Can you explain some amigos falsos?
6 answers from our tutors
- Consuelo ChaparroEnglish teacher, Spanish tutor
Amigos falsos are fake cognates, which are words that look like other words, but they differ in meaning. Don't be afraid of cognates, most of the times they can be your allies. Here there are some examples Carpet: alfombra (rug), no carpeta (not folder) Actually: de hecho (in fact), no actualmente (not "in fact") Embarrased: avergonzado (ashamed), no embarazado (not pregnant).
Algunos de ellos son: Embarrased / avergonzado Actually/ en realidad Camp/ campamento Carpet/ Alfombra
hi prerita, aqui algunos "falsos amigos" o cognados falsos: embarrased -->avergonzada embarazada -->pregnant sensible ---->sensitive sensible ---->razonable idioma ------>language idiom ------>modismo
Hola Prerita, Me imagino que prefieres que te conteste en Español. Un 'falso amigo' o un 'false friend' es una palabra en el idioma que estamos aprendiendo que se parece mucho a la nuestro o que incluso es igual pero que no significa lo mismo que la de nuestro idioma. Por ejemplo: actual - en Español significa actual (que ocurre en el presente) pero la misma palabra en inglés: actual - significa 'real' (de verdad) This film is about an actual case = Esta película es sobre un caso real. Puedes encontrar listas de 'falsos amigos' en Internet, así no cometerás errores. :-) ¿Mucha suerte!
- LouiseDFun and patient guide for your journey to fluency!
Another is actualmente/actually. In English "actually" is kind of a filler word that often carries no meaning whatsoever; people just use it to avoid silence! Or it can be used to correct something you just said but changed your mind about, kind of like "Lo que quiero decir es. . ." so "Actually, what I want to say is. . ." Or to suddenly change plans, like "Actually, I'm not feeling well so let's go out tomorrow instead of today." Just remember that it's not a time marker like in Spanish but can float between the past, present and future!
- LouiseDFun and patient guide for your journey to fluency!
One "amigo falso" in English is "excited." It carries none of the sexual meaning of "excitado" in Spanish but simply means "emocionado," usually in a positive way, as in "I'm so excited to see the new Avengers movie!"
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