falso
/FAHL-soh/
false
When something is falso, it is incorrect or not true, like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
falso(Adjective)
false
?not true, incorrect
,untrue
?as a statement or fact
wrong
?as in an incorrect answer
📝 In Action
Esa noticia es completamente falsa.
A1That news is completely false.
¿Es verdadero o falso que la capital de Chile es Santiago?
A2Is it true or false that the capital of Chile is Santiago?
El rumor era falso, nadie perdió su trabajo.
B1The rumor was untrue; nobody lost their job.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Remember that 'falso' must match the thing it describes. If you are talking about a feminine word like 'historia' (story), you must say 'falsa' ('una historia falsa').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Falso vs. Equivocado
Mistake: "Usar 'falso' para describir a una persona que cometió un error (e.g., 'El estudiante está falso')."
Correction: Use 'equivocado' when a person is wrong or mistaken ('El estudiante está equivocado'). 'Falso' is usually reserved for things or for people who are deceitful (see next definition).
⭐ Usage Tips
Easy Pair
The opposite of 'falso' (false) is 'verdadero' (true). They are often used together in questionnaires or tests.
This definition of falso refers to something being fake or counterfeit, like an imitation coin.
falso(Adjective)
fake
?counterfeit or imitation
,insincere
?describing a person or feeling
artificial
?man-made substitute
,deceitful
?describing character
📝 In Action
Me vendieron un reloj falso en la calle.
B1They sold me a fake watch on the street.
Ella tiene una sonrisa falsa, no parece feliz.
B2She has an insincere (false) smile; she doesn't look happy.
Descubrieron que el dinero era falso.
B2They discovered that the money was counterfeit.
💡 Grammar Points
Using Ser vs. Estar
When describing a person's character as deceitful, always use 'ser': 'Él es falso' (He is a false person). You would not typically use 'estar' with this meaning.
⭐ Usage Tips
Adjective Placement
When 'falso' means 'fake' or 'counterfeit,' it usually goes before the noun in English, but in Spanish, it usually follows: 'un reloj falso' (a fake watch).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: falso
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'falsa' to describe an object that is counterfeit?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'false alarm' in Spanish?
The most common and natural way to say 'false alarm' is 'falsa alarma'. Remember to use the feminine form of the adjective.
Is 'falso' only used for things, or can it describe people?
It can definitely describe people! When describing a person, 'falso/falsa' means they are insincere, deceitful, or hypocritical. For example, 'No confío en él, es muy falso' (I don't trust him, he is very fake/insincere).