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False Friends - C
Cabin refers to a room on a ship for sleeping, a small enclosed place at the front of an aircraft or a small roughly built wooden house. “Una cabina telefónica” is called a telephone booth or box.
Carbon doesn’t mean “carbón”. It means “carbono”. “Carbón” is coal.
Career is your job or your profession. It does no refer to the period of preparation; study and training.
After 20 years in the same profession I've decided I need a change of career.
Carpet is a floor covering usually made of a woollen material and usually covering the entire floor from wall to wall. The Spanish “carpeta” is a folder.
Casually does not mean "casualmente". It means to show or feel little interest.
The boy walked casually up to President Clinton and said he wanted to meet Bill Gates.
"Casualmente" would be by chance or to happen to.
Yesterday, just but by chance, I ran into an old schoolmate.
I just happened to run into an old schoolmate.
Character means "personaje" when talking about a story or a film.
Collar refers to a part of a shirt, “cuello”. “Collar” would be necklace.
Children don't go to college. They go to school. A college is a school for higher education similar to a university. When the word college is included in the name of a children's school; e.g. Wellington College, it would be incorrect to say that the students go to college or attend college. Instead you would have to say that they go to, or attend, or study at Wellington.
Comfortable means to provide comfort or the feeling of comfort.
The new sofa is very comfortable.
The doctor says that she's resting comfortably after her operation.
But if you want to express the Spanish:
“Es muy cómodo tener la fábrica al lado del aeropuerto.” you have to use the word convenient.
It's very convenient to have the office near the airport.
Convenient also means suited to one's needs, not causing difficulties.
Will Thursday afternoon be convenient for you?
Complexion does not mean "complexión" which would be build or type of body. Complexion refers to the natural colour and appearance of the skin, especially of the face.
I wonder how she keeps such a healthy complexion.
Comprehensive means thorough, broad.
There will be comprehensive coverage of the election.
If you want to express the idea “comprensivo” you should use the word understanding.
Compromise does not mean “compromiso” but rather to settle an argument or difference of opinion by each side agreeing to some of the demands of the other. “Un compromiso” could be a commitment, a previous engagement or an arrangement.
After much debate the two parties reached a compromise.
Concourse doesn’t mean “concurso”. It refers to a hall or open place where passages or roads meet and crowds of people gather.
We’ll look for you in the airport concourse.
“Concurso” would be a contest or competition and the “concursantes” would be called the contestants.
A conductor is the person who collects payment from passengers on a train. The person who controls a vehicle is a driver.
They say that in the future the metro trains will have no drivers.
Confident is not "confidente". A confident person is one who has or shows a strong belief in his/her ability.
We are confident that the new campaign will be very successful.
"Confidente" is confidant.
Constipated means "estreñido". If you are "constipado" you have a cold.
Content means satisfied. It does not mean happy.
See Comfortable
A convict is a person who has been found guilty of a crime and is in prison or jail.
