Articles

False friends

Three weeks before moving to London, I took some English classes in order to improve. Simon, my teacher, advised me on the most useful ways to help avoid misunderstandings. He himself understands how easily this can occur being British and living in Spain. One day during class he asked me: "Do you know about false friends?". I was so confused! I was thinking to myself, English people are very honest, they have a list with people that they are unable to trust! Suddenly, I realised that I was wrong because he handed me a sheet of paper with a list of words, none of which were names. This list contained words in English that are similar to words in Spanish, but have different meanings.

Being the "good" student that I am, I misplaced this valuable list which I have missed since my arrival here in the UK.

On my first day at work, my boss told me: "Could you make a note in my diary about my meeting tomorrow, please?" I felt uncomfortable about that, I didn't want to know about his private life?ˆ¦ (don't understand? See below)

When I arrived at home, I met one of my flatmates. I was explaining to her about this misunderstanding with my boss and he asked me: "Did you feel embarrased?" I thought that maybe I was getting fat, because in her opinion I looked as if I was pregnant (don't understand? See below).

On my second day at work, a colleague and I decided to go shopping after work. We were in a big Shopping Centre and decided to stop for a coffee. After finishing our coffees, she said me: "I'm looking for the exit." I thought she was beginning to confide in me. I later realised she was looking for the way out and not for success in her life. (don't understand? See below)

After these situations I decided to recover the list of false friends that my teacher had given me, forget about literal translations and learn more about the language.

1. The English word diary is similar to the Spanish word diario that means: a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations.

2. The English word embarrassed is similar to the Spanish word embarazada that means: pregnant.

3. The English word exit is similar to the Spanish word ?©xito that means: success.

For more information:


http://spanish.about.com/cs/vocabulary/a/obviouswrong.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_friend

Article written by a Spanish intern working in the Marketing Department as part of the Leonardo Programme.


Articles posted on this section of our website are written by staff members or interns. Topics may include their experiences of living and working in London, their thoughts on language and culture and the differences therein.


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