French False Friends

Words that look similar to English but have different meanings. Avoid common mistakes!

False friends can be tricky! These words look similar between languages but have different meanings. Study them carefully to avoid common mistakes.

69 false friends found

actually

English

in reality, in fact

actuellement

French

currently, nowadays

Example

Actually, I disagree with you. | Actuellement, je vis à Paris.

eventually

English

in the end, finally

éventuellement

French

possibly, maybe

Example

She eventually agreed to come. | Je viendrai éventuellement demain.

library

English

place to borrow books

librairie

French

bookstore

Example

I study at the library. | Jai acheté ce livre à la librairie.

attend

English

to be present at

attendre

French

to wait

Example

I will attend the meeting. | Jattends le bus.

deceive

English

to trick, to mislead

décevoir

French

to disappoint

Example

He tried to deceive us. | Je ne veux pas te décevoir.

demand

English

to insist, to require

demander

French

to ask

Example

They demand better working conditions. | Je vais lui demander.

injury

English

physical harm

injure

French

insult

Example

He suffered a serious injury. | Cette remarque est une injure.

journey

English

trip, travel

journée

French

day

Example

The journey took three hours. | Jai passé une bonne journée.

lecture

English

formal presentation

lecture

French

reading

Example

The professor gave a lecture. | La lecture est importante.

location

English

place, position

location

French

rental

Example

This is a good location for a shop. | La location de la voiture coûte cher.

figure

English

number, body shape

figure

French

face

Example

She has a slim figure. | Il a une belle figure.

store

English

shop

store

French

blind, shade

Example

I bought this at the store. | Ferme le store, sil te plaît.

camera

English

device for photos

caméra

French

video camera

Example

I need a new camera. | La caméra filme le concert.

coin

English

metal money

coin

French

corner

Example

I found a coin on the street. | Le café est au coin de la rue.

engage

English

to involve, to participate

engager

French

to hire

Example

We need to engage the community. | Lentreprise va engager dix personnes.

cave

English

natural underground space

cave

French

cellar, wine cellar

Example

We explored a cave in the mountains. | Le vin est dans la cave.

rest

English

to relax, to take a break

rester

French

to stay, to remain

Example

You need to rest after work. | Je vais rester à la maison.

preserve

English

to maintain, to keep safe

préservatif

French

condom

Example

We must preserve the environment. | Il faut utiliser un préservatif.

advertisement

English

commercial, promotion

avertissement

French

warning

Example

I saw an advertisement on TV. | Cest un avertissement sérieux.

assist

English

to help

assister

French

to attend

Example

Can you assist me with this? | Jai assisté à la réunion.

introduce

English

to present someone

introduire

French

to insert

Example

Let me introduce my colleague. | Introduis la clé dans la serrure.

ignore

English

to disregard intentionally

ignorer

French

to not know

Example

He ignored my advice. | Jignore la réponse.

hazard

English

danger, risk

hasard

French

chance, coincidence

Example

That is a fire hazard. | Cest un pur hasard.

experience

English

knowledge from doing

expérience

French

experiment OR experience

Example

She has five years of experience. | Nous faisons une expérience en chimie.

grand

English

impressive, magnificent

grand

French

tall, large

Example

It was a grand celebration. | Il est très grand.

affair

English

romantic relationship outside marriage

affaire

French

business, matter, deal

Example

He had an affair with his colleague. | Cest une bonne affaire.

chair

English

seat with back

chair

French

flesh, meat

Example

Please sit on the chair. | La chair de ce fruit est sucrée.

college

English

higher education institution

collège

French

middle school

Example

She graduated from college. | Mon fils est au collège.

control

English

power, command

contrôle

French

check, inspection

Example

He lost control of the car. | Il y a un contrôle de police.

librairie

French

bookshop

library

English

bibliothèque (a place to borrow books)

Example

J'ai acheté ce livre dans une librairie. | I borrowed this book from the library.

actuellement

French

currently, right now

actually

English

en fait, vraiment (in fact, really)

Example

Je travaille actuellement à Paris. | Actually, I prefer tea over coffee.

attendre

French

to wait

attend

English

assister à (to be present at)

Example

J'attends le bus depuis dix minutes. | I will attend the meeting tomorrow.

rester

French

to stay, remain

rest

English

se reposer (to relax, take a break)

Example

Je reste à la maison ce soir. | I need to rest after this long day.

sensible

French

sensitive

sensible

English

raisonnable, sensé (reasonable)

Example

Elle est très sensible à la critique. | That's a very sensible decision.

location

French

rental

location

English

emplacement, lieu (place, position)

Example

La location de la voiture coûte 50 euros par jour. | This is a perfect location for a restaurant.

car

French

because, for

car

English

voiture (vehicle)

Example

Je ne peux pas venir car je suis malade. | I drive my car to work every day.

prune

French

plum

prune

English

pruneau (dried plum)

