10 More Spanish False Friends Every English Speaker Must Know (Part 2)

One of the biggest traps in learning Spanish is assuming that a word means the same thing in English just because it looks familiar. Sometimes that shortcut works. Many Spanish and English words share Latin roots and have similar meanings.

But sometimes those similarities are exactly what get learners into trouble.

These misleading words are known as false friends. They look alike, sound alike, and seem trustworthy. Then they completely betray you in conversation.

In Part 1, we covered several common Spanish false friends. Today, we’re diving into 10 more that regularly confuse English speakers. Learning these will help you avoid misunderstandings and sound much more natural when speaking Spanish.

What Is a False Friend?

A false friend is a word that resembles a word in another language but has a different meaning.

As Spanish learners, it’s easy to assume that a familiar-looking word has the meaning we expect. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. In some situations, using the wrong word can create confusion. In others, it can lead to some very awkward moments.

Let’s look at 10 more Spanish false friends you should know.

1. Librería ≠ Library

This is one of the most common mistakes among Spanish learners.

Librería means bookstore, not library.

Examples:

• Voy a la librería porque quiero comprar una novela.
• Esa librería tiene el libro que quiero.

If you want to say library, the correct Spanish word is biblioteca.

A simple way to remember it:

• Librería = bookstore
• Biblioteca = library

If you’re buying a book, go to a librería. If you’re borrowing one, go to a biblioteca.

2. Fábrica ≠ Fabric

These words look almost identical, but their meanings are completely different.

Fábrica means factory.

Examples:

• Mi tío trabaja en una fábrica de automóviles.
• Esa fábrica produce miles de zapatos cada mes.

The English word fabric translates to tela in Spanish.

Examples:

• Me gusta la tela de esta camisa.
• Esa tela es muy suave.

Just one letter makes a huge difference.

3. Parientes ≠ Parents

Many learners assume these words are direct translations because they look so similar.

However, parientes means relatives.

This includes:

• Uncles
• Aunts
• Cousins
• Grandparents
• Other family members

Examples:

• Voy a visitar a unos parientes lejanos.

The Spanish word for parents is padres.

Example:

• Mis padres viven en Colombia.

Remember:

• Parientes = relatives
• Padres = parents

4. Noticia ≠ Notice

This false friend catches learners all the time.

Noticia means news.

Examples:

• Tengo una buena noticia.
• Escuché esa noticia esta mañana.

Meanwhile, the English verb to notice is usually translated as notar.

Examples:

• ¿Notaste que tengo algo diferente hoy?
• No noté el error.

Even though noticia and notice look similar, they belong to completely different categories of meaning.

5. Soportar ≠ Support

This is another very common mistake among English speakers.

In Spanish, soportar means to tolerate, to endure, or to put up with.

Examples:

• No soporto el ruido.
• No puedo soportar el calor.
• Ella soportó situaciones muy difíciles.

The English verb to support is usually translated as apoyar.

Examples:

• Gracias por apoyarme.
• Mi familia siempre me apoya en mis proyectos.

Mixing these up can completely change what you’re trying to say.

6. Éxito ≠ Exit

These words look incredibly similar, but they couldn’t be more different.

Éxito means success.

Examples:

• Te deseo mucho éxito.
• Su negocio fue un gran éxito.

The English word exit translates to salida.

Examples:

• La salida está al final del pasillo.
• Utiliza la salida de emergencia.

If you tell someone “te deseo mucho exit,” you’re definitely not wishing them success.

7. Recordar ≠ Record

Many learners see recordar and immediately think of recording audio or video.

In reality, recordar means to remember.

Examples:

• Recuerdo mi primer profesor de español.
• ¿Recuerdas nuestra primera conversación?
• Siempre recordaré este viaje.

The English verb to record is usually translated as grabar or sometimes registrar.

Examples:

• Voy a grabar un mensaje de voz.
• Estoy grabando un video para YouTube.
• La policía registró el incidente.

This is an important distinction, especially in today’s digital world where “recording” comes up frequently.

8. Sensible ≠ Sensible

This is one of my favorite false friends because it confuses both English speakers learning Spanish and Spanish speakers learning English.

In Spanish, sensible means sensitive.

Examples:

• Ella es muy sensible.
• Soy muy sensible a las críticas.
• Ese niño es muy sensible.

The English adjective sensible is usually translated as sensato or razonable.

Examples:

• Fue una decisión muy sensata.
• Parece una solución razonable.

Despite being spelled exactly the same, their meanings are surprisingly different.

9. Embarazada ≠ Embarrassed

This is probably the most famous Spanish false friend of all.

Embarazada means pregnant.

The English word embarrassed translates as avergonzado or avergonzada.

Imagine feeling embarrassed and accidentally saying:

“Estoy embarazado.”

Instead of saying you’re embarrassed, you’ve just announced that you’re pregnant.

That’s exactly why false friends are worth learning.

10. Discutir ≠ Discuss

This final false friend is extremely important because it can affect everyday conversations.

In Spanish, discutir usually means to argue or to have a verbal fight.

Examples:

• Discutí con mi hermano.
• La pareja discutió durante horas.

The word often implies conflict or disagreement.

The English verb discuss is usually better translated as:

• Hablar de
• Debatir

Examples:

• Hablamos sobre el proyecto.
• Debatimos varias ideas.

If you’re simply exchanging ideas and not arguing, hablar or debatir will often be the better choice.

Final Thoughts

False friends are one of the most fascinating parts of learning Spanish. They remind us that languages are full of surprises, and that similarity doesn’t always mean equivalence.

The good news is that once you become aware of these tricky words, you’ll start noticing them everywhere. Over time, you’ll automatically recognize the difference and avoid the mistakes that many learners make.

To recap, remember these key pairs:

• Librería = bookstore, Biblioteca = library
• Fábrica = factory, Tela = fabric
• Parientes = relatives, Padres = parents
• Noticia = news, Notar = notice
• Soportar = endure, Apoyar = support
• Éxito = success, Salida = exit
• Recordar = remember, Grabar = record
• Sensible = sensitive, Sensato = sensible
• Embarazada = pregnant, Avergonzado = embarrassed
• Discutir = argue, Hablar de/Debatir = discuss

Mastering these false friends will make your Spanish more accurate, more natural, and much less likely to lead to awkward misunderstandings.