Can you give examples of false friends in German that sound similar to English words
False friends when learning German: Can you give examples of false friends in German that sound similar to English words
False friends are words in two languages that look or sound similar but have different meanings. Here are some examples of German-English false friends that can cause confusion:
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Gift
- German meaning: Poison
- English meaning: A present or something given voluntarily.
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Chef
- German meaning: Boss or manager
- English meaning: A professional cook.
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Rat
- German meaning: Advice or counsel
- English meaning: A rodent.
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Bald
- German meaning: Soon
- English meaning: Without hair.
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Brave
- German meaning: Well-behaved or good (especially for children)
- English meaning: Courageous.
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Hose
- German meaning: Pants or trousers
- English meaning: A flexible tube for conveying liquids or gases.
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Laden
- German meaning: Shop or store
- English meaning: Heavily loaded or burdened.
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Handy
- German meaning: Mobile phone
- English meaning: Convenient or useful.
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Kaution
- German meaning: Deposit (e.g., for renting an apartment)
- English meaning: Carefulness or wariness.
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Sensible
- German meaning: Sensitive (emotionally)
- English meaning: Practical and reasonable.
These examples highlight the importance of context when translating or interpreting between the two languages to avoid misunderstandings.