Why “Excitado” is Not “Excited” in Spanish

If you think “excited” is “excitado” in Spanish… THINK AGAIN!

It’s tempting to rely on how similar words look between English and Spanish, but sometimes that leads to funny and very embarrassing mistakes. 🤭

In this episode of the Spanish Quickie podcast (beginner level), you’ll learn what “excitado” really means en español, and how to avoid this common false friend.

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Why “Excitado” Is a Mistake

When learning a new language, it’s normal to look for patterns.

Interested = interesado
Fascinated = fascinado

So it’s easy to assume excited would be excitado, right?

Not so fast.

This is what we call a false friend (or false cognate, if you want to get fancy). A word that looks or sounds similar in both languages, but actually means something completely different.

Such is the case with excitado, and it’s why using it for “excited” can lead to awkward moments.

What “Excitado” Actually Means

Here’s the thing: “Excitado” means “sexually aroused” or “turned on.”

So if you tell your friend: “Estoy excitado de verte”

Well, you’re happy to see that person, but not for the reason you think 😅

So What Should You Say Instead?

In Spanish, a much better word for “excited” is emocionado or even just feliz in casual settings.

Here are a few examples:

I’m excited to see you → Estoy emocionado de verte (or feliz de verte)
I’m excited about my trip → Estoy emocionada por mi próximo viaje

(Note: emocionado/emocionada changes depending on your gender.)

So next time you want to say “I’m excited to see you“, BE CAREFUL!

The wrong word might get you slapped… without knowing why.

Save “excitado” for the bedroom. 😉