Common Spanish false friends (Words that aren’t what they look like) – Episode 013

Common Spanish false friends (Words that aren’t what they look like)

Podcast episode 13 – SEE ALL EPISODES

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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Spanish false friends: what are they?

As usual, we’ve got another really interesting Spanish language question.

Today’s question is: What are the most common Spanish false friends?

Now, here we’re not talking about nasty politicians or old school friends that would happily stab you on the back. No, false friends are words that look very similar in English and Spanish, but have quite a different meaning.

See also: Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses.

Today I want to give you 10 false friends. Words that are very common. You’ll hear them constantly and probably  by now you’ve heard some of them. And you’ve been puzzled by what they really meant.

10 Spanish false friends

The first one is:
actualmente – nowadays

The second one is:
el conductor – the driver

And then:
educado – polite
el éxito – the success
largo – long
la librería – the bookstore
molestar – to bother- to annoy
la noticia – the piece of news, the news item
el pariente – the family member
suceder – to happen, to take place

I’ll say these 10 words again, only in Spanish.

I’m going to say the 10 words and their English translation once again.

Spanish false friends: Listening drill

Now that you’ve heard these Spanish words a couple of times, let’s do a listening drill.

I’m going to say the words in Spanish, and you’re going to tell me what they mean in English. Are you ready? Let’s start.

educado 
largo
molestar
la noticia
suceder
el pariente
la librería
el conductor
el éxito
actualmente

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

Spanish false friends: Listening drill solutions

educado -polite
largo – long
molestar -to bother, to annoy
la noticia – the piece of news
suceder – to take place
el pariente – the family member
la librería – the bookstore
el conductor – the driver
el éxito – the success
actualmente – nowadays

How many did you get right? Hopefully quite a few of them. But don’t worry, because we’re now going to do another drill.

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

Spanish false friends: speaking drill

This time we’re going to do a speaking drill. I’m going to say the words in English and you’re going to tell them to me in Spanish. Let’s start. 

to bother, to annoy
the family member
the driver
the success
the piece of news
polite
to take place
the bookstore
long
nowadays

Spanish false friends: speaking drill solutions

to bother, to annoy – molestar
the family member – el pariente
the driver – el conductor
the success – el éxito
the piece of news – la noticia
polite – educado
to take place – suceder
the bookstore – la librería
long – largo
nowadays – actualmente

Find out more about my Spanish courses.