Oops! 12 Tricky Spanish False Friends You Need to Know

Picture this: you're in a bustling café in Madrid, chatting with a new friend. You trip slightly on your way back from the counter, spilling a tiny bit of coffee. You want to say, "Oh, I'm so embarrassed!" So you reach for the word that sounds right and say, "¡Estoy tan embarazada!"

Your friend's eyes go wide. The conversation comes to a screeching halt. Why? Because you just announced, "I'm so pregnant!"

Welcome to the wild and wonderful world of Spanish false friends! These are sneaky words that look or sound just like an English word but mean something completely different. They're one of the most common (and funniest) hurdles for Spanish learners.

But don't worry! We're here to shine a light on these linguistic tricksters. Let's dive into 12 of the most common Spanish false friends so you can avoid an embarazada situation yourself.

What Are False Friends (Falsos Amigos)?

False friends, or falsos amigos in Spanish, are pairs of words in two languages that seem to be linguistic twins but are, in fact, not related at all. They can lead to confusion, misunderstandings, and, as we've seen, some pretty hilarious stories.

Mastering them is a key step to sounding more like a native speaker and avoiding awkward mix-ups.

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12 Common Spanish False Friends to Watch Out For

Here’s a list of the most common culprits you’re likely to encounter.

1. Embarazada vs. Avergonzado/a

Let's start with the classic example that gets everyone.

• The Word: Embarazada
• What it Looks Like: Embarrassed
• What it Actually Means: Pregnant
• The Correct Word for "Embarrassed": Avergonzado (for a male) or Avergonzada (for a female).

Example: "Mi hermana está embarazada. ¡Voy a ser tío!" (My sister is pregnant. I'm going to be an uncle!) - (Learn more vocabulary for family members!)

2. Éxito vs. Salida

You're trying to leave a crowded concert and are looking for the way out. You see a sign that says "ÉXITO" and think you're saved... but you're not.

• The Word: Éxito
• What it Looks Like: Exit
• What it Actually Means: Success
• The Correct Word for "Exit": Salida

Example: "La película fue un gran éxito." (The movie was a great success.)

3. Sopa vs. Jabón

This one can cause some trouble in the shower or at the dinner table.

• The Word: Sopa
• What it Looks Like: Soap
• What it Actually Means: Soup
• The Correct Word for "Soap": Jabón

Example: "En invierno, me encanta tomar una sopa caliente." (In the winter, I love to have a hot soup.) - (Check out our guide on food and meals vocabulary.)

4. Librería vs. Biblioteca

Book lovers, take note! This is a key difference.

• The Word: Librería
• What it Looks Like: Library
• What it Actually Means: Bookstore (where you buy books)
• The Correct Word for "Library": Biblioteca (where you borrow books)

Example: "Compré la nueva novela en la librería de la esquina." (I bought the new novel at the corner bookstore.)

5. Actualmente vs. Actually

This word doesn't mean what you think it means... actually.

• The Word: Actualmente
• What it Looks Like: Actually
• What it Actually Means: Currently / Nowadays
• The Correct Word for "Actually": En realidad or De hecho

Example: "Actualmente, vivo en Barcelona." (Currently, I live in Barcelona.)

6. Sensible vs. Sensato/a

Describing someone's personality? Be careful with this one.

• The Word: Sensible (pronounced sen-see-blay)
• What it Looks Like: Sensible
• What it Actually Means: Sensitive
• The Correct Word for "Sensible" (reasonable): Sensato or Sensata

Example: "No llores, no seas tan sensible." (Don't cry, don't be so sensitive.) - (For more ways to describe people, see our list of personality adjectives.)

7. Decepción vs. Deception

One is a feeling, the other is an act.

• The Word: Decepción
• What it Looks Like: Deception
• What it Actually Means: Disappointment
• The Correct Word for "Deception": Engaño

Example: "El final de la serie fue una gran decepción." (The end of the series was a huge disappointment.) - (Learn more words for feelings and states of mind.)

8. Realizar vs. Realize

Your brain wants this to be "realize," but it's not!

• The Word: Realizar
• What it Looks Like: Realize
• What it Actually Means: To carry out / To perform / To accomplish
• The Correct Word for "Realize" (to become aware): Darse cuenta

Example: "Vamos a realizar un experimento." (We are going to carry out an experiment.) Example of the correct usage: "Me di cuenta de que dejé mis llaves en casa." (I realized I left my keys at home.) - (Darse cuenta is a great example of reflexive verbs in action!)

9. Molestar vs. Molest

This is another high-stakes false friend to get right.

• The Word: Molestar
• What it Looks Like: Molest
• What it Actually Means: To bother / To annoy
• The Word for "Molest": Spanish uses much stronger words like abusar sexualmente.

Example: "Por favor, no hagas ruido. No quiero molestar a los vecinos." (Please, don't make noise. I don't want to bother the neighbors.)

10. Ropa vs. Rope

You wear one, and you tie things with the other.

• The Word: Ropa
• What it Looks Like: Rope
• What it Actually Means: Clothes
• The Correct Word for "Rope": Cuerda

Example: "Tengo que lavar la ropa este fin de semana." (I have to wash the clothes this weekend.) - (Time to go shopping? Brush up on your clothing vocabulary.)

11. Idioma vs. Idiom

They're both about language, but they aren't the same.

• The Word: Idioma
• What it Looks Like: Idiom
• What it Actually Means: Language
• The Correct Word for "Idiom" (a phrase): Expresión idiomática or Modismo

Example: "¿Cuántos idiomas hablas?" (How many languages do you speak?) - (Ready for the next level? Explore some common Spanish idiomatic expressions.)

12. Introducir vs. Introduce

This is a subtle one that often trips up beginners.

• The Word: Introducir
• What it Looks Like: Introduce (a person)
• What it Actually Means: To insert / To put inside
• The Correct Word for "Introduce" (a person): Presentar

Example: "Introduce la moneda en la ranura." (Insert the coin into the slot.) Example of the correct usage: "Déjame presentarte a mi amigo, Carlos." (Let me introduce you to my friend, Carlos.)

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Don't Fear the Falsos Amigos!

Seeing this list might feel a little intimidating, but don't let it discourage you! Every single language learner makes these mistakes. In fact, making the mistake is often the best way to remember the correct word for next time.

Laugh it off, learn from it, and keep speaking. False friends are just another fun quirk on your journey to Spanish fluency.

Ready to practice more vocabulary and avoid common pitfalls? The InkLingo app has thousands of interactive exercises and real-world stories to help you master tricky words like these. Happy learning!