Spanish false friends
Spanish is full of cognates that share Latin roots with English — but many have drifted in meaning. These are the false friends that trip up learners most often.
Quick quiz
6 questions — pick the meaning that’s actually correct.
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- embarazadaAdjective/em.ba.ɾaˈθa.ða/
Looks like: embarrassed
Means: pregnant - actualmenteAdverb/ak.twalˈmen.te/
Looks like: actually
Means: currently, nowadays - ropaNoun/ˈro.pa/
Looks like: rope
Means: clothes, clothing - éxitoNoun/ˈek.si.to/
Looks like: exit
Means: success - carpetaNoun/kaɾˈpe.ta/
Looks like: carpet
Means: folder - constipadoAdjective/kons.tiˈpa.ðo/
Looks like: constipated
Means: having a cold
4 more advanced false friends
Unlock the trickier Spanish false friends, audio drills and the full quiz pool with SPEAKZY Pro.
- sopa
- molestar
- asistir
- librería
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Frequently asked questions
What are false friends in Spanish?+
False friends are Spanish words that look or sound like English words but mean something completely different — a major source of beginner mistakes.
What's the most common Spanish false friend?+
The list above shows the false friends learners trip on most often, with the real meaning, an explanation of the mistake, and example sentences.
How do I avoid false friend mistakes in Spanish?+
Learn the real meaning alongside the trap meaning, see the word in context, and practise it out loud. SPEAKZY drills tricky vocabulary with spaced repetition.
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Bite-sized lessons, real conversations and spaced repetition — built so false friends never trip you up again.
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