We hope that the following list of Spanish false cognates (also known as "false friends") will help you while you are trying to learn Spanish. You can practice many of these words and expressions in the advanced level of the Spanish Whiz program. Please be sure to take a look at the rest of our website for more information.
List of Spanish False Cognates (L - P)
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Largo - Large
Largo (Span.) = long
Example:
(Span.) Es un viaje muy largo hasta Madrid.
(Eng.) It's a long trip to Madrid.
Large (Eng.) = grande
Example:
(Eng.) She has a very large house.
(Span.) Ella tiene una casa muy grande.
Lectura - Lecture
Lectura (Span.) = act of reading
Example:
(Span.) La lectura del Quijote merece la pena.
(Eng.) Reading don Quijote is a worthwhile endevor.
Lecture (Eng.) = conferencia
Example:
(Eng.) The lecture lasted an hour and a half.
(Span.) La conferencia duró una hora y media.
Librería - Library
Librería (Span.) = bookstore
Example:
(Span.) La Cervantes es una librería importante en Salamanca.
(Eng.) The Cervantes is an important bookstore in Salamanca.
Library (Eng.) = biblioteca
Example:
(Eng.) There are two libraries in this town.
(Span.) Hay dos bibliotecas en este pueblo.
Mayor - Mayor
Mayor (Span.) = larger, older
Example:
(Span.) Este edificio es mayor que aquel.
(Eng.) This building is larger / older than that one.
Mayor (Eng.) = alcalde
Example:
(Eng.) Juan Valdez es el alcalde de Málaga.
(Span.) Juan Valdez es the mayor of
Molestar - Molest
Molest (Span.) = bother
Example:
(Span.) Mi hermano pequeño siempre me moleta.
(Eng.) My little brother is always bothering me.
Molest (Eng.) = acosar sexualmente
Example:
(Eng.) He is in prison for molesting children
(Span.) El está en la prisión por acosar sexualmente a menores.
Nombre - Number
Nombre (Span.) = name
Example:
(Span.) Mi nombre es Pedro.
(Eng.) My name is Pedro.
Number (Eng.) = número
Example:
(Eng.) "6" is an even number.
(Span.) "6" es un número par.
Pariente - Parent
Pariente (Span.) = relative
Example:
(Span.) Tengo muchos parientes en Valencia.
(Eng.) I have a lot of relatives in Valencia.
Parent (Eng.) = padre / madre
Example:
(Eng.) My parents live in Valencia.
(Span.) (Mis padres) OR (Mi padre y mi madre) viven en Valencia.
Pretender - Pretend
Pretender (Span.) = want
Example:
(Span.) Ella pretende llegar a la cima.
(Eng.) She wants to reach the top.
Pretend (Eng.) = fingir
Example:
(Eng.) El está fingiendo que le duele.
(Span.) He's pretending that it hurts.
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