Frequently Mistranslated English Terms

English Access [v] Broadvision (Portal) Acceder a- NEVER accesar Act [n], when referring to a law - No Child Left Behind Act American [adj.] Ley o Proyecto de Ley; NEVER acta Spanish Equivalent

Estadounidense, less desirable, norteamericano; NEVER americano Confiable According to the Real Academia Espaola Autoritativo is hardly used. Solicitud Solicitar o postular NEVER aplicar In this case the verb aplicar should be used in the reflexive form Este beneficio se aplica a los empleados a tiempo completo NEVER Este beneficio aplica a los empleados a tiempo completo Other ways of translating this sentence are: Este beneficio es para empleados a tiempo completo; o Los empleados a tiempo completo tienen este beneficio.

Authoritative[adj.]

Application [n] Apply [v] to a job, or for a license, etc.] Apply [v] to a [noun] (Ex: This benefit applies to full-time employees)

Circle [v] (when used as a verb in a sentence such as: circle the correct answer)

Action verb in Spanish + crculo, such as, encerrar en un crculo la respuesta correcta NEVER circular when used in this context.

English Comprehensive, [n]

Spanish Equivalent Completo, extensivo, amplio NEVER comprensivo Instrucciones, indicaciones NEVER direcciones Discriminacin, NEVER discrimen Hoja de datos, planilla de datos Gobierno federal, estatal y/o local (Gobierno in Spanish should be capitalized, but not federal, estatal o local). See the Diccionario panhispnico de dudas online. Write the term gobierno in the search box for capitalization rules of this word.

Directions, [n] as in driving directions, directions to a place, etc. Discrimination, [n] Fact Sheet [n] Federal government, [n]

File [v] (as in to file taxes, file a story, etc.) Declarar, presentar File has many meanings, depending on use, the example only pertains to the use described.

Form [n] (as in complete this form) Preferred word is Formulario (Llene este formulario) Guidelines [n] Launch [v] (when used with a program, initiative, website, new feature, etc.) Directrices, also directivas, pautas, normas Lanzar, Inaugurar, iniciar, estrenar, activar, presentar, introducir al mercado, poner en marcha, etc. lanzar is by no means the only translation for this term Informar(se), enterar(se), tomar conocimiento de conjugate accordingly.

Learn more about[exp.] just learned that[exp.]

English Qualify [v] (people who qualify for a program, a job, etc.)

Spanish Equivalent Estar capacitado, calificado para. Reunir los requisitos para un programa, o asistencia NEVER CALIFICAR (Ella califica para el prstamoincorrect use) Concientizar al pblico (widely used)

Raise awareness [exp.] Require [v] Pedir, exigir; necesitar Requirement [n] Select [v] Seleccionar, NEVER selectar Selected list [n] Selection guidelines [n} Lista selectiva; Listado selectivo Criterio o criterios de seleccin Requisito; requerimiento, necesidad

Submit [v] (as in submit an e-mail or submit a paper) Suggestion [v]

Enviar o presentar un trabajo o un documento NEVER someter Sugerencia, recomendacin, NEVER sugestin

Surgeon General [n] Director de Salud Pblica - NEVER Cirujano General

Abbreviations Key
v: verb n: noun adj.: adjective exp.: expression