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I've read that the verb "asumir" is a false friend, for example:
Therefore it is incorrect to use the verb "asumir" when trying to convey an assumption about something, and instead the correct verb is "suponer". However, I've heard native speakers use the verb "asumir" in that context; Google even translates the following example with it (link):
They assume he will win.
Asumen que él ganará.
Which verb should be used to assume something?
"asumir" is actually used in Spanish to mean "assume" (in the sense of "suppose").
Here we can read the following:
En el siglo xix amplía sus sentidos por influjo probable del inglés y en el español actual significa también ‘adoptar o adquirir [algo no material]’: «Manchester asumió una expresión de fastidio» (Otero Temporada [Cuba 1983]); «Su piel se asedaba, asumía una tersura vegetal» (Delibes Madera [Esp. 1987]); y ‘dar por sentado o por cierto’: «Los liberales piensan de otra forma, siempre y cuando asumamos que los liberales piensan» (Información [EE. UU.] 1996).
The definition above, where "asumir" is said to mean "dar por sentado" or "dar por cierto" (take for granted / regard as true), shows that the meaning (and use) of "asumir" in Spanish is not as extended as that of "assume" in English, where it can be used in different tenses and in any case where "suppose" is used (whenever "assume" refers to a mental process). Instead, it's not always safe to use "asumir" to mean "suppose", as "asumir" is more like "presuppose".
Thus, while in English we can say.
in Spanish I would tend to say:
I would reserve "asumir" for cases where the supposition is used as a basis for some later course of action (that's why I say it is more readily associated with a premise), for example:
When I decided to follow his advice, I assumed he was right.
Cuando decidí seguir su consejo, supuse/asumí (= di por sentado) que tenía razón.
When this is the meaning that wants to be conveyed, "dar por sentado" or "dar por hecho" (take for granted or take as a fact) can be a safer way of saying "assume" in Spanish without falling back on the English cognate.
For further reference see Fundéu.
I think the confusion here is that the Spanish definition of "asumir" coincides in a number of situations with "assume" in English, but it definitely does not work both ways. The word "assume" in English is normally translated as "dar por supuesto" or "dar por sentado" in Spanish. They coincide in certain expressions like "assuming responsibility for something" or "taking control," but the Spanish 'asumir' doesn't take on any more meanings. False friend? Not really because they can mean the same thing. But the word "assume" in English has other meanings than the Spanish word "asumir."
It's not a 'false friend', it means the same in Spanish
suponer
Supongo que sabe de lo que habla por que tiene estudios superiores en ese campo
used as a synonym of
asumir
Asumo que pensaron muy bien el plan que ahora están dando a conocer
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Also note that there are other possible ways to convey that meaning, like
dar por sentado o dar por hecho
Dando por sentado [ / por hecho ] que hicieron su parte de investigación exhaustivamente, voy a dar anuncio a la reunión para que la expongan ante el directorio
and even (in the sense of consent consentir, —believe, or take something as true [creer o tener algo por cierto])
aceptar (como dar por cierto)
Aceptando que hayan dejado todo en orden, les digo que pueden salir ahora
