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False friends when learning Italian visualisation

False friends when learning Italian

What are the false friends (false cognates) between languages, with examples
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When learning Italian, false friends can be particularly tricky as they are words that sound or look similar to English words but have different meanings. Here are some common Italian-English false friends:

  1. Library vs. Libreria: In English, “library” refers to a place where books are borrowed, whereas “libreria” in Italian means a bookstore 2.

  2. Parents vs. Parenti: In English, “parents” refers to one’s mother and father. However, in Italian, “parenti” means relatives, not specifically parents 3.

  3. Pepperoni vs. Peperoni: “Pepperoni” in English refers to a type of spicy sausage often used on pizza. In Italian, “peperoni” means bell peppers 1.

  4. Camera vs. Camera: While the word is spelled the same in both languages, in English it means a device for taking photographs, and in Italian, it refers to a room 7.

  5. Actual vs. Attualmente: In English, “actual” implies something real or existing in fact, while “attualmente” in Italian means currently or at present 6.

  6. Sympathetic vs. Simpatico: In English, “sympathetic” means showing compassion or understanding, whereas “simpatico” in Italian means nice or pleasant 3.

  7. Sensible vs. Sensibile: The English word “sensible” refers to being practical or reasonable, while “sensibile” in Italian means sensitive 3.

  8. Eventual vs. Eventualmente: In English, “eventual” pertains to something that will happen at some point in the future. In Italian, “eventualmente” means possibly or if necessary 2.

Understanding these false friends is crucial for avoiding misunderstandings and ensuring effective communication when learning Italian.

References

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