Beware of false friends

False friends are pairs of words in two languages that look and/or sound similar, but differ in meaning.

The following list is a sampler of (more or less) commonly missused words:

Actually = de hecho, en realidad / Actualmente = nowadays
Advertisement = anuncio / Advertencia = warning
Advice = consejo / Aviso = notice
Agenda = orden del día / Agenda = diary
Argument = discusión / Argumento = plot
To assist = ayudar / Asistir = to attend
Carpet = alfombra / Carpeta = folder
Character = personaje / Carácter = personality
Collar = cuello / Collar = necklace
Conference = congreso / Conferencia = lecture
Constipated = estreñido / Constipado = cold (estar constipado = to have a cold)
Crime = delito / Crimen = murder
Deception = engaño / Decepción = dissapointment
Diversion = desvío / Diversión = fun
Education = enseñanza / Educación = politeness
Exit = salida / Éxito = success
Extravagant = derrochador / Extravagante = eccentric or odd
Fault = culpa, defecto / Falta = mistake
Gracious = cortés / Gracioso = funny
To ignore = no hacer caso / Ignorar = not to know
To intend = proponerse / Intentar = to try
Large = grande / Largo = long
Lecture = conferencia / Lectura = reading
Library = biblioteca / Librería = bookshop
Luxury = lujo / Lujuria = lust
Misery = tristeza / Miseria = poverty
Motorist = conductor de coche / Motorista = motorcyclist
Notice = anuncio, aviso / Noticia = news
Parents = padres / Parientes = relatives
Petrol = gasolina / Petróleo = oil
To pretend = fingir, simular / Pretender = to mean, to intend
To prove = demostrar / Provar, catar = to try (on), to taste
To realise = darse cuenta / Realizar = to carry out
To resume = reanudar / Resumir = to summarise
Scholar = estudioso / Escolar = student
Sensible = sensato / Sensible = sensitive
Stranger = forastero / Extranjero = foreigner
To support = apoyar, mantener / Soportar = To stand or to put up with
Sympathetic = compasivo / Simpático = nice, funny
To succeed = tener éxito, lograr / Suceder = to happen or to take place
Topic = tema / Tópico = cliché

Words used only in plural

Acoustics = acústica
Aerobics = gimnasia aeróbica
Athletics = atletismo
Barracks = cuartel
Bellows = fuelle
Belongings = efectos personales
Billiards = billar
Binoculars = binoculares
Bowls = petanca, bolos
Braces (GB), suspenders (US) = tiradores
Braces (US) = aparatos de ortodoncia
Clothes = vestimenta, ropa
Contents = contenido
Crossroads = cruce de caminos
Customs = aduana
Darts = dardos
Dominoes = dominó
Dungarees = pantalón de peto
Earnings = ingresos
Economics = ciencias económicas, economía
Ethics = ética
Gallows = horca
Gasworks = fábrica de gas
Glasses = gafas, anteojos
Goods = mercancías
Green = verduras
Gymnastics = gimnasia
Handcuffs = esposas
Headquarters = sede central, cuartel general
Jeans = jeans, pantalones vaqueros
Kennels = perrera
Knickers = bragas
Leggings = calzas, mallas
Linguistics = lingüística
Manners = modales
Maths = matemáticas
Mathematics = matemáticas
Means = medio, manera
Measles = sarampión
German measles = rubéola
Mumps = paperas
News = noticia
Odds = posibilidades
Outskirts = afueras (de la ciudad)
Pants (GB), underpants (US) = bragas, calzoncillos
Pants (US), trousers (GB) = pantalones
Phonetics = fonética
Physics = física
Pincers = pinzas
Pliers = alicates, tenazas
Pyjamas (GB), pajamas (US) = pijama
Remains = restos
Riches = riquezas
Scales = balanza
Scissors = tijeras
Series = serie, sucesión
Shears = tijeras de jardín
Shorts = bermudas, pantalones cortos
Shorts (US) = calzoncillos
Species = especie
Spectacles = gafas, anteojos (quevedos)
Stairs = escaleras
Statistics = estadísticas
Surroundings = alrededores
Tights (GB) = pantimedias
Tongs = pinzas (para el hielo)
Trunks = bañador, malla (para hombre)
Tweezers = pinzas

Commonly Used Spanish Words in Modern English

Both English and Spanish are Indo-European languages.

