Here’s a list of linguistic false friends between Catalan and English—words that look or sound similar but have different meanings:
| Catalan Meaning | Word | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dance | Ball | A spherical object |
| Firefighter | Bomber | Aircraft that drops bombs |
| Expensive | Car | An automobile |
| Head | Cap | A type of hat |
| Happy, satisfied | Content | The subject matter of something |
| Horn | Corn | A type of grain |
| Several, various | Divers | People who dive |
| Success | Exit | A way out |
| Lighthouse | Far | Distant |
| Full | Fart | A release of gas from the body |
| Strong | Fort | A military structure |
| Cold | Fred | A male given name |
| Flu | Grip | A firm grasp |
| Man | Home | House |
| Slow | Lent | The Christian fasting period before Easter |
| Bigger | Major | Military rank |
| Clean | Net | A mesh used for catching things |
| A fart | Pet | A domesticated animal |
| Small bird, often a newborn chicken | Poll | A study of a group’s opinion |
| Close, nearby | Proper | Correct, appropriate |
| Without | Sense | A faculty by which the body perceives |
| Sleepiness | Son | Male child |
| Stopper | Tap | A device by which a flow of liquid can be controlled |
| A cut or incision | Tall | Of great height |
| Full belly | Tip | The end or extremity of something |