These words have a similar form, but their meanings are not equivalent.
Sometimes it’s just a matter of nuances, but some other cases are not related at all.
English |
Means |
NO means |
abstract |
in bibliography: resumen, extracto |
“abstracto”. In Spanish an adjective only, not a noun. |
actual |
verdadero, real |
“actual” (current) |
actually |
en realidad, de verdad, realmente |
“actualmente” (nowadays) |
advice |
consejo |
“aviso” (notice, warning) |
America |
Estados Unidos |
“América” (the Americas) |
annotate |
comentar |
“anotar” (write down, register) |
apparent |
evidente, notorio, obvio |
“aparente” (onstensible, presumptive, superficial) |
application |
solicitud |
“aplicación” |
apply |
solicitar (inscripción) |
“aplicar” |
argument |
discusión |
“argumento” (plot) |
army |
ejército |
“armada” (navy, naval forces) |
assist |
ayudar |
“asistir” (attend) |
associate |
socio |
“asociado” (member, affiliated person, adjunct) |
attend |
asistir |
“atender” (tend, help, serve / pay attention) |
balance |
equilibrio, balanza / saldo |
“balance” (assessment) |
basement |
sótano |
“basamento” (plinth, base of a column) |
bizarre |
rarísimo, estrambótico |
“bizarro” (brave / generous) |
camp |
campamento |
“campo” (field / countryside) |
candid |
franco, sincero |
“cándido” (innocent, naive) |
capital (letter) |
(letra) mayúscula |
“capital” |
capture |
captar |
“capturar” (seize, catch) |
carpet |
alfombra |
“carpeta” (folder, file, cover / briefcase) |
collar |
cuello |
“collar” (necklace) |
college |
universidad |
colegio (school, high school) |
command |
orden |
“comando” (commando) |
complexion |
tez, cutis |
“complexión” (physical build, body type) |
compulsory |
obligatorio |
“compulsivo” (of or related to a psychological compulsion) |
conductor |
director (musical) / cobrador (en un bus) |
“conductor” (driver / show host) |
consist of |
constar de |
“consistir en” (comprise, lie within) |
constipation |
estreñimiento |
“constipado” (a cold, a chill) |
contention |
contienda, controversia |
“contención” (restraint, retention) |
contest |
refutar, impugnar / luchar por, competir por |
“contestar” (answer) |
character |
personaje |
“carácter” (nature, kind) |
criminal conversation |
adulterio |
“conversación criminal” makes no much sense in Spanish |
deception |
engaño |
“decepción” (disappointment) |
deputy |
suplente, sustituto, auxiliar |
“diputado” (member of Parliament) |
disgrace |
deshonra, vergüenza |
“desgracia” (misfortune, misadventure, tragedy) |
disgust |
asco |
“disgusto” (upset, irritation, annoyance) |
diversion |
distracción, desviación |
“diversion” (recreation, entertainment, fun) |
elaborate |
complicado, complejo, detallado |
“elaborado” (made, prepared) |
embarrass |
avergonzar |
“embarazar” (impregnate, make pregnant) |
enlarge |
agrandar, ampliar |
“alargar” (lengthen) |
enter |
introducir, meter, poner |
“entrar” (go in, come in) |
eventual |
definitivo, final |
“eventual” (incidental, prospective) |
eventually |
finalmente, tarde o temprano |
“eventualmente” (possibly) |
excited |
emocionado |
“excitado” (aroused) |
exit |
salida |
“éxito” (success, hit) |
extravagant |
derrochador |
extravagante (outlandish, eccentric) |
fabricate |
inventar, falsear, falsificar |
“fabricar” (manufacture) |
facilities |
instalaciones /medios, herramientas |
facilidades (easiness) |
faculty |
profesorado, personal docente |
“facultad” (department, school) |
fastidious |
quisquilloso, melindroso |
“fastidioso” (bothersome) |
font |
tipo (de letra) |
“fuente” (source) |
form |
fórmula, formulario, hoja impresa |
“forma” (shape) |
genial |
cordial, amable, atento |
“genial” (brilliant / great, nice) |
gracious |
lujoso / cortés, atento |
“gracioso” (funny) |
idiom |
modismo |
“idioma” (language) |
ingenuity |
inventiva, ingenio |
“ingenuidad” (naivety) |
intend |
proponerse |
“intentar” (try) |
involve |
implicar, involucrar |
“envolver” (wrap, envelope) |
large |
grande |
“largo” (long) |
lavatory |
sanitario, retrete |
“lavatorio” (washbasin) |
lecture |
conferencia, disertación, clase |
“lectura” (reading) |
library |
biblioteca |
“librería” (bookstore) |
luxury |
lujo |
“lujuria” (lust, lavishness) |
major |
principal, significativo, importante |
“mayor” (larger, greater, bigger / older) |
media |
medios |
“media” (sock, stocking / average) |
misery |
tristeza, sufrimiento |
“miseria” (pauperism / pittance) |
monitor |
supervisar, vigilar, controlar, guiar, dirigir |
“monitorear” |
notice |
anuncio, aviso / letrero |
“noticia” (news, piece of news) |
offense |
delito, infracción |
“ofensa” (insult, affront) |
parents |
padres |
“parientes” (relatives) |