Instant vocabulary
Two kinds of question. For words that look nearly identical in both languages, you pick the correctly-spelled Spanish version - accents and all. For words that differ, you read the Spanish and pick what it means. Either way you're practicing to recognize real Spanish, not just match look-alikes.
Ranked by how many words each unlocks. In conversation, if you don't know a word and the English feels Latin-rooted, convert it and say it with confidence - you'll be right most of the time, and Mexicans will understand you even when you're slightly off.
| Rule | Example | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| -tion → -ción | nation → nación | ~1,200 words |
| -al → -al | hospital → hospital | ~600 words |
| -ic → -ico | fantastic → fantástico | ~500 words |
| -ous → -oso | famous → famoso | ~400 words |
| -ate → -ar | celebrate → celebrar | ~400 words |
| -ent / -ant → -ente / -ante | important → importante | ~350 words |
| -ty → -dad | city → ciudad | ~300 words |
| -ly → -mente | rapidly → rápidamente | ~300 words |
| -ble → -ble | possible → posible | ~300 words |
| -ive → -ivo | positive → positivo | ~250 words |
| -ary → -ario | necessary → necesario | ~250 words |
| -ance / -ence → -ancia / -encia | experience → experiencia | ~250 words |
| -ist → -ista | artist → artista | ~200 words |
| -ism → -ismo | tourism → turismo | ~200 words |
| -or → -or | doctor → doctor | ~200 words |
| -ure → -ura | culture → cultura | ~150 words |
| -ct → -cto | perfect → perfecto | ~150 words |
| -ify → -ificar | verify → verificar | ~100 words |
| -id → -ido | rapid → rápido | ~100 words |
| s+consonant → es- | special → especial | everywhere words |
59 words where the look-alike betrays you. These appear as surprise questions in the trainer above - catch them and you're safe; miss one and you'll get the full correction, which is how they stick.
| Spanish | Looks like | Actually means | You wanted |
|---|---|---|---|
| embarazada | embarrassed | pregnant | avergonzado/a |
| éxito | exit | success | salida |
| actualmente | actually | currently | en realidad |
| actual | actual | current | real / verdadero |
| realizar | to realize | to carry out / achieve | darse cuenta |
| carpeta | carpet | folder | alfombra |
| sensible | sensible | sensitive | sensato |
| asistir | to assist | to attend | ayudar |
| atender | to attend | to serve / assist | asistir |
| librería | library | bookstore | biblioteca |
| ropa | rope | clothes | cuerda |
| sopa | soap | soup | jabón |
| constipado | constipated | congested (a cold) | estreñido |
| molestar | to molest | to bother / annoy | abusar |
| recordar | to record | to remember | grabar |
| introducir | to introduce (a person) | to insert | presentar |
| fábrica | fabric | factory | tela |
| arena | arena | sand | estadio |
| billón | billion | trillion | mil millones |
| campo | camp | field / countryside | campamento |
| casualidad | casualty | coincidence | víctima |
| colegio | college | school (K-12) | universidad |
| compromiso | compromise | commitment / engagement | acuerdo mutuo |
| contestar | to contest | to answer | disputar |
| decepción | deception | disappointment | engaño |
| delito | delight | crime | deleite |
| discusión | discussion | argument / dispute | conversación |
| disgusto | disgust | annoyance / displeasure | asco |
| dormitorio | dormitory | bedroom | residencia estudiantil |
| educado | educated | polite / well-mannered | instruido |
| envolver | to involve | to wrap | involucrar |
| eventualmente | eventually | possibly / occasionally | finalmente |
| excitado | excited | aroused | emocionado |
| firma | firm (company) | signature | empresa |
| ganga | gang | bargain | pandilla |
| gracioso | gracious | funny | amable / cortés |
| grosería | grocery | rude word / rudeness | abarrotes |
| idioma | idiom | language | modismo |
| largo | large | long | grande |
| lectura | lecture | reading | conferencia |
| letra | letter (mail) | letter (alphabet) / lyrics | carta |
| mayor | mayor | older / bigger | alcalde |
| once | once | eleven | una vez |
| pan | pan | bread | sartén |
| parientes | parents | relatives | padres |
| pie | pie | foot | pastel |
| preservativo | preservative | condom | conservador |
| pretender | to pretend | to intend / aspire to | fingir |
| quitar | to quit | to remove / take away | renunciar |
| rato | rat | a while / a moment | rata |
| red | red | net / network | rojo |
| resumir | to resume | to summarize | reanudar |
| sano | sane | healthy | cuerdo |
| soportar | to support | to tolerate / bear | apoyar |
| suceso | success | event / incident | éxito |
| taller | taller | workshop / repair shop | más alto |
| tuna | tuna | prickly pear (cactus fruit) | atún |
| vaso | vase | drinking glass | florero |
| comprensivo | comprehensive | understanding (person) | exhaustivo |