This document discusses false cognates, which are word pairs that seem similar in sound and meaning between languages but have different origins and meanings. It provides examples of false cognates between Spanish and English, noting words that are deceiving due to changes in meaning. Specific false cognate examples given include geographical terms like "America/Americano" and academic expressions like "facultad." The document cautions against overusing some Spanish words when translating to English like "correcto," "deshonesto," and provides alternatives. It also flags sensitive Spanish words that do not directly align with their English counterparts like "estúpido."

1. False Cognates and
other Sensitive Words

2. False Cognates
False cognates are pairs of words that
seem to be cognates because of similar
sounds and meaning, but have different
etymologies; they can be within the
same language or from different
languages even within the same family.

3. False Friends or False Cognates
False cognates are deceiving. Make sure you check
the meaning form and spelling of the words if
they have a false friend because the meaning
change is striking.
The following illustrations show examples of false
friend between Spanish and English.
Are there false cognates between other languages?

12. False Cognates or False Friends
There are also similar sounding words with different
meanings, but they can be etimologically related.

13. Geographical and political terms:
When an English
speaker says:
 “America.” he is usually
referring to a country (the
U.S.A)
“American” he is usually
referring to a citizen of the
United States of America.
When a Spanish speaker
says:
”América” he is usually
referring to one continent
(Noth and South
America)
“Americano” he often is
referring to a native of
the Weestern Hemispere.

14. FALSE COGNATES IN ACADEMIC
EXPRESSIONS
• “facultad” does not =
“faculty” ( in U.S. universities)
• “facultad” can = faculty
(meaning “school” or “
departament” in U.K. colleges)
• “profesorado” does =
“faculty” ( in U.S. colleges;
sometimes U.K. also.
• “escuela” does not = school (
in U.S. universities.
• “facultad” does “ school” (in
U.S. colleges).
• “pasar un examen” does not
= to pass an examination.
• “pasar un examen”= to take
an exam.
• “aprobar un examen”= to
pass an exam.

15. FALSE COGNATES AND
SENSITIVE WORDS
Can confuse the Spanish/ English translator
1. Correcto- Do not
overuse! “El es muy
correcto”=“,“He is very well
behaved.”
2. Deshonesto-Do not
overuse! Instead, use
“deshonrado”,tramposo”,
or similar term.
3. “Estúpido” Estúpido-
Caution! The affectivity of this
Spanish Word does not line up
with that of English. “stupid”.
“I am so stupid!” does not =
“Soy tan estúpido!” but rather
“¡Soy tan bobo!” “¡Es un
estúpido!= “He is damned fool!”

16. • 4. Firma – don’t
overuse! “ A business
firm” = una casa
comercial.
• 5. Honesto- don´t
overuse! “ miradas
honestas “=“chaste
look”; “ella es muy
honesta” = “she is very
modest ( chaste).
“( “Honest”
=“honrado.”)
• 6. Mister – caution ! This
is not the equivalent of “
señor” as in “ gracias
señor.” Use “sir” instead.
In English, “mister” must
be followed by a name, e.g.
Mr. Jones.

17. 7. Graduarse –don´t overuse, athough this verb is
becoming the most common equivalent of “to
graduate” in approximately the northern half of
Spanish america.
In other parts of the Spanish –speaking world “ to
graduate (in) “= recibirse (de).
” Example: He graduated in medicine in June”=“
se recibió de médico en junio.” “ the boy graduated
from fifth to six grade #” = “ El niño pasó
aprobado del quinto al sexto grado.”