Vocabulary matching

SpanishAQAGCSEUnit: Reading + Translation (ES→EN)
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The basics

Emparejamiento de vocabulario — Vocabulary Matching

📖 Emparejamiento de vocabulario — Vocabulary Matching

Many Spanish words look identical — or nearly identical — to English words. Sometimes they share the same meaning. Often they don't. These "false friends" (falsos amigos) are specifically targeted by AQA because they catch students who rely on guesswork instead of learning.
Spanish word Looks like Actually means
embarazada embarrassed pregnant
sensible sensible sensitive
largo/a large long
librería library bookshop
actualmente actually currently
realizar to realise to carry out / achieve
asistir to assist to attend
pretender to pretend to intend / claim
Spotlight
Cómo usar el contexto — Using Context

Even when you don't recognise a word, the surrounding sentence usually tells you the meaning. AQA passages are designed so that nearby words give clues — you can often work out meaning from grammar, adjacent vocabulary, and the logic of the sentence.

Exam tip

Earn the mark scheme marks

💡 Errores clásicos — Classic Errors

"Estoy embarazada" → student translates as "I am embarrassed"

I am PREGNANT. The speaker is announcing a pregnancy.

Why: embarazada = pregnant. "Estoy avergonzado/a" = I am embarrassed.

"La librería está cerrada" → student translates as "The library is closed"

The BOOKSHOP is closed.

Why: librería = bookshop. Library = biblioteca — a completely different word.

"Actualmente vivo en Madrid" → student translates as "Actually, I live in Madrid"

I CURRENTLY live in Madrid.

Why: actualmente = currently (at the present time). "En realidad" = actually (correcting a misunderstanding).

"Pretendo estudiar medicina" → student translates as "I pretend to study medicine"

I INTEND to study medicine.

Why: pretender = to intend / claim. "Fingir" = to pretend (to fake something).

Now try it yourself

Quiz · Question 1 of 16

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