French to English — False friends and cognates: Français and English
False friends and cognates: Français and English
Some words look or sound similar in Français and English but mean something different. These "false friends" can cause mix-ups. Below are a few to watch for. Learning them in context—and practising with Rozy—helps you use the right word.
Examples to watch for
"actually" in English means currently (actuellement). Avoid: "Actually I live in Paris". Prefer: "Currently I live in Paris". "sensible" in English means sensitive. Avoid: "She is sensible". Prefer: "She is sensitive". "library" in English means bookshop (librairie). Avoid: "I went to the library". Prefer: "I went to the bookshop". "brave" in English means brave (brave = well-dressed). Avoid: "He is brave". Prefer: "He is well-dressed / He is brave".
Examples
- Actually I live in Paris → Currently I live in Paris — currently (actuellement)
- She is sensible → She is sensitive — sensitive
- I went to the library → I went to the bookshop — bookshop (librairie)
- He is brave → He is well-dressed / He is brave — brave (brave = well-dressed)
Frequently asked questions
- What are false friends?
- Words that look or sound similar in two languages but have different meanings. They often cause mistakes when translating.
- What false friends do Français speakers need to watch?
- Examples include: actually (currently (actuellement)), sensible (sensitive), library (bookshop (librairie)), brave (brave (brave = well-dressed)).
- How can I avoid false friend mistakes?
- Learn them in full sentences and practise speaking. Rozy gives feedback so you fix mix-ups in context.
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