False friendFood & BodySpanish

Constipado

Meaning: Actually means 'having a head cold'. Estoy constipado = I have a cold.

Looks like: Constipated

Origin: A famously awkward pharmacy mistranslation.

More false friends — Food & Body

  • Pain Actually means 'bread'. The hurting kind of pain is la douleur.
  • Caldo Actually means 'hot' (or a hot broth). Cold is freddo.
  • Blesser Actually means 'to wound' or 'to injure'. Je suis blessé = I am injured — not blessed.
  • Glass Actually means 'ice cream'. En glass = an ice cream. For a glass (vessel), say ett glas.
  • Polvo Actually means 'octopus'. For powder, say pó.
  • Sopa Actually means 'soup'. Soap is jabón.

More Spanish false friends

  • Éxito Actually means 'success'. An exit is una salida.
  • Actual Actually means 'current' or 'present'. For actual (real), say real or verdadero.
  • Largo Actually means 'long'. For large, say grande.
  • Molestar Actually means 'to bother' or 'to annoy'. ¿Te molesta el ruido? = Does the noise bother y…
  • Simpático Actually means 'nice' or 'likeable'. For sympathetic, say comprensivo.
  • Carpeta Actually means 'folder' or 'binder'. A carpet is una alfombra.

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