8 Spanish Mistakes English Speakers Make (and How to Fix Them)

After years of teaching, the same eight mistakes come back like an old corrido. Here they are, with the fix.

1. «Estoy embarazada» when you meant embarrassed

Embarazada means pregnant. Use «tengo pena» or «me da pena» for embarrassed. This one comes up… more than you'd think.

2. Saying «soy caliente»

It does NOT mean «I'm hot (temperature)». Use «tengo calor». Trust me on this one.

3. Forgetting the upside-down ¿ and ¡

Not a speaking mistake but a writing one — they signal the question or exclamation BEFORE you start reading. Use them.

4. Mixing up por and para

Quick rule: «para» = destination / purpose / deadline. «Por» = cause / exchange / duration. «Este regalo es para ti» vs «Gracias por el regalo».

5. Forgetting gender agreement

«La problema» hurts our ears — it's «el problema». Words ending in -ma from Greek roots are usually masculine: el tema, el sistema, el idioma.

6. Translating «I am 30 years old» literally

Not «soy 30». It's «tengo 30 años» — you HAVE your years in Spanish.

7. Using «sí» when you mean «si»

«Sí» (with accent) = yes. «Si» (no accent) = if. They sound identical but flip the meaning entirely in writing.

8. Pronouncing the H

Spanish H is silent. Always. «Hola» = «ola». «Hospital» = «ospital». Just let it go.