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false friendsTalk about anything here, just keep it clean. |
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false friends
Todos que hablan español y inglés saben que hay tantas palabras que traducen facilmente, pero existen palabras que traicionan. Aprendí unos aqui en los foros y conozco muchos. Aquí en este hilo dejaré algunos y me gustaría que vds. añadan amigos falsos a la lista.
groceria grocery casual casual mundana mundane asistir assist pena pain embaraso embarrassment seguramente surely constipado constipated gracious gracioso Think twice about using these words. They're worth using, but they can cause confusion and be insulting if you are not careful. Last edited by poli; May 07, 2008 at 06:43 AM. |
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#2
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Quote:
Todos que hablamos español e inglés sabemos que hay muchos cognados, pero existen palabras que nos traicionan. Aprendí algunos de estos amigos falsos aquí en los foros y conozco muchos más. Aquí en este hilo dejaré algunos y me gustaría que vds. añadieran amigos falsos a la lista. ---- I think this is a great idea. Spanish and English do share many cognates, but the examples above demonstrate that false friends can 'bite us.' Below I have added possible definitions to the words Poli provided and would appreciate it if other contributors would do the same. (Note that some meanings of the words below could be shared between the languages in different parts of the world, making them cognates instead of false friends.) I switched one word Poli provided for a far more common mistake and left out another, thinking it was not a false friend.) groserías (rude, or bad words) <> groceries (comestibles, provisiones) casual (accidental, chance) <> casual (informal, ocasional) asistir (to attend) <> to assist (ayudar) pena (penalty, sorrow) <> pain (dolor, sufrimiento) embarazada (pregnant) <> embarrassed (avergonzada) seguramente (probably) <> surely (sin duda) constipado (cold, chill) <> constipated (estreñido) gracioso (funny) <> gracious (lujoso, cortés) Here are some more: actual (current, at the present time) <> actual (real, verdadero) atender (to serve, take care of, attend to) <> to attend (asistir) carpeta (file folder) <> carpet (alfombra) complexión (physiological build) <> complexion (tez, cutis) contestar (to answer) <> to contest (contender) compromiso (promise, commitment) <> compromise (el acto de conceder) descepción (disappointment) <> deception (engaño) desgracia (mistake, misfortune) <> disgrace (vergüenza) destituido (removed from office) <> destitute (desamparado, indigente) disgusto (displeasure, misfortune) <> disgust (asco, repugnancia) en absoluto (not at all, absolutely not) <> absolutely (totalmente) éxito (success) <> exit (salida) fábrica (factory) <> fabric (tejido, tela) fútbol (soccer) <> football (fútbol americano) ganga (bargain) <> gang (pandilla) grabar (to record) <> to grab (agarrar) inconsecuente (contradictory) <> inconsequential (de poca importancia) largo (long) <> large (grande) molestar (to bother, annoy) <> to molest (abusar sexualmente) provisiones (supplies, groceries) <> provisions (disposiciones) realizar (to become a reality) <> to realize (darse cuenta, comprender) recordar (to remember, remind) <> to record (anotar, grabar) ropa (clothing) <> rope (cuerda) sano (healthy) <> sane (sensato) sensible (sensitive, capable of feeling) <> sensible (razonable, sensato) sopa (soup) <> soap (jabón) Last edited by Rusty; May 07, 2008 at 09:20 AM. |
#3
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What's grocería, Poli?
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Take care, María José |
#4
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Do you mean grosería?
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Take care, María José |
#5
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Thanks, Iris. El seseo ...
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#6
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pretender to court /Pretend fingir
ordinario rough crude / ordinary como cualquier This last example is one I question. Does ordinario mean rough and crude throughout the Spanish speaking world? Constipación significa nasal congestion en español Constipation significa estrinimiento en español gracioso also means cute Last edited by poli; May 07, 2008 at 10:52 AM. |
#7
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Another one is regular. While this word has many meanings in both languages, it often means average, ordinary, middling, fair, not-so-bad, medium in Spanish, and in English it often means normal, habitual, uniform, systematic, constant etc. While some of the meanings overlap, you need to be careful.
-- ¿Cómo etuvo la comida? -- Regular. -- How was the meal? -- Incredibly average. (Not very good) We have regular meetings to discuss what to do with x. Tenemos reuniones sistemáticas/a cada rato/constantes para hablar de qué hacer con x.
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If you find something wrong with my Spanish, please correct it! |
#8
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Quote:
Ordinario significa tanto vulgar como normal, es decir, lo contrario a extraordinario, aunque éste último uso es más formal:
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I welcome all corrections to my English. Salu2 desde Madrid, Alfonso |
#9
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Quote:
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I welcome all corrections to my English. Salu2 desde Madrid, Alfonso |
#10
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you are right about constipación. It is not a word. Constipado is the word.
The dictionary stated that it is a cold, but I always thought that it was specific to nasal congestion which is only one symptom of a cold. Talking about constipation: In English, one of the meanings of regular is not constipated or normal bowel function. |
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cognado, cognate, false friends |
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