Spanish and Italian are sister languages. They share Latin roots, similar structures, and a musicality that makes them seem as if they were almost twins. But that closeness can also be deceptive: words that seem similar don’t always mean the same thing, and mistakes can be both amusing and risky. That’s why having a professional Spanish-Italian translator remains essential to avoid misunderstandings.
False similarities between two very closely related languages
At first sight, a Spanish speaker can largely understand most of a text in Italian. However, that sensation of familiarity is precisely what leads to the biggest mistakes.
An Italian-Spanish translator knows that words like burro, caldo, pretendere, camera or tosare do not mean the same thing in both languages:
- Burro in Italian is “butter”, but in Spanish it is “donkey”.
- In Italian, caldo isn’t “cold”; it’s “hot”.
- Pretendere in Italian isn’t the same as “pretender” (to intend) in Spanish; it means “to demand”.
- Camera in Italian doesn’t mean “cámara” (camera); it means “room”.
- Tosare in Italian isn’t the same as “toser” (to cough) in Spanish; it means “to shave”.
These are known as false friends, and a simple slip in a translation from Italian to Spanish can completely change the meaning of a sentence.
Cultural nuances that change the meaning
The Italian language is deeply linked to the culture. Common expressions such asmagari, figurati or ciao bello contain emotions, irony, and social context.
An experienced Spanish to Italian translator understands that translating isn’t just about looking for equivalents, but about interpreting the intention.
For example, “vale” in Spanish (okay) can sometimes equate to “d’accordo” and at other times to “va bene”, depending on the tone and the situation. That sensitivity to language is what sets professional work apart from a simple literal translation.
The most common mistakes between Spanish and Italian
Even companies that dominate the international market make mistakes when translating internally without expert help.
Among the most common errors identified by an Italian translation company are:
- Misinterpreting words with a double meaning (sensibile = “delicate”, not “sensible” (sensitive)).
- Using inappropriate verb tenses.
- Confusing idiomatic expressions or proverbs.
- Ignoring formalities unique to Italian communication, such as Lei rather than tu.
An Italian translation agency avoids these mistakes with linguistic reviews, style monitoring, and extensive cultural knowledge.
Professional translation: accuracy with naturalness
The close relationship between the two languages makes learning easier, but it hinders professional translation. The more similar the languages, the easier it is to fall into the traps.
That’s why a Spanish-Italian translator or an Italian-Spanish translator with specialized training combines linguistic accuracy with cultural fluency. Only then do texts sound authentic, natural, and correct.
Conclusion: even similarity needs to be translated with care
Spanish and Italian are two vibrant languages, connected by history, music, and culture. But their similarity can present a trap to non-professional translators.
Using experts in Italian to Spanish translation and Spanish to Italian translation guarantees that the message maintains its tone, its intention, and its style.
At Blarlo, as a leading Italian translation company and Italian translation agency, we work with specialized native-speaking translators who ensure that each word sounds exactly as it should: with naturalness, accuracy, and culture.
