False friends

 False friends: son palabras  que se parecen (escritas o pronunciadas) a palabras de otro idioma pero que tienen distinto significado. Por eso decimos que son nuestros “falsos amigos” ya que nos pueden llevar a confusiones y “engaños”.

Dos de las más conocidas son:

To be constipated (estar estreñido), en español pensaríamos que la traducción es “estar constipado” (¡¡muy lejos de la realidad!!)

“I’ve been constipated for three days so I am going to have a couple of Activia yoghurts”

To be embarrassed (estar avergonzado), y no estar embarazada.

“I acted like a fool at the party, I feel so embarrassed now!”

More false friends:

Actually: realmente

“ I’ve lived in Spain nearly all my life but actually I was born in Scotland”

Eventually: finalmente, después de un largo periodo de tiempo.

She refused to go out with me but I insisted and eventually she agreed.

Argument: discusión, pelea

“My children are always having arguments at lunchtime”

Sensible: sensato

“Despite of being so young, he is a really sensible guy”

Sensitive: sensible

“She is too sensitive, she is always crying!”

To realize: darse cuenta de algo

“When I  realized  the time it was too late”

Ahora veamos cómo se dicen las siguientes palabras en inglés:

Estar constipado: to have a cold

“I have a cold, so I am afraid I can’t go for a swim today”

Estar embarazada: to be pregnant

“A lot of my friends are pregnant right now”

Actualmente: currently/ nowadays/at the moment/now/at present

“I’m currently working as an English teacher”

“Nowadays it is difficult to find a good job”

Eventualmente: possibly

“I could possibly go to visit you”

Argumento: plot

“I loved the plot of that scary film”

Realizar: to make

“The theatre  group made an outstanding performance”

“I’m going to make a phone call as soon as we finish”

(More false friends coming soon!!)