English and Spanish share some common words. Some of them mean the same thing, some of them don't. The second kind is unfairly called ‘false friends’. I confess I have a weakness for these… same length, same weight, same sound… and a supposedly different meaning to make you think about. Sometimes you really have to bite your tongue, I guess it is a natural instinct to fall into their fake love. But these babies tickle me somehow and I’m the kind of person who peacefully surrenders to a laugh.

This hHaving said this, notice that misfortune is not necessarily shame, but desgracia sounds a lot like disgrace. It would be difficult to be worried and distracted at the same time, but you’d be if you are were preocupado and also preoccupied. It is certainly not the same witnessing an event than as a success, but suceso means the first. An exit is good to escape, but éxito is the actual success way. Something going on over here now will be considered actual, but not necessarily effective or real. The brave action of attempting becomes a facade when you mistake pretending with pretender. Inserting your persona in strangers is what you seem to aim if you talk about introducir yourself.

But keeping the tickling aside, there is a pair of false friends that fascinates me over all.: Realizarse and to realize. The English word implies a step from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge, from blindness to vision, something like that, right? The Spanish one means to materialize your creativity, to satisfy your inner self, to bring your will to life. What a fortune to confuse these two verbs. What a genuine relationship they can share. I've got a crush on this couple of false friends.

Good job Carmen! This was a fun read yet a painful reminder of all the subtle differences in the language I've yet to master :)

False friends?

English and Spanish share some common words. Some of them mean the same thing, some of them do not. The second kind are unfairly called ‘false friends’. I'll confess, I have a weakness for these those… same length, same weight, same sound… Do you want to continue reading this article? Click right button Right click here here:

http://carmencorrea.hatenablog.com/entry/2014/09/05/195950

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