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What are some of the most common false friends between English and French visualisation

What are some of the most common false friends between English and French

False friends when learning French: What are some of the most common false friends between English and French
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False friends, or “faux amis,” are words in two languages that look or sound similar but have different meanings. Between English and French, there are many common false friends that can lead to confusion. Here are some notable examples:

  1. Monnaie vs. Money

    • In French, “monnaie” means loose change, not money in general. The correct French term for money is “argent” 1.

  2. Location vs. Location

    • In French, “location” refers to rental or leasing (e.g., “une voiture de location” means a rental car). In English, it refers to a place or position 1.

  3. Coin vs. Coin

    • The French word “coin” means corner, whereas in English, it refers to a piece of currency 1.

  4. Attendre vs. Attend

    • “Attendre” in French means to wait, while “attend” in English means to be present at an event (e.g., attend a meeting) 1.

  5. Déception vs. Deception

    • In French, “déception” means disappointment, while in English, “deception” refers to the act of deceiving someone 1.

  6. Grand(e) vs. Grand

    • The French word “grand(e)” generally means big or tall, while in English, “grand” conveys greatness or impressiveness 1.

  7. Journée vs. Journey

    • In French, “journée” means a day (as in the duration), whereas “journey” in English refers to traveling from one place to another 1.

  8. Joli(e) vs. Jolly

    • The French word “joli(e)” means pretty, while the English word “jolly” describes someone who is happy and cheerful 1.

  9. Raisin vs. Raisin

    • In French, “raisin” means grape (the fruit), while in English it refers to dried grapes 1, 2.

  10. Librairie vs. Library

    • A “librairie” in French is a bookstore where you buy books, while a library is a place where you borrow books (French: bibliothèque) 1, 2.

  11. Blesser vs. Bless

    • The French verb “blesser” means to hurt or wound someone physically or emotionally. In English, “bless” has a religious or positive connotation (e.g., asking for divine favor) 1.

  12. Sensible vs. Sensible

    • In French, “sensible” means sensitive (easily affected emotionally), while in English it describes someone who is practical and reasonable 1.

  13. Pain vs. Pain

    • In French, “pain” means bread, whereas in English it refers to physical or emotional suffering 2.

  14. Actuellement vs. Actually

    • The French word “actuellement” translates to currently or at present in English; it does not mean actually (which is more like “en fait”) 2.

  15. Habit vs. Habit

    • In French, “habit” refers to clothing or attire (e.g., “un habit”), while in English it describes a regular practice or behavior 2.

These examples highlight how similar-looking words can have entirely different meanings across languages and emphasize the importance of context when learning vocabulary!

References

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