Spanish Language Style Guide & Glossaries: Frequently Mistranslated English Terms

American [adj.]

Estadounidense, less desirable, norteamericano; NEVER americano

Authoritative[adj.]

Confiable – According to the Real Academia Española Autoritativo is hardly used.

Application [n]

Solicitud

Apply [v] to a job, or for a license, etc.]

Solicitar o postular NEVER aplicar

Apply [v] to a [noun] (Ex: This benefit applies to full-time employees)

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.

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

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

Comprehensive, [n]

Completo, extensivo, amplio NEVER comprensivo

Directions, [n] as in driving directions, directions to a place, etc.

Instrucciones, indicaciones NEVER direcciones

Discrimination, [n]

Discriminación, NEVER discrimen

Fact Sheet [n]

Hoja de datos, planilla de datos

Federal government, [n]

Gobierno federal, estatal y/o local (Gobierno in Spanish should be capitalized, but not federal, estatal o local). See the Diccionario panhispánico de dudas online http://buscon.rae.es/dpdI/html/cabecera.htm. Write the term gobierno in the search box for capitalization rules of this word.

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]

Directrices, also directivas, pautas, normas

Launch [v] (when used with a program, initiative, website, new feature, etc.)

Lanzar, Inaugurar, iniciar, estrenar, activar, presentar, introducir al mercado, poner en marcha, etc. – lanzar is by no means the only translation for this term

Learn more about…[exp.]

just learned that…[exp.]

Informar(se), enterar(se), tomar conocimiento de —conjugate accordingly.

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

Estar capacitado, calificado para…. Reunir los requisitos para un programa, o asistencia… NEVER CALIFICAR (Ella califica para el préstamo—incorrect use)

Raise awareness [exp.]

Concientizar al público (widely used http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=concientizar+del+cancer)

Require [v]

Pedir, exigir; necesitar

Requirement [n]

Requisito; requerimiento, necesidad

Select [v]

Seleccionar, NEVER selectar

Selected list [n]

Lista selectiva; Listado selectivo

Selection guidelines [n}

Criterio o criterios de selección

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

Enviar o presentar un trabajo o un documento NEVER someter

Suggestion [v]

Sugerencia, recomendación, NEVER sugestión