Learning new languages can be a tricky business, especially since every language has its own rules and its own quirks. This can often lead to mistakes - usually fairly funny ones (you'll remember my own German verb mix-up from an earlier post 'Learning a New Language…').
However, if you are learning Spanish and wish to avoid some of the more common errors, here is a list of easily-confused words and phrases:
- Él (he) vs. El (masculine 'the')
What to Say: Él es un buen hombre.
What it Means: He is a good man.
What to Say: ¿Donde está el baño?
What it Means: Where is the bathroom?
- Tú (singular, informal 'you') vs. Tu (your)
What to Say: Tú estás tarde.
What it Means: You are late.
What to Say: Yo tengo tu mochila.
What it Means: I have your backpack.
** Look for a post on 'Tú/Tu/Tuyo/Usted' soon-to-come. Very easy to confuse, but not interchangeable at all **
- Éxito (success) vs. Salida (exit)
What to Say: ¿Donde está la salida?
What is Means: Where is the exit?
What NOT to say: ¿Donde está el éxito?
What it Means: Where is the success?
** I.E. the latter is basically nonsense **
- Cansado (tired) vs. Casado (married)
What to Say: Estoy cansado/a.
What it Means: I'm tired.
What to Say: Estoy casado/a.
What it Means: I'm married.
- Un Poquito (a little bit) vs. Un Piquito (little kiss)
What to Say: Si, yo hablo un poquito de Español.
What it Means: Yes, I speak a little Spanish.
What NOT to Say: Yo quiero un piquito.
What it Means: I want a little kiss.
** This one is a Bolivian colloquialism, I am told. But this did happen to me and people laughed; you've been warned. **
- Avergonzado (embarrassed) vs. Embarazada (pregnant)
What to Say: ¡Estoy muy avergonzado!
What it Means: I am so embarrassed/ashamed!
What to Say: ¡Estoy embarazada!
What it Means: I'm pregnant
What NOT to Say: ¡Estoy muy embarazada!
What it Means: I am so pregnant!
** Unless, you know...you are SUPER PREGNANT. But, if you're embarrassed/apologizing, don't use 'embarazada' **
- Mamá(s) (informal 'mothers') vs. Mamas (boobs)
What to Say: ¡Feliz Día de la Madre a mi mamá hermosa!
What it Means: Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful mommy!
What NOT to Say: ¡Feliz Día de las Mamas a mi madre hermosa!
What it Means: Happy Breasts Day to my my beautiful mother!
- Papá(s) (informal 'fathers') vs. Papa (potato)
What to Say: Mi papá es un maestro.
What it Means: My dad is a teacher.
What to Say: Yo quiero papas fritas.
What it Means: I want french fries.
What NOT to Say: Mi papa vive en Nueva York.
What it Means: My potato lives in New York.
- Año (year) vs. Ano (anus)
What to Say: Tengo veinticuatro años.
What it Means: I am twenty-four years old.
What NOT to Say: Tengo veinticuatro anos.
What it Means: I have twenty-four anuses.
** I apologize for the lewdness of this example, but this is not a mistake you want to make and the words are very similar! Unless you're completing your medical residence in a Spanish-speaking country, try to avoid use of the latter word at all costs. You're welcome. **
- Perro (dog) vs. Pero (but)
What to Say: Mi familia tiene dos perros, pero no tiene gatos.
What it Means: My family has two dogs, but has no cats.
- Perra (female dog / slang for 'bitch') vs. Pera (pear)
What to Say: ¿Tienes jugo de pera?
What it Means: Do you have pear juice?
What NOT to Say: ¿Tienes perras?
What it Means: Do you have bitches?
** Numbers 5 and 6 can be easily avoided, because the double R is a specific sound in Spanish. A word with a 'rr' should be pronounced by rolling the tongue. However, for those of us who were not blessed with such a talent, awkwardness ensues. **
- Sí (yes) vs. Si (if)
What to Say: Sí, tengo la película.
What it Means: Yes, I have the movie.
What to Say: Yo voy, si quieres.
What it Means: I am going, if you want.
- Cerveza (beer) vs. Cereza (cherry)
What to say: ¿Quieres otra cerveza?
What it Means: Do you want another beer?
What to Say: Soy alérgico a las cerezas.
What it Means: I am allergic to cherries.
- Pato (duck) vs. Pavo (turkey)
What to Say: Un pato es una mascota rara.
What it Means: A duck is a weird pet.
What to say: Mi madre cocina pavo el Día de Acción de Gracias.
What it Means: My mother cooks turkey on Thanksgiving.
- Jamón (ham) vs. Jabón (soap)
What to Say: Quiero un sandwich de jamón.
What it Means: I want a ham sandwich.
What to Say: ¿Tenemos jabón en el baño?
What it Means: Do we have soap in the bathroom?
