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What are some common false friends in French that can be easily mistaken visualisation

What are some common false friends in French that can be easily mistaken

False friends when learning French: What are some common false friends in French that can be easily mistaken
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False friends, or faux amis, are words in French and English that look or sound similar but have different meanings, often leading to confusion. Here are some common examples of French false friends to watch out for:

Common False Friends with Nouns

  1. Bras

    • Looks like: Bra
    • Actually means: Arm
    • The French word for a bra is soutien-gorge 1, 4, 5.

  2. Location

    • Looks like: Location (a place)
    • Actually means: Rental
    • For “location” in the sense of a place, use endroit or lieu 1, 3, 5.

  3. Prune

    • Looks like: Prune (dried fruit)
    • Actually means: Plum
    • The French word for prune is pruneau 1, 5.

  4. Raisin

    • Looks like: Raisin (dried grape)
    • Actually means: Grape
    • The French term for raisin is raisin sec 1, 4, 5.

  5. Librairie

    • Looks like: Library
    • Actually means: Bookstore
    • The French word for library is bibliothèque 2, 3, 5.

  6. Pain

    • Looks like: Pain (physical suffering)
    • Actually means: Bread
    • For physical pain, use the word douleur 2.

  7. Préservatif

    • Looks like: Preservative (food additive)
    • Actually means: Condom
    • For preservative, use the term conservateur 2, 4.

  8. Coin

    • Looks like: Coin (money)
    • Actually means: Corner
    • For coin as currency, use the word pièce de monnaie 3, 5.

  9. Déception

    • Looks like: Deception (trickery)
    • Actually means: Disappointment
    • For deception, use the word tromperie 3, 5.

  10. Journée

    • Looks like: Journey (trip)
    • Actually means: Day
    • For journey, use the term voyage 2, 4, 5.

Common False Friends with Verbs

  1. Attendre

    • Looks like: Attend (to be present)
    • Actually means: To wait for or expect 2, 4, 5.

  2. Rester

    • Looks like: Rest (to relax)
    • Actually means: To stay or remain 3, 4, 5.

  3. Achever

    • Looks like: Achieve (to accomplish)
    • Actually means: To finish or complete 3.

  4. Prévenir

    • Looks like: Prevent (to stop something)
    • Actually means: To warn 3.

  5. Passer un examen

    • Looks like: Pass an exam (to succeed)
    • Actually means: To take an exam 2.

Why False Friends Matter

Understanding these false friends is crucial to avoid embarrassing mistakes and communicate effectively in French. For example, confusing “préservatif” with “preservative” could lead to awkward situations, while misinterpreting “journée” as “journey” might cause logistical misunderstandings.

By familiarizing yourself with these common examples, you can navigate French conversations more confidently and avoid common pitfalls!

References

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