English is descended from the Germanic family of languages while Spanish is a Romance language. The Romance family of languages includes Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian. All these languages emerged from the interaction of Vulgar Latin with the local idioms. The Renaissance triggered the influx of Spanish vocabulary into the English language, either directly or through French. By 1650, Spanish was one of the two languages with international potential. (In case you are curious, Dutch was the other language.)

Many words that came to English via Spanish are ultimately derived from South or Central American Indian languages: for example, the so very "English" word potato derives from Haitian through Spanish. The French language was a leading contributor of new words, especially as a "relay" language, i.e. as a linguistic middleman that channeled fresh vocabulary from other languages. The word canoe is a case in point: it is of Latin, French, Spanish, and ultimately Haitian etymology. In other cases, Spanish played the part of the "relay" language: for example, the word cork, ultimately of Latin origin (through Arabic), came to English via Old Spanish (alcorque).

Spanish loanwords may not be as numerous as those of Latin and French origin, but they are just as varied, widespread, and influential. English would be poorer without words such as adobe, alcove, alligator, avocado, banana, bravo, cafeteria, canary, canyon, chocolate, cockroach, cocoa, embargo, guitar, hammock, hurricane, maize, mosquito, plaza, renegade, rodeo, sherry, spaniel, stockade, tobacco, tomato, tuna, vanilla, wrangler-- to mention but a few examples.

Commonly used Spanish words and phrases in modern English.

Aficcionado : a keen admirer, a knowledgeable devotee, an enthusiast

Duende (Spanish for "goblin, imp, elf"): charm, magnetism, charisma

El Dorado : originally, a legendary kingdom of unimaginable wealth; any place of great opportunity (metaphorically)

Hasta la vista : so long, farewell, goodbye

Macho (literally: male): virile, he-man

Mi casa es su casa : make yourself at home!

Parador (Spanish for "roadside inn"): state-run hotel (parador nacional)

Posada (Spanish for "inn"): a Spanish inn, a resort hotel; shelter, lodging

.

Siesta (from Latin sexta = sixth (hour); noon): an afternoon nap

.

Vaya con Dios (Spanish for "go with God"): may God be with you

.

Source:Merriam-Webster

Online: http://www.m-w.com

Vocabulary Memorization Tricks

Sometimes in order to remember a new vocabulary word you need to tie it to something that will help you recall it. A trick used by ancient and medieval scholars is to invent some strange or unusual image, a pun on some oddball phrase in English, a popular song; anything.

The more bizarre the better. When you need to recall that word, very often you can use the image or wordplay or whatever you've mentally attached to that word as a way to access it.

With a little practice, it's remarkable how effectively you can use this technique to recall otherwise unfamiliar words.

Gradually, you'll learn to remember the new words without the need to use the memory aid.

How to Study

1. Do small amounts, very often.

• Three focused 15-minute study times per day, not one two-hour session.


• Don’t try to memorize fifty words in one sitting; try six or eight words.


• Recognize when you are overloading your brain, and back off.


• Go back and repeat things often to reinforce what you’ve already learned.

2. Find ways to make memorization part of your daily routine.

• Tape vocabulary lists to your mirror or on the wall next to your bed.


• Study vocab while waiting in line at the caf.


• Recite words and phrases to yourself while working out or in the shower.


• Make vocab lists appear every time you start your computer.

3. Get as many senses as possible actively involved. Don’t just look at the words and think that you’re learning them.

• Say the words aloud.


• Listen to the words.


• Write the words down.


• Visualize the object or action that the word represents.


• Make up a song containing the words.

4. Put the words in a context.

• Make them part of a phrase or sentence.


• Group them with other similar words.


• Connect the words with an English derivative or cognate.


• Use any crazy associations your brain creates.