False friends in Translation

As a translator, you have most certainly come across false friends.

A “false friend” is a word in a language that has a correspondingly similar word in a different language that appears to have a similar phonetic form, but in reality, has an entirely different meaning, origin, and spelling.

Even though English is a Germanic language, it might surprise you to learn that many English words come from Latin. When it comes to formal translation projects, a seemingly trivial error caused by a false friend can have serious consequences.

In addition to knowing the grammatical complexities of a language, translators must also be aware of common false friends that may deceive them. Knowing these false friends will help you stay away from unnecessary miscommunication and will ensure you always translate them properly.

Below there follow 15 illustrative examples of false friends in English and Spanish:

English Word	Spanish False Friend	Spanish Translation
Rope	Ropa	Cuerda
Library	Librería	Biblioteca
Avocado	Abocado	Avocado/palta
Embarrassed	Embarazado/a	Avergonzado/a
Realize	Realizar	Darse cuenta
Lecture	Lectura	Conferencia/charla
Record	Recordar	Grabar
Introduce	Introducir	Presentar
Cart	Carta	Carrito (supermarket)
Advertise	Advertir	Hacer publicidad
Blank	Blanco (color)	En blanco/vacío
Camp	Campo	Campamento
Quote	Cuota	Cita literaria
Involve	Envolver	Involucrar
Exit	Éxito	Salida

Strong localization knowledge and awareness of local customs, traditions, and target culture are the key skills a translator must have in order to avoid misconceptions.

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