Words in Spanish that look very similar to English words but have different meanings! (:
colegio ≠ college → colegio = school - Voy al colegio todos los días. = I go to school every day. - ¿Cómo te fue hoy en el colegio? = How was schooltoday? college = universidad; facultad - Estudié derecho en la universidad. = I studied law at college. -Estudio en la facultad de arte. = I study at Art College.
embarazada ≠ embarrassed → embarazada = pregnant - Mi hermana está embarazada. = My sister is pregnant. embarrassed = avergonzado/a(s) - No tienes que sentirte avergonzado. = You don’t have to feel embarrassed. -Lo siento, estoy muy avergonzada. = I’m sorry, I’m so embarrassed.
éxito ≠ exit → éxito = success - El proyecto fue todo un éxito. = The project was such a success. -The deseo mucho éxito. = I wish you a lot of success. exit = salida - La salida es por allá. = Theexit is over there. -Disculpe, ¿dónde está la salida? = Excuse me, where is the exit?
fábrica ≠ fabric → fábrica = factory - Charlie y la fábrica de chocolate. = Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. - Mi padre trabaja en una fábrica. = My father works in a factory. fabric = tela - Es sólo un pedazo de tela. = It’s just a piece of fabric. -No me gusta la tela de este vestido. = I don’t like this dress fabric.
grabar ≠ to grab → grabar = to record -Esta llamada será grabada. = This call will be recorded. - Voy a grabar un video con mis amigos. = I’llrecord a video with my friends. to grab = agarrar, coger (España) -Agarra todas las frutas que quieras. = Grab all the fruits you want. -Meagarró de la mano. = She/Hegrabbed my hand.
grosería ≠ grocery → grosería = rudeness, swear word - No voy a tolerar tus groserías. = I won’t tolerate your rudeness(coarseness) - No digas groserías. = Don’tswear (Don’t say bad words) grocery = abarrotes, despensa -Voy a la tienda de abarrotes / la tiendita. = I’m going to the grocery store. -Tengo que comprar la despensa. = I’ve to buy groceries.
introducir ≠ introduce → introducir = to insert, to put into, to introduce (sth) -Introduce la llave en la cerradura. = Insert the key into the lock. -La empresa introdujo dos nuevos productos. = The company introduced two new products. introduce (someone) = presentar(se) -Madre,tepresento a mi novia Laura. = Mother, here’s my girlfriend Laura (I introduceyou to my girlfriend Laura.) -¿Puedespresentarte a la clase? = Can you introduceyourself to the class?
letra ≠ letter (send a letter) → letra = letter (writing, alphabet) - ¿Cuántas letras tiene la palabra “casa”? = How many letters does the word “casa” have? -¿Quéletra es ésta? = What’s this letter? letter (send) = carta -Te escribí una carta con mucho cariño. = I wrote you a letter with a lot of love(affection). - Quiero enviar una carta a mi padre. = I want to send a letter to my father.
librería ≠ library → librería = book store -Voy a comprar libros a la librería. = I’m going to buy books at the book store. - ¿Dónde hay una librería por aquí? = Where’s a book store around here? library = biblioteca -Renté este libro de la biblioteca. = I rented this book from the library. -Ella pasa horas leyendo en la biblioteca. = She spends hours reading at the library.
molestar ≠ to molest → molestar = to bother, disturb, annoy - Deja de molestarme. = Stopbotheringme. -Cuando estoy estudiando cualquier ruido me molesta. = When I’m studying every noise annoysme. to molest = abusar/acosar sexualmente - Ese hombre trató de abusar sexualmente de esa chica. = That man tried to molest that girl.
realizar ≠ to realize → realizar = to perform, to achieve -El científico realizó un experimento en su laboratorio. = The scientist performed an experiment in his laboratory. - Él realizó su sueño de ser actor. = Heachieved his dream of becoming an actor. to realize = darse cuenta -Por fin te distecuenta. = You finally realized (found out). -Me di cuenta de que me estaba mintiendo. = Ifound out he was lying to me.
soportar ≠ to support → soportar = to bear, to tolerate, to put up with -Ya no lo soporto. = I can’t stand it (bear it) any more. -Esta silla puede soportar mucho peso. = This chair can bear a lot of weight. to support = apoyar - Las empresas debería apoyar este proyecto. = Companies should support this project. -Yo apoyo económicamente a mi familia. = I economically support my family.