Example

J'aime manger des prunes fraîches en été. | Prunes are good for digestion.

stage

French

internship, training course

stage

English

scène (platform, phase)

Example

Elle fait un stage dans une entreprise de marketing. | The actor walked onto the stage.

journée

French

day (daytime hours)

journey

English

voyage, trajet (trip)

Example

J'ai passé une bonne journée au travail. | The journey took five hours.

prétendre

French

to claim, assert

pretend

English

faire semblant (to fake, act)

Example

Il prétend connaître le directeur. | The children pretend to be superheroes.

blesser

French

to injure, hurt

bless

English

bénir (to sanctify)

Example

Il s'est blessé en jouant au football. | May God bless you.

large

French

wide

large

English

grand (big in size)

Example

Cette rue est très large. | I need a large pizza for the party.

habit

French

outfit, formal clothes

habit

English

habitude (routine behavior)

Example

Il porte un habit élégant pour la cérémonie. | Reading before bed is a good habit.

avertir

French

to warn, notify

avert

English

éviter (to prevent)

Example

Il faut avertir les autorités immédiatement. | We must avert a crisis.

photographe

French

photographer (person)

photograph

English

photographie (the picture itself)

Example

Le photographe a pris de belles photos. | This is my favorite photograph.

audience

French

hearing, formal meeting

audience

English

public, auditoire (spectators)

Example

Il a eu une audience avec le juge. | The audience applauded loudly.

coin

French

corner

coin

English

pièce de monnaie (metal money)

Example

Le magasin est au coin de la rue. | I found a coin on the ground.

décevoir

French

to disappoint

deceive

English

tromper (to trick, mislead)

Example

Je ne veux pas te décevoir. | He tried to deceive me with lies.

sale

French

dirty

sale

English

vente, soldes (selling, discount)

Example

Ma voiture est sale après la pluie. | There is a big sale at the store.

pain

French

bread

pain

English

douleur (physical hurt)

Example

J'achète du pain frais chaque matin. | I have a pain in my back.

monnaie

French

change, coins

money

English

argent (currency in general)

Example

Vous avez de la monnaie pour le parking ? | I need to save money for vacation.

roman

French

novel

roman

English

romain (related to Rome)

Example

Je lis un roman policier passionnant. | The Roman Empire was vast.

grief

French

grievance, complaint

grief

English

chagrin, douleur (sorrow)

Example

Il a des griefs contre son employeur. | She is still dealing with grief after the loss.

fabrique

French

factory

fabric

English

tissu (cloth material)

Example

Cette fabrique produit des meubles. | I love the fabric of this dress.

raisin

French

grape

raisin

English

raisin sec (dried grape)

Example

Le raisin est délicieux en automne. | I like raisins in my oatmeal.

médecin

French

doctor (person)

medicine

English

médicament (medical substance)

Example

Le médecin m'a prescrit un traitement. | Take this medicine three times a day.

entendre

French

to hear

intend

English

avoir l'intention de (to plan)

Example

Je n'entends rien, parle plus fort. | I intend to finish this project tomorrow.

caution

French

deposit, guarantee

caution

English

prudence, avertissement (care, warning)

Example

Le propriétaire demande une caution de 500 euros. | Proceed with caution on the wet floor.

commander

French

to order (goods/food)

command

English

ordonner, diriger (to order someone)

Example

J'ai commandé une pizza pour ce soir. | The general will command the troops.

chair

French

flesh, meat

chair

English

chaise (furniture)

Example

La chair de ce poisson est délicate. | Please sit on this chair.

assister

French

to attend, be present

assist

English

aider (to help)

Example

J'ai assisté à la conférence hier. | Can you assist me with this task?

formidable

French

great, fantastic

formidable

English

redoutable (intimidating)

Example

C'est une idée formidable ! | He is a formidable opponent.

détresse

French

distress, anguish

distress

English

détresse (same meaning)

Example

Le navire a envoyé un signal de détresse. | The child was in great distress.

éventuel

French

possible, potential

eventual

English

final, définitif (happening at the end)

Example

Nous discutons des problèmes éventuels. | The eventual outcome was positive.

lecture

French

reading

lecture

English

conférence, cours magistral (formal talk)

Example

La lecture est ma passion. | The professor gave a lecture on history.

préservatif

French

condom

preservative

English

conservateur (food additive)

Example

Il est important d'utiliser un préservatif. | This food contains no preservatives.

bride

French

bridle (horse strap)

bride

English

mariée (woman getting married)

Example

Le cavalier tient la bride du cheval. | The bride wore a beautiful white dress.

ignorer

French

to not know, be unaware

ignore

English

ne pas tenir compte de (to disregard)

Example

J'ignore comment réparer cela. | Please don't ignore my messages.

réaliser

French

to carry out, accomplish

realize

English

se rendre compte (to become aware)

Example

Nous avons réalisé ce projet en trois mois. | I didn't realize you were here.