falso
“falso” means “false” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
false, untrue
Also: wrong
📝 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.
fake, insincere
Also: artificial, deceitful
📝 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.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: falso
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'falsa' to describe an object that is counterfeit?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *falsus*, which meant 'deceived' or 'erroneous.' It has kept the same core meaning of something not being what it seems.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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).