False friends are words in two languages that look or sound similar but mean completely different things.

They’re a natural part of learning any new language.

Spanish and English share many words with Latin roots.

This shared history makes guessing vocabulary easy in many cases.

However, it also creates unexpected mix-ups for beginners.

Using a false friend can lead to awkward or confusing situations.

Here’s a quick reference table of the most common Spanish false friends you need to know.

Embarazada vs embarrassed

Many English speakers mistakenly use the word embarazada when they feel shy or ashamed.

This is arguably the most famous false friend in the Spanish language.

In Spanish, embarazada actually means pregnant.

If you want to say that you’re embarrassed, you need to use the word avergonzado (masculine) or avergonzada (feminine).

Alternatively, you can say me da vergüenza, which translates to “it gives me shame.”

Éxito vs exit

When you walk into a Spanish building, you might look around for an exit sign.

You won’t find a sign that says éxito.

The word éxito translates to success in English.

The correct word for a physical exit or a way out is salida.

You’ll often see the word salida illuminated in green above doors in public buildings.

Sopa vs soap

It’s very easy to confuse sopa with soap because the spelling is nearly identical.

If you ask for sopa in a hotel bathroom, you’ll receive a bowl of soup.

The Spanish word sopa always refers to the liquid food.

When you need to wash your hands, you must ask for jabón.

Ropa vs rope

The word ropa looks exactly like the English word rope.

In Spanish, ropa translates to clothes or clothing.

If you need a thick cord for tying something, you’re looking for a cuerda or a soga.

The word soga is more commonly used in parts of Latin America for a thick rope.

Recordar vs record

Many students assume that recordar means to record an audio or video file.

This verb actually means to remember or to recall.

If you want to talk about recording a song or a video, you must use the verb grabar.

Introducir vs introduce

Introducir is a tricky verb because it translates to introduce only in very specific, non-social contexts.

You can use introducir when talking about inserting a coin into a machine or bringing a new topic into a text.

You can’t use it to introduce two people to each other at a party.

When you want to introduce a person socially, you must use the verb presentar.

Carpeta vs carpet

Walking into a Spanish furniture store and asking for a carpeta will definitely cause confusion.

The word carpeta translates to a folder or a file used for organizing papers.

If you want to buy a carpet or rug for your living room floor, the word you need is alfombra.

Asistir vs assist

The verb asistir looks like it should mean to help or to assist someone.

In reality, it means to attend an event, a class, or a meeting.

If you want to offer help or assistance to another person, you need to use the verb ayudar.

Learning these false friends early on will save you from making uncomfortable mistakes.

It’s always helpful to memorize the correct translations alongside the false friend.