What are some examples of false friends in Italian that can be particularly tricky
False friends, or falsi amici, are words in two languages that look or sound similar but have different meanings, often leading to confusion for language learners. In Italian, these deceptive cognates can be particularly tricky for English speakers. Here are some notable examples:
-
Casino: In Italian, casino means “brothel” or “mess,” not a gambling establishment as in English. The Italian term for a gambling casino is casa da gioco 1.
-
Intossicazione: This refers to “poisoning” (often food poisoning) in Italian, not “intoxication” in the sense of being drunk. For alcohol-related intoxication, Italians use terms like ubriachezza 1.
-
Educazione: While it resembles “education,” in Italian, it primarily means “manners” or “upbringing.” For formal schooling, the correct term is istruzione.
-
Sensibile: This translates to “sensitive,” not “sensible.” The Italian equivalent of “sensible” is ragionevole.
-
Attualmente: It means “currently” in Italian, not “actually.” To express “actually,” Italians use in realtà.
-
Parenti: This refers to “relatives,” not “parents.” The correct word for parents is genitori.
-
Fattoria: While it looks like “factory,” it actually means “farm.” The Italian word for factory is fabbrica.
-
Conveniente: This means “affordable” or “suitable,” not “convenient.” For convenience, Italians use comodo or pratico.
-
Assistente: It translates as “assistant,” but can also imply someone who provides help or support, not necessarily in a professional capacity.
-
Preservativo: A classic false friend, this word means “condom” in Italian, not a preservative used in food. For food preservatives, the term is conservante 1, 2.
These examples highlight the importance of context and careful study when learning Italian to avoid misunderstandings and potential embarrassment!