In part 1 of this series, we looked at common (and funny) mistakes people make when learning Spanish due to two Spanish words sounding similar. For example, people might mix-up dolor and dolar (pain and dollar) or pesado and pedoso (heavy and farty)!

In part 2 of this series on common Spanish language errors we will look at ‘false friends’. This is when you think a word will mean something due to it sounding very similar to a word in your language, in the cases we are going to look at: English. Actually, these two words are ‘false friends’ and mean completely different, sometimes opposite things. Here are some of the more common mistakes that people make and an example of how making an error could lead to a lot of laughs…

Embarazado/a  (To be pregnant NOT to be embarrassed)

This is one of the most used examples of false friends! It’s funny when a woman makes this mistakes but it’s even funnier when a man makes it.

Example of mistake:

¡No, no puedo cantar Karaoke, estoy embarazado!

What you’re actually saying is: No I can’t do karaoke, I’m too pregnant!

Constipado/a  (To catch a cold NOT to be constipated)

This is more likely to be something that a Spaniard may say that you will misunderstand. You may find it difficult not to laugh when someone tells you they are “constipado”. It can also lead to some rather funny sounding sentences.

Example of a correct sentence:

¡Estoy tan constipado que apenas puedo respirar!

I’ve caught such a cold, I can’t even breath!

        This does NOT mean: I’m so constipated, I can’t breathe!

Pretender (To try/seek NOT to pretend)

This is an example of when the false friend almost means the exact opposite of what you think it’s going to mean!

Example:

If you see a government official on the TV say “El gobierno pretende proteger los derechos de los trabajadores”. He is definitely not saying that the government pretends to protect the rights of the people!

Molestar (To annoy NOT to molest!)

In English, the word molest is not a word with nice connotations at all. You can imagine the look on my wife’s face when her first day as a teacher at a British school in Spain, a native Spanish boy ran up to her saying, “Miss, the other boys are molesting me!” It’s very important that you learn the difference between these two words.

Example of how to use the word correctly!

Siempre me molesta cuando hago cola en el banco

         I’m always annoyed when queuing at the bank

Éxito  (Success NOT exit)

This is more than a little confusing. Salida is the word for exit,  éxito means success, and suceso is an event! So… if you’ve not had éxito at a suceso you may look for the salida. Aaaaah!?!

Example:

Do you know where the exit is? ¿Sabes  dónde está la salida?

¿Sabes dónde está el éxito? Do you know where the success is?

Enjoy reading these examples? Did you miss ‘Part 1’ of this series of common Spanish language mistakes? Read it here

Blogger: Nellie