What are some funny examples of false friends in Italian
False friends when learning Italian: What are some funny examples of false friends in Italian
Here are some funny examples of false friends in Italian that often lead to amusing or embarrassing misunderstandings:
- “Cesto” (basket) vs “Petto” (chest): Saying “Mi fa male il cesto” instead of “Mi fa male il petto” means “My basket hurts” instead of “My chest hurts.”
- “Preservativo” vs “Preservative”: Asking for cereals “senza preservativi” means without condoms, not preservatives. The correct term for preservative is “conservanti.”
- “Barista” vs “Barrister”: In Italian, “barista” means barman/barista, not a lawyer.
- “Morbido” vs “Morbid”: “Morbido” means soft, not morbid.
- “Attualmente” vs “Actually”: “Attualmente” means currently, not actually. For actually, use “in realtà.”
- “Educazione” vs “Education”: “Educazione” means manners or upbringing, not formal education.
- “Camera” vs “Camera”: In Italian, “camera” means room, not a photo camera.
- “Pretendere” vs “Pretend”: “Pretendere” means to demand or expect, not to pretend.
- “Asso” vs “Ass”: “Asso” means ace (like a skilled person or card), not the rude English word.
- “Casino” vs “Casino”: In Italian, “casino” means mess or confusion, not a gambling house.
These false friends are humorous because they sound familiar to English speakers but mean something quite different and sometimes awkward or funny in conversation.