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False friends when learning German visualisation

False friends when learning German

What are the false friends (false cognates) between languages, with examples
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When learning German, English speakers often encounter “false friends,” which are words that look or sound similar in both languages but have different meanings. These can lead to misunderstandings and humorous situations. Here are some common German-English false friends:

Common German-English False Friends

  • Gift: In German, Gift means “poison,” not a present. The correct word for a gift is Geschenk 1, 3, 5.
  • Mist: This word means “crap” in German, not a weather phenomenon like fog or mist 1, 3, 5.
  • Chef: In German, Chef means “boss” rather than a cook. The word for a chef is Koch 1, 4, 7.
  • Rente: This translates to “pension” in English, not rent. The word for rent is Miete 1, 8.
  • Lokal: In German, this refers to a “restaurant” or “pub,” not something local. The term for local is lokal 2, 7.
  • Gymnasium: This is a type of secondary school in Germany, not a gym for exercise. The place where you work out is called a Fitnessstudio 2, 3.
  • Fabrik: Means “factory” in German, not fabric. The word for fabric is Stoff 2, 4.
  • Hochschule: Refers to a “university” or “college,” not high school. High school is generally referred to as Gymnasium or Sekundarschule 2.
  • Bekommen: Means “to receive” or “to get,” not to become. The word for becoming is werden 1, 5.
  • Der See: This means “lake,” while the word for sea is das Meer. Interestingly, the feminine form die See can mean ocean 2.

These false friends can be tricky because they often appear identical or nearly identical to English words but carry entirely different meanings. Being aware of these differences is crucial when learning German to avoid misunderstandings and improve communication skills.

References

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