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 |
This introduction covers Emparejamiento de vocabulario — Vocabulary Matching within Vocabulary matching for GCSE Spanish. Revise Vocabulary matching in Reading + Translation (ES→EN) for GCSE Spanish with 16 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 1 of 4 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Vocabulary matching
What do the underlined words mean in English? 1. Me levanto **temprano** todos los días. 2. Mi hermana es muy **simpática**. 3. Vivo en una ciudad **pequeña**.
Quick recall flashcards
False friend: what does 'largo/a' mean?
does NOT mean 'large' — means LONG. 'Un viaje largo' = a long journey. 'Grande' = large/big.
Cognate trap: what does 'asistir' mean?
does NOT mean 'to assist' — means TO ATTEND. 'Asistí a la conferencia' = I attended the conference. 'Ayudar' = to help/assist.