Have you ever used a word in English and got confused looks from people? 🙈 You’re not alone! As we advance our language skills, we encounter more tricky terminology and it can be challenging to determine in which context to use it. Today we will analyze key words that are often mixed up and learn how to use them correctly!
First, some examples:
“Do you remember the fun we had in Gibraltar? The monkeys stole your ice cream, it was so funny that I couldn’t stop laughing. What a great story.”
“I will remind you not to forget history and the borrowed land we are standing on.”
🧠 Fun ≠ Funny
Fun: diversión (noun) or divertido (adjective)
Funny: gracioso, cómico (adjective)
Something “fun” is something you truly enjoy. If something is “funny” it makes you laugh.
Examples: “Today was a difficult day, but we still had fun!”
“Her story was so funny, I couldn’t stop laughing.”
🧠 History ≠ Story
History: historia, historial
Story: historia, cuento
This one is difficult, because both words can be translated as “historia” in Spanish.
Generally, history is factual or academic, it is something that really happened, while a story can be factual or fictional, and is primarily intended for entertainment.
🧐 When we subimos algo a nuestra historia en las redes, we upload content to our story on social media.
Examples: “It was the strongest earthquake in the country’s history.”
“Kids, let me tell you the story about how I met your mother…”
🧠 Remember ≠ Remind
To remember/to remind: recordar
Recordar is a verb in Spanish that can have a few meanings in English
‘Remember’ refers to keeping something in mind, whereas, ‘remind’ refers to telling someone not to forget something.
Examples: “I remember the day of our wedding, it rained all day!”
“I reminded you to bring your passport, but you didn’t remember!”
🧠 Borrow ≠ Loan
To borrow, to lend: prestar
Prestar in Spanish can have a few meanings in English. In some cases it can mean to lend, when we give someone something temporarily. Or it can mean to borrow, when we take something from someone temporarily.
Examples: “Maria lended me her car for the day. I borrowed Maria’s car for the day. ”
👀 Tip! The person who is using the item, is borrowing, while the person who is allowing the use of it, is lending.
💪 Now that you have flexed your lexicological muscles, do you know any other examples of tricky words in English? Let us know below! 💪
Elizabeth Hickson Azocar