Embarrassed or Pregnant? Spanish-English Mistakes That Make You Go "Ooh Aah!

 

Photo by Marco Gnaccarini on Unsplash

Have you ever said you were “embarrassed”... and told someone you were pregnant instead? 😳

Welcome to the world of false friends — words that look similar in English and Spanish, but mean completely different things.

These “friends” are tricky, but they also bring funny stories and great learning moments. Here are five classic ones I see all the time — and at the end, a small bonus from my life in the Czech Republic!

1. Embarazado = Pregnant 😬

Nope, embarazado doesn’t mean embarrassed — it means pregnant!
The word you want is avergonzado/a.

Let’s practice:
How did Hansel and Gretel’s dad feel after leaving his kids in the forest?
And how about Rachel in Friends, when she was playing games with Ross’s heart?
Right! Both were avergonzado/a.

2. Actualmente = Currently 🕒

Students often think actualmente means “actually.”
But it really means currently.
“Actually” is de hecho.

Example:
¿Actualmente Pedro Pascal está saliendo con Jennifer Aniston?
→ Actualmente, no.
→ De hecho, who is he dating? (Let the gossip begin 👀)

3. Sensible = Sensitive 🥲

In English, sensible means smart and reasonable.
In Spanish, sensible means sensitive or emotional.

Like:
Connor Roy from Succession? Nada sensible.
Sheldon from Big Bang? Same.
Can you think of another cold-hearted character? Leave it in the comments!

4. Nota = Grade 📝

This one I hear all the time.
Students ask: “¿Cuál es mi marca?” — which means “What’s my brand?” 😅
No. If you want your grade, say: ¿Cuál es mi nota?

Trust me, your teacher isn’t selling you to Nike.

5. Éxito = Success (not exit)

Many students confuse éxito with “exit” — but it actually means success.

Maybe you’re learning a new language, or starting a new job, or just trying something new.
You don’t see the results yet, but don’t give up.
Make éxito part of your vocabulary — and your future.

¡Éxito, éxito!

🎁 Bonus: Living in Czech Republic = Language Shock

A few Czech words made me laugh (or panic) as a Spanish speaker:

  • Paco — A common name in Spanish… but slang for “dummy” in Czech 😳

  • Teta — “Aunt” in Czech, but in Spanish, tetas means... well, not aunt 😅

  • Curva — A road bend in Spanish. A rude insult in Czech. I had to avoid saying this word loudly on public transport — especially when my daughter was little. Ah, the things you learn as a language mom!

So, don’t feel avergonzado/a when you speak. Mistakes mean you’re learning.
Go out, say hola, order a coffee, and keep practicing.

Got your own false friend story? Tell me in the comments!

🗓️ See you next Saturday for a new post!

✉️ Share this with a classmate or friend who always says “Estoy embarazada” 😄

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