Lost in Translation? 20 Funny False Friends Between English and Spanish

Languages are full of surprises. For Spanish and English learners, one of the biggest traps are the so-called false friends: words that look or sound similar in both languages, but actually mean something completely different. They can lead to amusing, sometimes awkward misunderstandings—like telling someone you’re “constipated” when you only have a cold, or a student of Spanish saying “estoy embarazada” when they really meant “I’m embarrassed”, accidentally announcing a pregnancy instead of admitting they feel shy.

These linguistic pitfalls are not just curiosities; they are windows into the fascinating history of how languages evolve, borrow, and diverge. Spanish and English share many Latin roots, but the meanings of certain words have shifted over centuries, creating “false friends” that can fool even advanced speakers.

Let’s take a tour through 20 of the most common and confusing false friends between English and Spanish.

20 Common False Friends

1. Actually ≠ Actualmente

   • Actually = in fact, really

   • Actualmente = currently

2. Embarrassed ≠ Embarazada

   • Embarrassed = ashamed

   • Embarazada = pregnant

3. Constipated ≠ Constipado

   • Constipated = unable to go to the bathroom

   • Constipado = having a cold

4. Billion ≠ Billón

   • Billion = one thousand million (1,000,000,000)

   • Billón = one million million (1,000,000,000,000)

5. Exit ≠ Éxito

   • Exit = way out

   • Éxito = success

6. Library ≠ Librería

   • Library = place to borrow books

   • Librería = bookstore

7. Carpet ≠ Carpeta

   • Carpet = rug, floor covering

   • Carpeta = folder

8. Sane ≠ Sano

   • Sane = mentally healthy, rational

   • Sano = physically healthy

9. Deception ≠ Decepción

   • Deception = trick, fraud

   • Decepción = disappointment

10. Fabric ≠ Fábrica

• Fabric = material, cloth

• Fábrica = factory

11. Casualty ≠ Casualidad

• Casualty = victim

• Casualidad = coincidence

12. Contest ≠ Contestar

• Contest = competition

• Contestar = to answer

13. Introduce ≠ Introducir

• Introduce = to present someone

• Introducir = to insert, to put inside

14. Rope ≠ Ropa

• Rope = cord, thick string

• Ropa = clothes

15. Groceries ≠ Groserías

• Groceries = food, provisions

• Groserías = rude words

16. Lecture ≠ Lectura

• Lecture = talk, conference

• Lectura = reading

17. Pretend ≠ Pretender

• Pretend = to fake, to act as if

• Pretender = to intend

18. Remove ≠ Remover

• Remove = to take away

• Remover = to stir

19. Sensible ≠ Sensible

• Sensible (English) = reasonable

• Sensible (Spanish) = sensitive

20. Arena ≠ Arena

• Arena (English) = stadium, event space

• Arena (Spanish) = sand

When Words Play Tricks on Us

False friends are more than traps for language learners—they remind us that words carry histories, migrations, and cultural shifts. A single syllable can hide centuries of change. And while these “false friends” can sometimes be frustrating, they also add humor and richness to the process of learning.

In fact, making mistakes with false friends can be one of the most effective ways to learn. A moment of confusion or laughter—like accidentally announcing you’re pregnant instead of embarrassed, or mixing up a cold with constipation—is a perfect example of meaningful learning. These funny slip-ups stick in our memory far better than a dry grammar rule ever could.

So, the next time you stumble on a false friend, don’t worry. Embrace the mistake, laugh about it, and remember that every misunderstanding is just another step forward in mastering a language. After all, mistakes are not failures—they’re the most human (and memorable) part of learning.