Language learning · Grades 9–12

Spanish false friends · Revision sheet

Reference sheet for Grades 9 to 12: false friends, check the context and learn them in pairs. Spanish words that look like English words but mean something different.

Printable summary of the study guide Spanish false friends.

Make a worksheet

Learn the idea

False friends

False friends (false cognates) look alike in two languages but have different meanings.

Check the context

If a translation seems odd in the sentence, look the word up instead of guessing.

Learn them in pairs

Write the Spanish word, its real meaning and the English look-alike it is not.

Explain without looking

The phrase «asistir a una clase» means:
Write a Spanish sentence that uses «éxito» correctly, and translate it.

Check yourself

Four practice questions on this topic. Try each one before you open the answer.

What does the Spanish word “en realidad” mean in English?
- dangerous
- actually
- proud
- sensible (reasonable)
Show the answer
actually “actually” in Spanish is “en realidad”.
Choose the Spanish word for “sensible (reasonable)”.
- sensato
- avergonzado
- orgulloso
- en realidad
Show the answer
sensato “sensible (reasonable)” in Spanish is “sensato”.
What does the Spanish word “éxito” mean in English?
- meeting
- failure
- success
- border
Show the answer
success “success” in Spanish is “éxito”.
Choose the Spanish word for “to realize”.
- olvidar
- crecer
- darse cuenta
- elegir
Show the answer
darse cuenta “to realize” in Spanish is “darse cuenta”.