15 Naughty Spanish Words, Wrong Translations, and Tricky False Cognates to Avoid

There’s nothing worse than making a “faux pas” when speaking a foreign language. It is one thing to make a funny mistake when traveling, but public school employees should try their best not make errors that could offend students and their parents.

I’m in my ninth year as a bilingual speech pathologist and here are a few of the words that have tripped me up over the years:

1. Chulo – Most countries use this word to mean “cute,” as in “el bebe es chulo” (the baby is cute). But I learned from one of my coworkers that the word can take on a variation in some places to mean something like “pimp.” Instead use “bonito” or “lindo” — both mean “pretty.” VERDICT: AVOID.
2. Embarazada – Don’t make the mistake of saying “embarazada” for “embarrassed.” It means “pregnant.” Only if you are pregnant of course! For “embarrassed,” use “avergonzado.” VERDICT: USE.
3. Molestar – Any English speaker immediately assumes the worse when they hear a kid say to another kid “me molesta,” but in Spanish “molestar” means simply “to bother” so “me molesta” means “He/She is bothering me.” In Spanish this word is innocent. VERDICT: USE
4. Jabon/Jamon – Don’t ask for soap when you really need ham! “Jabon” means “soap,” while “jamon” means “ham.” VERDICT: USE
5. Nudo – In Spanish “nudo” means “knot” — get your mind out of the gutter! VERDICT: USE. To translate the English word “nude” as in having no clothes on, use “desnudo.”
6. Largo – Largo must be the equivalent of the English “large,” right? Nope, in Spanish it means “long.” VERDICT: USE
7. Mariquita – Going through some insect photos with some students, we found the ladybug and the students said “mariquita.” Later an adult told me that it also means “effeminate,” “pansy,” or “sissy.” Only use it when you actually have a ladybug picture in front of you and you are with young students. VERDICT: AVOID.
8. Grabar — In Spanish “grabar” means to record a movie or take audio — not “grab.” For the English “grab,” use “agarrar.” VERDICT: USE.
9. Pie — Yummy pie, right? Wrong! In Spanish “pie” is pronounced “pee-a” and means “foot.” For a sweet pie you eat, use “tarta” or “pastel.” VERDICT: USE.
10. Foco — I know what it looks like in English, but don’t jump to conclusions! “Foco” in Spanish means “light bulb.” VERDICT: USE.
11. Chocar — Looks like it could mean “choke,” but in Spanish “chocar” means “to crash.” For the English “to choke,” which I hope you don’t have to use that much, use “estrangulación.” VERDICT: USE.
12. Sano — If you are sane, you are not “sano,” which looks too obvious! “Sano” means “healthy” in Spanish. For the word “sane,” use “cuerdo.” VERDICT: USE.
13. Red — It looks too good to be true, but “red” in Spanish is not a color. It means “network.” “Red” in Spanish is “rojo.” VERDICT: USE.
14. Real — Just keeping it real takes on a whole new meaning when you find out that “real” in Spanish means “royal.” For “real,” use “verdadero” or “autentico.” VERDICT: USE
15. Ropa — Wow, “ropa” looks like “rope,” but it’s not. In Spanish, “ropa” means “clothing.” For “rope,” use “cuerda.” VERDICT: USE

I hope this is helpful! Do you have any additional words you would add to this list? I’d love some tips!