Tricky Spanish Words for English Speakers
Learning Spanish as an English speaker can feel smooth—until you run into a word that looks familiar but doesn’t mean what you think. This lesson covers the most common words that cause confusion, along with clear explanations, examples, and sample dialogs to help you avoid embarrassing or funny mistakes.
❗ False Friends (Falsos Amigos)
| Spanish Word | What It Means | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|---|
| embarazada | pregnant | embarrassed |
| asistir | to attend | to assist |
| realizar | to carry out, to achieve | to realize |
| sensible | sensitive | sensible |
| actual | current, present | actual (real) |
| eventualmente | possibly, maybe | eventually |
| ropa | clothes | rope |
| éxito | success | exit |
| librería | bookstore | library |
| molestar | to bother | to molest |
Examples:
Marta está embarazada.
Marta is pregnant. ❌ Not “Marta is embarrassed.”
Asistí a la reunión ayer.
I attended the meeting yesterday. ❌ Not “I assisted the meeting.”
💬 Sample Dialog Using False Friends
A: ¿Dónde está la librería? Quiero comprar una novela.
B: Está en la esquina, al lado del banco.
— Where is the bookstore? I want to buy a novel.
— It’s on the corner, next to the bank.
😬 Common Words with Misleading Use
| Spanish Word | Common Misunderstanding | Real Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| constipado | not "constipated" | has a cold |
| suceso | not "success" | event / incident |
| largo | not "large" | long |
| asistir a | not "to assist" | to attend |
| simpático | not "sympathetic" | nice, friendly |
Examples:
Estoy constipado, necesito descansar.
I have a cold, I need to rest.
Es una persona muy simpática.
He/She is a very friendly person.
🧠 Confusing Lookalikes with Similar Sound
| Spanish | Looks Like | Actually Means |
|---|---|---|
| carpeta | carpet | folder |
| firma | firm | signature |
| largo | large | long |
| asistir | assist | attend |
| colegio | college | school (not university) |
Examples:
Guardé el documento en una carpeta.
I saved the document in a folder.
Mi hijo va al colegio cada mañana.
My son goes to school every morning.