False Friends

[Girino]

 

[sleslie23]

The most important for the BAXpats to avoid unwanted pregnancies are:

embarazada - pregnant
embarrassed - avergonzado

preservativos - condoms
conservantes - preservatives

 

[steveinbsas]

preservativos - condoms
conservantes - preservatives

Knowing this one will also help BAexpats avoid embarrassment in a cafe when asking for "preservatives" to spread on their toast (believing they are asking for jam or jelly).

PS: They can play it safe and just ask for "mermelada" (marmalade).

 

[Redbeanz]

These are great -- love false cognates, but especially with the illustrations!

 

[Girino]

I wish I could find one for Italian! I have a book of falsos amigos but with no pics.

 

[mulderfox]

well constipado got me thinking. i don`t think sick is constipado.

 

[Girino]

well constipado got me thinking. i don`t think sick is constipado.

I think constipado means when your nose is clogged (when you have a cold), while constipated means when your intestines are clogged.

 

[nikad]

Several of the translations are in Spanish from other countries. It is not the Spanish we speak here.

When sick, you are congestionado ( stuffy nose )

 

[nikad]

We don't say embarazoso ( we say avergonzado )
cuerda ( we say soga )
desviacion ( we say desvio )

 

[Ceviche]

Thank you dear Nikad.

Serafina was intentionally misguiding us by trying to teach us Spanish, from other countries.