Hindi to English — False friends and cognates: हिन्दी and English
False friends and cognates: हिन्दी and English
Some words look or sound similar in हिन्दी 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. Avoid: "Actually I am working". Prefer: "Currently I am working". "tension" in English means stress/worry. Avoid: "I have tension". Prefer: "I am stressed / I am worried". "pass out" in English means graduate. Avoid: "I passed out in 2020". Prefer: "I graduated in 2020". "prepone" in English means bring forward. Avoid: "Let's prepone the meeting". Prefer: "Let's bring the meeting forward".
Examples
- Actually I am working → Currently I am working — currently
- I have tension → I am stressed / I am worried — stress/worry
- I passed out in 2020 → I graduated in 2020 — graduate
- Let's prepone the meeting → Let's bring the meeting forward — bring forward
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 हिन्दी speakers need to watch?
- Examples include: actually (currently), tension (stress/worry), pass out (graduate), prepone (bring forward).
- 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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