Notorio

[poli]

As an English speaker notorious means infamous, ignominious, well-known bad reputation.
I found out today that notorio can mean that, but it may also just mean
well known. Is my new-found knowledge correct. Can you use notorio
to mean famous with no negative implication in everyday Spanish?

Thanks for all your help. I love the forum.

[Rusty]

Poli,

The word notorio in Spanish only means a positive thing. It means well-known, evident, obvious, noticeable or marked.

From the DRAE:
notorio, ria.
(Del b. lat. notorĭus).

1. adj. Público y sabido por todos.
2. adj. Claro, evidente.
3. adj. Importante, relevante o famoso.
□

Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados

[Tomisimo]

Yes, notorio and notorious are really false cognates. notorio means noteworthy, notable. (In addition to what Rusty said)

[Rusty]

True.

In English, notorious means infamous, but it also means famous. We actually have a word with two meanings that are exact opposites. :eek:

[poli]

True.

In English, notorious means infamous, but it also means famous. We actually have a word with two meanings that are exact opposites. :eek:
Spanish speakers learning English shouldn't be mislead though. Notorious
in contemporary English refers to negative fame... the notorious Al Capone
(famous--but infamous = notorious in American English). The notorious Mahatma Gandhi doesn't make sense, because he wasn't notorious.
Instead of notorius, it's better to use well known as a synonymn for famous-- or even of note.

[Rusty]

I don't feel I was misleading anyone. All the dictionaries I consulted list well-known, or widely known, and famous as the first meaning of the term. Most were quick to add especially unfavorably, or similar wording. :)

All gave both infamous and famous as synonyms, so this means to me that the word has a dual meaning.

Infamous notoriety is what we usually associate with the term, but not always.

[Tomisimo]

In my opinion, notorious for me usually means a famous criminal. So fame + a bad reputation = notorious. That being said, a secondary meaning for notorious is simply famous, and in that sense, it does have a lot in common with notorio. I think it depends on the connotation we give the word. The term notoriety is a lot more neutral, simply meaning "to be noted".

[Jessica]

false cognates wow that's so strange are there any more?

[Rusty]

There are several more. Do a search in the forums for 'falsos amigos'.

[Planet hopper]

Sensible=sensat@
sensitive=sensible

[Jessica]

ya I know that go to my profile I have a whole list of them in my comments - it's on page 2 right now but if you want to see it here, here it is.
groceria: grocery
casual: casual
mundana: mundane
asistir: assist
pena: pain
embaraso: embarrassment
seguramente: surely
constipado: constipated
gracious: gracioso

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)
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)