It's not my fault (false cognates)
You know the English word "fault", don't you? You know, in sentences like "It's not my fault" or in a different sense: "She has many faults, but she's a nice person".
That should be "falta" in Spanish, right?
Wrong.
Spanish "falta" means "a lack of" or "a need for" as in these examples:
1. Hay una falta de talento entre estos actores = There's a lack of talent in these actors.
2. Notamos una falta de entusiasmo entre los alumnos = We noticed a lack of enthusiasm among the students.
3. Hay una gran falta de ingenieros náuticos = There's a great need for more nautical engineers.
It also seen in the very common verbal expression "hacer falta" which usually means "to need" or "to be necessary":
1. Hacen falta más trabajadores para terminar esto = We need more workers to finish this.
2. Hace falta que estudies más = You need to study more.
English "fault" can be either "culpa" (responsibility) or "defecto" (imperfection):
1. ¡No es culpa mía - lo hizo Jorge! = It's not my fault - Jorge did it!
2. Por tu culpa llegamos tarde = It's your fault we've arrived late.
3. Ella tiene muchos defectos, pero es una persona simpática = She has many faults, but she's a nice person =
Brad
