False friends. Inscription Inscripción

Question

Inscription in English is used for something written on a metal, stone etc. In Spanish this meaning is also possible.

El anillo tiene una inscripción con la fecha de casamiento de Juana y Miguel.

Apart from this, in Spanish, we can use the verb "inscribir" or also "inscribirse" and the noun "inscripción" with other meanings. The most common is to "register". For example you register at the university or at an institute.

Examples:

Ayer me inscribí en la universidad.
Inscribirse para el curso de matemáticas es obligatorio.
La inscripción para el curso es gratuita.

Answer 1

We have that second meaning in English too Polenta, although it is less commonly used, "enrol / enrolment" being far more common. From Websters:

Inscribe

1 b : to enter on a list : enroll

Inscription

3 b : the entering of a name on or as if on a list : enrollment

at least it's very unusual. - polenta1, Jul 21, 2017

And in Spanish it's the most common. - polenta1, Jul 21, 2017

Si. Talking about enrolling in the armed forces you may still hear inscription, but otherwise it is very rare. - jellonz, Jul 21, 2017

Incidentally, the difference between conscription and inscription in the armed forces is the former is forced, the latter voluntary. - jellonz, Jul 21, 2017

Interesting - polenta1, Jul 21, 2017

Yes, conscripción is servicio militar. - polenta1, Jul 21, 2017