False friends.
Words that look Italian… but aren’t. Learn the trickiest ones before they land you in trouble.
- Level A2 – C1
- 5-minute read
- 8 exercises
The rule.
False friends are words that look very similar in Spanish and Italian but mean something else. Because the two languages are cousins, there are loads of them… and some can land you in an awkward spot.
| In Spanish… | means (IT) | Not to be confused with (IT) | which in Spanish is |
|---|---|---|---|
| embarazada | incinta | imbarazzata | avergonzada |
| burro | asino | burro | mantequilla |
| salir | uscire | salire | subir |
| largo | lungo | largo | ancho |
| guardar | conservare, mettere via | guardare | mirar |
| aceite | olio | aceto | vinagre |
| contestar | rispondere | contestare | protestar, discutir |
| rato | momento, un po' di tempo | ratto | rata |
| topo | talpa | topo | ratón |
| espalda | schiena | spalla | hombro |
| pronto | presto | pronto | listo |
| caldo | brodo | caldo | calor |
And some are real friends: exquisito = squisito, cena = cena (dinner).
The trap for Italian speakers.
✗Estoy muy embarazada por mi español.
✓Me da mucha vergüenza hablar en español.
«Imbarazzata» (embarrassed) is avergonzada or «me da vergüenza». Embarazada means you’re expecting a baby.
Your turn.
Choose the right answer. I explain every one.
Keep practising.
Shall we practise it by speaking?
Exercises help you understand. In class you turn it into something you say without thinking.
Did any exercise give you trouble? We’ll go over it together in your free trial lesson.