5 Common False Friends for Spanish Speakers

If you’re a Spanish speaker learning English, you’ve probably encountered “false friends” - words that look similar in both languages but have completely different meanings.

Here are five of the most common ones we see with our students:

1. Actually vs Actualmente

What you might say: “Actually, I’m working on a new project.” (meaning “at this moment”)

What it really means: “In fact” or “really”

What you should say: “Currently, I’m working on a new project.”

2. Sensible vs Sensible

What you might say: “She’s very sensible about criticism.” (meaning “sensitive”)

What it really means: “Practical” or “reasonable”

What you should say: “She’s very sensitive about criticism.”

3. Assist vs Asistir

What you might say: “I will assist the meeting tomorrow.” (meaning “attend”)

What it really means: “To help”

What you should say: “I will attend the meeting tomorrow.”

4. Eventually vs Eventualmente

What you might say: “Eventually, we have meetings on Fridays.” (meaning “occasionally”)

What it really means: “In the end” or “finally”

What you should say: “Occasionally, we have meetings on Fridays.”

5. Pretend vs Pretender

What you might say: “I pretend to finish this by Friday.” (meaning “intend”)

What it really means: “To act as if something is true when it isn’t”

What you should say: “I intend to finish this by Friday.”

Why do these matter?

In professional contexts, using the wrong word can lead to confusion - or worse, embarrassment. Imagine telling your boss you’re going to “pretend” to finish a project!

How to avoid false friends

1. Be aware - Now that you know these exist, you’ll notice them
2. Practice in context - Use new vocabulary in sentences, not isolation
3. Get feedback - A good teacher will catch these mistakes and help you correct them

Want to eliminate these errors from your English? At BoostPro, we help Spanish professionals speak confidently and correctly. Get in touch to learn more.