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The False Friends (Faux Amis) Trap Radar
Words that sound identical in English but mean something totally shocking or hilarious abroad. Protect yourself from linguistic embarrassment across Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese.
embarazada Spanish 🇪🇸
❌ Sounds Like (The Trap):
"embarrassed"
✅ What It Really Means:
pregnant (expecting a child)
To say "embarrassed": use avergonzado / apenado
Ella está embarazada de seis meses.
She is six months pregnant.
actualmente Spanish 🇪🇸
❌ Sounds Like (The Trap):
"actually (in fact)"
✅ What It Really Means:
currently / at present
To say "actually (in fact)": use en realidad / de hecho
Actualmente vivo en Madrid.
Currently I live in Madrid.
attendre French 🇫🇷
❌ Sounds Like (The Trap):
"to attend (a conference/class)"
✅ What It Really Means:
to wait / wait for
To say "to attend (a conference/class)": use assister à
J'attends le bus depuis dix minutes.
I have been waiting for the bus for ten minutes.
bekommen German 🇩🇪
❌ Sounds Like (The Trap):
"to become"
✅ What It Really Means:
to receive / to get
To say "to become": use werden
Ich habe ein Geschenk bekommen.
I received a gift.
salir Spanish 🇪🇸
❌ Sounds Like (The Trap):
"to sail"
✅ What It Really Means:
to leave / exit / go out
To say "to sail": use navegar
Salgo del trabajo a las seis.
I leave work at six.
pretendere Italian 🇮🇹
❌ Sounds Like (The Trap):
"to pretend"
✅ What It Really Means:
to demand / claim / expect
To say "to pretend": use fingere
Non puoi pretendere la perfezione.
You cannot demand perfection.
constipé French 🇫🇷
❌ Sounds Like (The Trap):
"having a cold"
✅ What It Really Means:
constipated (bowel blockage)
To say "having a cold": use enrhumé (having a head cold)
Il est constipé depuis hier.
He has been constipated since yesterday.
sensible Spanish 🇪🇸 / French 🇫🇷
❌ Sounds Like (The Trap):
"sensible (practical/wise)"
✅ What It Really Means:
sensitive (emotional/touchy)
To say "sensible (practical/wise)": use sensato / razonable
Es una persona muy sensible al dolor ajeno.
She is very sensitive to other people's pain.
assistir Portuguese 🇵🇹
❌ Sounds Like (The Trap):
"to assist / help"
✅ What It Really Means:
to watch / attend (a show, match)
To say "to assist / help": use ajudar
Vou assistir ao jogo amanhã.
I am going to watch the match tomorrow.
gift German 🇩🇪
❌ Sounds Like (The Trap):
"gift (present)"
✅ What It Really Means:
poison / venom
To say "gift (present)": use das Geschenk
Vorsicht, das ist reines Gift!
Caution, that is pure poison!