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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, it’s important to be aware of “false friends”—words that look or sound similar in English and German but have different meanings. Here are some common false friends you should watch out for:

  1. Gift: In English, a “gift” is a present, but in German, “das Gift” means poison 3, 4.

  2. Chef: In English, a “chef” is a cook, but in German, “der Chef” refers to a boss or head of a company 2, 4.

  3. Billion: In English, a billion is 1,000 million (1,000,000,000), while in German, “eine Billion” means a trillion (1,000,000,000,000) 2.

  4. Bekommen: This German verb means “to receive,” not “to become.” For example, if you want to say “I will become a pilot,” you shouldn’t use “bekommen” 1, 4.

  5. Fabrik: While it might seem like “fabric,” in German “die Fabrik” means a factory 4.

  6. Sympathisch: In German, this word means likable or pleasant and not sympathetic as in English.

  7. Handy: In English, this means convenient or useful; however, in German “das Handy” refers to a mobile phone 5.

  8. Public Viewing: In Germany, this term refers to watching events on big screens in public spaces. In English-speaking countries, it often means viewing a deceased person at a funeral home 5.

  9. Marmelade: In English-speaking countries, marmalade refers specifically to citrus-based preserves like orange marmalade. In German, “die Marmelade” can refer to any type of jam or jelly 2.

  10. Also: In English it means ‘in addition’, but in German ‘also’ is used as ‘so’ or ‘thus’ 4.

Understanding these false friends can help prevent misunderstandings and improve your fluency in German conversations. It’s beneficial to learn these words in context and practice using them correctly to avoid potential pitfalls.

References

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