![]() Largo – Largo must be the equivalent of the English “large,” right? Nope, in Spanish it means “long.” VERDICT: USE.Nudo – In Spanish “nudo” means “knot” - get your mind out of the gutter! To translate the English word “nude” as in having no clothes on, use “desnudo.” VERDICT: USE.Jabón/Jamon – Don’t ask for soap when you really need ham! “Jabón” means “soap,” while “jamón” means “ham.” VERDICT: USE.Molestar – Any English speaker immediately assumes the worse when they hear a kid say to another kid “me molesta,” but in Spanish “molestar” means simply “to bother” so “me molesta” means “He/She is bothering me.” In Spanish this word is innocent. VERDICT: USE.Embarazada – Don’t make the mistake of saying “embarazada” for “embarrassed.” It means “pregnant.” Only if you are pregnant of course! For “embarrassed,” use “avergonzado.” VERDICT: USE. ![]() But I learned from one of my coworkers that the word can take on a variation in some places to mean something like “pimp.” Instead use “bonito” or “lindo” - both mean “pretty.” VERDICT: AVOID. Chulo – Most countries use this word to mean “cute,” as in “el bebe es chulo” (the baby is cute).Don’t make mistakes like I have! 15 Spanish Words to Avoid I’m in my ninth year as a bilingual speech pathologist and here are a few of the words that have tripped me up over the years. It’s easy to make a mistake when a language is not your native language. It is one thing to make a funny mistake when traveling, but public school employees should try their best not make errors that could offend students and their parents. There’s nothing worse than making a “faux pas” when speaking a foreign language.
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