by Dictionary Scoop
Ever encountered a word in another language that seemed familiar but left you confused?
False cognates—words that appear similar but have unrelated meanings—are the culprits.
These false friends can sometimes lead to hilarious or embarrassing misunderstandings, especially for language learners. Here are ten examples that demonstrate just how deceptive languages can be.
1 “Actual” (Spanish)
In Spanish, actual means “current,” not “real.”
English speakers might assume the Spanish word actual refers to authenticity, but it actually relates to time. When someone describes something as actual, they mean it’s current or relevant today. The confusion arises from the Latin root actualis, which means “pertaining to action or the present.”
To express the idea of “real” in Spanish, you’d use real or verdadero. This subtle distinction often trips up many learners!
2 “Gift” (German)
In German, “gift” means “poison.”
This one can cause serious confusion if you try to thank a German friend for a thoughtful present and mistakenly use the word gift. While both words stem from the same Germanic root, meaning “something given,” the German term Gift later evolved to mean “poison.”
The correct translation for the English word “gift” is geschenk, which refers to the type of present most people imagine (and not a poisonous surprise in a pretty box).
3 “Chef” (French)
In French, chef means “boss,” not just “cook.”
The English word chef comes from the French expression chef de cuisine (head of the kitchen). However, in French, chef refers broadly to any leader, whether it’s a CEO, a project manager, or a team supervisor. The term traces back to the Latin caput, meaning “head.”
For cook, the correct French term is cuisinier.
4 “Brat” (Russian)
In Russian, “brat” means “brother.”
English speakers might associate the word brat with misbehaving children, but in Russian, it’s an affectionate term for a male sibling. The word comes from the Old Slavic bratrъ, a cognate of English brother.
The English word brat likely originated from 16th-century slang meaning “child,” entirely unrelated to the Slavic word.
5 “Embarazada” (Spanish)
In Spanish, “embarazada” means “pregnant.”
This false cognate can lead to more than one social blunder. While the morphologically similar word embarrassed in English refers to feelings of shame or discomfort, embarazada, specifically refers to a state of pregnancy.
If you want to say embarrassed in Spanish, use avergonzado instead.
6 “Grosso” (Italian)
In Italian, grosso means “big” or “large,” not “gross.”
English speakers might think grosso refers to something disgusting, but in Italian, it’s all about size. Derived from the Latin grossus, meaning “thick” or “coarse,” it’s commonly used to describe large objects or significant quantities. For example, un grosso problema translates to “a big problem,” not a “gross problem.”
To express disgust in Italian, use words such as disgustoso or schifoso.
7 “Librería” (Spanish)
In Spanish, librería means “bookstore,” not “library.”
This mix-up is a classic for English speakers. In Spanish, a librería is actually a place where you buy books, while a library (for borrowing books) is called a biblioteca.
The confusion is understandable, as both words trace back to the Latin liber, meaning “book.”
8 “Costume” (Portuguese)
In Portuguese, “costume” means “custom” or “habit,” not “costume.”
English speakers associate the word costume with theatrical outfits or Halloween attire, but in Portuguese, it refers to a routine practice or tradition. The word originates from the Latin consuetudo, meaning “custom” or “habit.” This distinction often surprises learners, as the words seem so closely related at first glance.
If you want to talk about a costume in Portuguese, you can use the word fantasia.
9 “Sensible” (French)
In French, sensible means “sensitive,” not “practical.”
If someone in France describes you as sensible, they mean you’re emotionally responsive, not logical or practical. While both words come from the Latin sensibilis, meaning “able to feel,” the English use, implying reasonableness, likely evolved through association with prudence and good judgment.
If you still want to say sensible in French, the correct word would be raisonnable.
10 “Compromiso” (Spanish)
In Spanish, “compromise” means “commitment” or “obligation,” not “compromise.”
While English speakers use compromise to describe a negotiated middle ground, in Spanish, the similar word compromiso refers to a promise, duty, or engagement.
For instance, tengo un compromiso translates to “I have a commitment,” not “I have made a compromise.”
To convey the idea of compromise in Spanish, the term acuerdo (agreement) or concesión (concession) can be used instead.
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