/presupuesto | Cuota | Fee |
to Realize | Darse cuenta | Realizar | To do/make |
to Record | Grabar | Recordar | Remember |
Relative | Pariente | Relativo (adj) | Relative |
Remove | Quitar | Remover | Stir |
Rope | Cuerda | Ropa | Clothes |
Sane | Cuerdo | Sano | Healthy |
Sensible | Sensato | Sensible | Sensitive |
Soap | Jabón | Sopa | Soup |
Spade | Pala | Espada | Sword |
Stranger | Desconocido | Extranjero | Foreigner |
to Stretch | Estirar | Estrechar | To become narrow |
Suburb | Barrio rico periférico de ciudad | Suburbio de casas pobres | Slum |
to Support | Apoyar | Soportar | To handle/put up with |
Sympathetic | Comprensivo | Simpático | Nice |
Target | Objetivo | Tarjeta | Card |
Terrific | Fenomenal | Terrorífico | Terrifying |
to Translate | Traducir | Trasladarse | To move (house) |
Vacuum | Vacío | Vacuna | Vaccine |