# Spanish/Common False Cognates

The phenomenon known as “false friends” happens between two languages, like Spanish and English, when there are two words sounding very similar because they come from the same root but their meaning is completely different. There are many “false friends” involving English and Spanish. Here you have some examples (but you can add more, so as to make up a full list):
| Spanish | False friend (en) | Spanish | False friend (en) |
| Abismal EnormousEnormous | Abysmal PésimoPésimo | Actual CurrentCurrent | Actual Real or VerdaderoReal or Verdadero |
| Alcoba BedroomBedroom | Alcove NichoNicho | Asistir To attendTo attend | To assist Atender or AyudarAtender or Ayudar |
| Atender To assistTo assist | To attend AsistirAsistir | Balón BallBall | Balloon GloboGlobo |
| Bizarro BraveBrave | Bizarre ExtrañoExtraño | Blanco WhiteWhite | Blank VacíoVacío |
| Blando Soft or GentleSoft or Gentle | Bland InsípidoInsípido | Boda WeddingWedding | Body CuerpoCuerpo |
| Campo Field or CountrysideField or Countryside | Camp CampamentoCampamento | Cara FaceFace | Car Coche or CarroCoche or Carro |
| Carpeta FolderFolder | Carpet AlfombraAlfombra | Chillar To shriekTo shriek | To chill EnfriarEnfriar |
| Complexión Physical buildPhysical build | Skin complexion Tez or CutisTez or Cutis | Comprensivo Understanding or TolerantUnderstanding or Tolerant | Comprehensive Exhaustivo or CompletoExhaustivo or Completo |
| Constipado Having a coldHaving a cold | Constipated EstreñidoEstreñido | Construir To buildTo build | To construe InterpretarInterpretar |
| Costumbre HabitHabit | Costume TrajeTraje | Disgusto Displeasure or MisfortuneDispleasure or Misfortune | Disgust Asco or RepugnanciaAsco or Repugnancia |
| Embarazada PregnantPregnant | Embarrassed AvergonzadaAvergonzada | Éxito SuccessSuccess | Exit SalidaSalida |
| Fábrica FactoryFactory | Fabric TejidoTejido | Globo BalloonBalloon | Glove GuanteGuante |
| Inhabitable UninhabitableUninhabitable | Inhabitable HabitableHabitable | Injuria InsultInsult | Injury LesiónLesión |
| Librería BookshopBookshop | Library BibliotecaBiblioteca | Mano HandHand | Man HombreHombre |
| Molestar To annoyTo annoy | To molest AgredirAgredir | Moroso DebtorDebtor | Morose MalhumoradoMalhumorado |
| Nombre NameName | Number NúmeroNúmero | Pariente RelativeRelative | Parents PadresPadres |
| Periódico NewspaperNewspaper | Periodical RevistaRevista | Preservativo CondomCondom | Preservative ConservanteConservante |
| Profesor (at any level) TeacherTeacher | Professor Catedrático (at University)Catedrático (at University) | Recipiente ContainerContainer | Recipient DestinatarioDestinatario |
| Recordar To remember or To remindTo remember or To remind | To record Anotar (writing), or Grabar (on tape).Anotar (writing), or Grabar (on tape). | Refrán SayingSaying | Refrain EstribilloEstribillo |
| Regalo GiftGift | Regal MajestuosoMajestuoso | Remover StirStir | Remove EliminarEliminar |
| Retirado WithdrawnWithdrawn | Retired JubiladoJubilado | Ropa ClothingClothing | Rope CuerdaCuerda |
| Resumir To summariseTo summarise | To resume ReanudarReanudar | Sanidad HealthHealth | Sanity CorduraCordura |
| Sensible SensitiveSensitive | Sensible SensatoSensato | Silla ChairChair | Sill AlféizarAlféizar |
| Sopa SoupSoup | Soap JabónJabón | Suave Soft or SmoothSoft or Smooth | Suave AfableAfable |
| Vicioso Addict or depravedAddict or depraved | Vicious SalvajeSalvaje | Vacunar To vaccinateTo vaccinate | To vacuum AspirarAspirar |