Let’s go to learn Spanish! #12
Posted in ELE, Español como Lengua Extranjera, Intermediate level, Learning Spanish, Nivel intermedio, Spanish as a foreign language
False friend: EMBARAZADA
Here we are with another false friend that can cause you some trouble if you mistake these two words. We’re talking about the Spanish word embarazada, which can be confused with the English word embarassed.
Embarazada describes the state of a pregnant woman. In animals, it is called preñez. This word is etymologically made up of the verb embarazar.
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- Laura le dijo a su familia que estaba embarazada [Laura told her family she was pregnant]
The correct way to say embarassed in Spanish are the phrases “tener vergüenza” (literal meaning: “I have shame”), “(me/te/le/nos/os/les) da vergüenza” or “estar avergonzado/a”. Look at the following examples:
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- Yo no tengo vergüenza de ser pobre [I’m not ashamed of being poor]
- Me da vergüenza hablar con él/ella [I’m embarrassed to talk to him/her or Talking to him/her is embarrassing for me]
- Estoy avergonzado de como reaccioné ayer a la noticia [I’m ashamed of how I reacted to the news yesterday]
