Due to Latin roots, French and English share a list of words that sound or look the same but they have different meanings. Many of these words have evolved differently over time which can be misleading to French and English learners.
The similarities between the words whether written or spoken can trick learners. It is a linguistic trap that many people can fall into; that is why you need to learn them so you can avoid any confusions and sound more fluent and accurate. For instance, the English word “actual” and the French word “actuel” look almost the same but they have different meanings. While “actual” means real or existing, “actuel” translates to current or present.
In this article we will explore some common false friends in French and English, provide examples and tips to avoid common mistakes.
- Mistake: Thinking it means blessed.
- Correct Meaning: Injured.
Common False friends in French and English
To avoid any misunderstanding, you need to learn False friends so here is a list that will help you understand better:
Actuellement
- Mistake: Assuming it means actually.
- Correct Meaning: Currently.
Assist
- Mistake: Thinking it means to assist (help).
- Correct Meaning: To attend (e.g., a meeting).
Attendre
- Mistake: Assuming it means to attend.
- Correct Meaning: To wait.
Blessé
Coin
- Mistake: Assuming it refers to a coin (money).
- Correct Meaning: Corner.
Lecture
- Mistake: Assuming it refers to a lecture (a talk).
- Correct Meaning: Reading.
Librairie
- Mistake: Thinking it means library.
- Correct Meaning: Bookstore.
Location
- Mistake: Assuming it refers to location (a place).
- Correct Meaning: Rental.
Rester
- Mistake: Assuming it means to rest.
- Correct Meaning: To stay.
Sensible
- Mistake: Thinking it means sensible (reasonable).
- Correct Meaning: Sensitive.
Sympathique (often shortened to sympa)
- Mistake: Assuming it means sympathetic.
- Correct Meaning: Nice or friendly.
Collège
- Mistake: Assuming it refers to college (university).
- Correct Meaning: Middle school.
Habit
- Mistake: Assuming it refers to a habit (behavior).
- Correct Meaning: Clothing.
Monnaie
- Mistake: Assuming it refers to money.
- Correct Meaning: Change (coins).
Passer un examen
- Mistake: Thinking it means to pass an exam.
- Correct Meaning: To take an exam.
Fabrique
- Mistake: Thinking it means Fabric (cloth).
- Correct Meaning: Factory.
And the list goes on. You can look up other common False Friends and learn more about them.
It is very crucial to understand the difference. Imagine one day you go to France and you are looking for a Library. You ask someone to help you find one assuming the word “Librairie” means the same thing. But “Librairie” means Bookstore not a Library and the correct word in French for “Library” is “Bibliothèque”. Such a mix-up can lead to confusion.
Another example, the French word “Attendre” may look like the English word “Attend” but they do not have the same meaning. If you tell someone that you are attending a meeting, they might think that you are waiting for a meeting instead. “Attendre” means to wait.
Why do false friends exist?
The existence of false friends goes way back in history and linguistics and the reason why French and English share so many latin-based words is due to historical interactions. Over centuries, these shared words evolved differently leading to shifts in meaning, as mentioned before, the latin word “actualis” influenced the English word “actual” and the French word “actuel”. On the other hand, some false friends also exist because of borrowing and adaptation. The English language often borrows words from French for example “résumé”, but in English it means “CV” while in French it means “summary”.
How to avoid falling for false friends?
Mastering false friends requires practice and patience, here is how you can avoid falling for false friends:
Learn words in context
Try to learn sentences and words in phrases instead of memorizing isolated vocabulary, context helps clarify meaning and it will reduce the chances of confusion, for example understanding that “il est très sensible” means “he is very sensitive” and not “sensible” can prevent mistakes.
Use a good dictionary
Using a bilingual dictionary can help clarify meaning, look up words that you are not sure about and pay attention to usage notes that will highlight if there are any false friends.
Practice with native speakers
Practicing with native speakers can help you recognize false friends, they can correct your misunderstandings and give you some examples.
Make a list of false friends
Take a pen and a paper or just use the notes on your phone, each time you know about a new false friend write it down, writing them will make the process easier, for some people when they write they memorize better, so if it works for you GREAT! Review your list regularly, being familiar with these tricky words can help you quickly spot them.
Make mistakes
It is okay to make mistakes, each time you make a mistake and correct it, it is automatically stuck in your mind. Learning English is a process and making mistakes is part of it, so it is okay to just laugh at it and learn, native speakers will appreciate your efforts to communicate.
More fun examples of False Friends
Here are some funny examples involving false friends:
- An English speaker wants to compliment someone else’s bravery by saying “Tu es Brave” which means for the French speaker “Well-behaved”.
- An English speaker said “I am so blessed today” and the French speaker answered “Why? Did you get hurt?”, in French “Blessé” means injured.
- French speaker: “Je dois attendre le bus.”
English speaker: “You need to attend the bus? What for?” (In French, “attendre” means “to wait.”)
False friends are fascinating, it reminds us of the complexities of a language, and how languages evolved through time. History plays a huge role in borrowing and adapting words to other languages.
Keep it light and fun! Start learning about common false friends in French and English to avoid confusion and communicate more effectively. And if you’d like extra help, book a session with Albert Learning to practice with expert trainers.
