What are some false cognates in Spanish?

A cognate is a word that sounds very similar in two different languages. Often times, a person unfamiliar with one of the languages could easily guess the meaning of the word just by hearing or reading it. Sometimes, a word is a cognate because it’s origin is the other language. Sometimes, both languages have roots in the same, third language. Rarely, it’s just a weird coincidence that the two different languages share such a similar word! Either way, it’s a welcome occurrence for someone trying to learn a new language to hear something familiar.

Sometimes, however, that seemingly familiar word is a trap! A false cognate is a word that sounds like it should be the same, but actually means something different entirely. These false cognates can often get new Spanish learners into trouble. One of the most famous (or perhaps infamous) examples of a false cognate in Spanish is embarasada. Many novice Spanish speakers misuse this word, thinking that it means embarrassed. They will be embarrassed when they learn what it really means, though: pregnant!

Estoy embarasada: careful, it’s not what you think it means!

Spanish false cognates

100 False Spanish cognates

This sort of confusing false cognate can easily trip up a novice or intermediate language learner. If you’re trying to learn Spanish, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the most commonly used words that are actually false cognates. That way, you can avoid potentially embarrassing miscommunications. Plus, you’ll be sure to impress by using these confusing words correctly.

There’s no need to spend a lot of time to memorize every false cognate at once. You’re sure to pick them up naturally as you learn more and more Spanish. Regardless, it’s worth breezing through this list to at least give yourself a passing familiarity with some words that could trip you up. You may save yourself a lot of trouble in the future!

Did you know? False cognates are sometimes called “falsos amigos” in Spanish (“false friends”). To a new Spanish learner, they can seem like your friend. But they’re not!

Frequently asked questions about false cognates in Spanish

What are the 3 types of cognates?

There are three main types of cognates:

• Two words that are spelled exactly identically.
• Words that are spelled only slightly differently (for example, “restaurante/restaurant”). It is easy to identify this type of cognate whether you are reading or speaking aloud.
• Words that are spelled very differently, yet sound similar (for example, “igual/equal”). These can sometimes be trickier to spot unless you actually pronounce them aloud.

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