When you’re learning French and especially, when you’re trying to speak French, you can get easily confused or confuse others with these deceitful false friends or false cognates. Faux amis, as they are called in French, are pairs of words that seem to be similar in two different languages, but in fact, are not. I’ll list some common French-English false cognates in this article.
| French word |
Meaning |
For… in English |
Use…in French |
| actuel |
present, up-to-date |
actual |
réel |
| adepte |
follower, enthusiast |
adept |
compétent, expert |
| affluence |
crowd |
affluence |
richesse |
| agenda |
datebook |
agenda |
ordre du jour |
| aire |
area |
air |
air |
| attendre |
wait for |
attend |
assister |
| avertissement |
warning |
advertisement |
publicité |
| blesser |
injure |
bless |
bénir |
| bride |
bridle |
bride |
mariée |
| caméra |
movie camera |
camera |
appareil photo |
| car |
coach, bus |
car |
voiture |
| caution |
financial guarantee |
caution |
prudence |
| compréhensif |
understanding |
comprehensive |
complet |
| contrôler |
check, monitor |
control |
maîtriser |
| course |
trip, journey, race |
course |
cours |
| crayon |
pencil |
crayon |
crayon de couleur |
| crier |
shout |
cry |
pleurer |
| demander |
ask |
demand |
exiger |
| éventuellement |
possibly |
eventually |
finalement |
| informations |
news |
information |
renseignement |
| location |
rent, lease |
location |
endroit |
| noise |
quarrel |
noise |
bruit |
| pays |
country |
to pay |
payer (conjugated) |
| raisin |
grape |
raisin |
raisin sec |
| râpe |
grater, grinder |
rape |
violer |
| recette |
recipe |
receipt |
reçu, ticket de caisse |
| résumé |
summary |
résumé |
CV |
Ne vous trompez pas!
Comments:
Elizabeth M Spradbery:
Excellent list. I’m compiling my own so it’s interesting to compare.
Chanda:
Elizabeth,
I’m happy to know that you find the list useful. Please feel free to tell us about any faux amis you find particulary important to learn. Thanks again for your comment!