Same word different meaning?

Question

I was doing the A - Z Cuerpo and realized that muñeca = wrist and also doll. Could this have something to do with puppets?

Hacía la A - Z Cuerpo y realizado eso muñeca = wrist y también doll. ¿Podía esto tener algo hacer con marionetista?

Are there many word (in both languages) that are the same but mean something different?

Quizá esto sería un ejercicio bueno.

Answer 1

I think about this all the time in English because I feel for the people who are trying to learn this crazy language. However, I can't give you an example right now of a noun that means two very different things...but we certainly have them!

Many words come to mind that are both a noun and a verb, but have different meanings. For example the noun "list" (to write a series of things) and the verb "list" (to lean to one side). "Lap" (the thing kids sit on) and "lap" (the thing a dog does with his tongue).

There are 100s if not 1000s of them - will have to make a list ho hum :)) - - ian-hill, Apr 29, 2010

Marianne - Have a look here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_words_having_different_meanings_in_British_and_American_English - ian-hill, Apr 29, 2010

Answer 2

Yes, "wrist" and "doll" are the same word!

Just as "esposas" means both "wives" and "handcuffs"...hmmm...!!

haha that's hilarious... - mamasita_s, Apr 29, 2010

Yeah..maybe I wasn't too far off with the puppet thing. Great example. Thanks - MattM, Apr 29, 2010

Answer 3

I think "muñeca" can also mean "a backhander" a bribe.