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What are some other common German-English false friends visualisation

What are some other common German-English false friends

False friends when learning German: What are some other common German-English false friends
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German-English false friends are words that look or sound similar in both languages but have different meanings. Here are some common examples:

  1. Die Rente: Appears to mean “rent” but actually means “pension” in German 1, 2.
  2. Der Chef: Looks like “chef” but means “manager” in German. The word for a cook is “der Koch” 1, 2.
  3. Das Gymnasium: Resembles “gym,” but it refers to a type of secondary school, similar to a grammar school 1, 2.
  4. Das Lokal: Seems like “local,” but it means “restaurant” or “pub” 1, 2.
  5. Die Fabrik: Looks like “fabric,” but it means “factory.” The German word for fabric is “der Stoff” 1, 2.
  6. Spenden: Appears to mean “to spend,” but it actually means “to donate.” The word for spending money is “ausgeben” 1, 2.
  7. Der See: Resembles “sea,” but it means “lake.” The German word for sea is “das Meer” 1, 2.
  8. Das Gift: Looks like “gift,” but it means “poison.” The word for a present is “das Geschenk” 2, 3.
  9. Der Mist: Sounds like a mild English term, but it means “crap” or “manure” 2.
  10. Die Hochschule: Appears similar to “high school,” but it refers to a university or college 2.
  11. Die Kaution: Seems like “caution,” but it means a deposit or bail 3.
  12. Der Brand: Looks like “brand,” but it means “fire” in German 2.
  13. Die Noten: Resembles the English word for notes, but it refers to grades or musical notes 2.
  14. Die Billion: Appears similar to the English billion, but it actually means a trillion in the American numbering system 2.

These false friends can lead to misunderstandings if not recognized, so it’s essential for language learners to familiarize themselves with these terms to avoid confusion.

References

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