Words That Don’t Mean What You Think in Spanish—False friends😳

Speaking Spanish without falling into the false friends trap is like eating a big plate of paella without dropping a single grain of rice—difficult, but not impossible. You’ve probably used a word that seemed totally fine, and suddenly, Spaniards around you are giving you that look… Something’s off. Yep, amigo, you just walked straight into a false friend. And no, I don’t mean that buddy who ghosts you on WhatsApp—I’m talking about words that sound like their English equivalents but don't mean what you think in Spanish. So, brace yourself, because today we’re exposing some of the sneakiest ones.

Misunderstandings and false friends

1. "Embarazada" is NOT "embarrassed" 🙈

   
   

If you mess up in Spanish and immediately exclaim, "¡Estoy embarazada!", congratulations… you just announced your pregnancy! And no, there’s no graceful way out of this one. What you actually wanted to say was "avergonzado/a." So unless you’re really expecting, you might want to memorize this distinction ASAP.

2. "Constipado" is NOT "constipated" 💩

If you walk into a pharmacy in Spain and dramatically declare, "Estoy muy constipado," expect to receive tissues and cough syrup, because you just said you have a cold. If your actual problem is, uh… in the digestion department, the word you need is "estreñido." But let’s be real, maybe just suffer in silence?

3. "Asistir" is NOT "assist" 🏫

   
   

If a Spanish friend says, "Voy a asistir a una clase," don’t assume they’re going to be a teacher’s assistant. "Asistir" means "to attend." If you actually want to say you helped someone, go with "ayudar."

4. "Sensible" is NOT "sensible" (pero sí lo es) 🤯

Plot twist! "Sensible" in Spanish doesn’t mean "practical" or "reasonable"—it means "sensitive." So if you say, "Soy muy sensible," you’re admitting that you cry at sad puppy commercials, not that you make wise life choices.

5. "Ropa" is NOT "rope" ⛓️

"Voy a comprar ropa." Cool, you’re getting some clothes. But if you’re looking for something to tie things up and confidently say, "Voy a comprar ropa para atar cosas," get ready for some serious side-eyes. "Ropa" is "clothes," and what you need is "cuerda."

6. "Librería" is NOT "library" 📚

If you’re looking for a quiet place to read, don’t head to a "librería," because that’s a bookstore. You need a "biblioteca." But hey, if you accidentally buy a book, that’s not the worst mistake ever, right?

7. "Molestar" is NOT "molest" 🚨

This one’s a heart-stopper. "Molestar" in Spanish simply means "to bother" or "to annoy." That’s it. So if you say, "Ese niño me molesta," don’t worry—no one’s calling the cops. If you do need the other meaning, the word you want is "abusar" or "acosar."

8. "Éxito" is NOT "exit" 🚪

If you’re in a Spanish airport looking for the exit and see a sign that says "Éxito," don’t expect to suddenly find the gateway to success. "Éxito" means "success," while "exit" is "salida."

9. "Realizar" is NOT "realize" 🤯

"Realizar" in Spanish means "to carry out" or "to make something happen." If you want to say you finally understood something, you need "darse cuenta." So before you say, "¡Acabo de realizar que me equivoqué!", remember that Spaniards will be expecting to hear about some grand achievement instead of your little epiphany.

10. "Introducir" is NOT "introduce" 🙋

"Voy a introducir a mi amigo…" Hold up! That sounds way more intimate than you intended. In Spanish, "introducir" means "to insert," so if you’re presenting someone, go with "presentar" unless you want some very confused (and possibly alarmed) listeners.

Speak with Confidence and Avoid Awkward Moments!

False friends are sneaky little traps on your journey to mastering Spanish, but with some practice (and let’s be honest, a couple of embarrassing slip-ups), you’ll learn to dodge them. Now you can confidently speak Spanish without accidentally announcing an unexpected pregnancy or looking for "success" at the airport. And if you want even more tricks to sound like a true Spanish speaker (and not like Google Translate on its worst day), stick around. Or better yet, book a class with me and let’s make sure your Spanish is as smooth as a well-poured glass of Rioja! 🍷😉