False friends

Words that look like English and mean something else. 150 entries.

Nouns

Practise these

la librairie bookshop A2
J'ai acheté ce roman à la librairie du quartier.
I bought this novel at the local bookshop.
Not "library", which is la bibliothèque.
le collège secondary school (ages 11 to 15) B1
Ma fille entre au collège en septembre.
My daughter starts secondary school in September.
Not "college", which is l'université or la fac.
la location rental, hire B1
La location de cette voiture coûte cinquante euros par jour.
Hiring this car costs fifty euros a day.
Not "location", which is l'emplacement or le lieu.
la monnaie change, currency A2
Vous avez de la monnaie sur vingt euros ?
Do you have change for twenty euros?
Not "money", which is l'argent.
la lecture reading B1
La lecture est son passe-temps préféré.
Reading is her favourite pastime.
Not "lecture", which is un cours magistral or une conférence.
la déception disappointment B1
Quelle déception, ce restaurant !
What a disappointment that restaurant was!
Not "deception", which is la tromperie.
la chance luck A2
Tu as de la chance d'habiter ici.
You're lucky to live here.
A "chance" as in opportunity is une occasion. Likelihood is also chance in French: il y a peu de chances.
la pièce room, coin, play A2
Cet appartement a trois pièces.
This flat has three rooms.
A "piece" of something is usually un morceau.
le raisin grape A2
J'ai acheté du raisin au marché.
I bought grapes at the market.
Not "raisin", which is le raisin sec.
la prune plum B1
Ces prunes viennent de notre jardin.
These plums come from our garden.
Not "prune", which is le pruneau.
le préservatif condom B2
Le préservatif protège des maladies.
Condoms protect against diseases.
Not "preservative", which is le conservateur.
la veste jacket A2
Prends une veste, il fait frais ce soir.
Take a jacket, it's cool this evening.
Not "vest", which is le maillot de corps. A waistcoat is un gilet.
le coin corner A2
La boulangerie est au coin de la rue.
The bakery is on the corner of the street.
Not "coin", which is la pièce.
la figure face B1
Il a reçu le ballon en pleine figure.
He got the ball right in the face.
Not "figure", which is le chiffre (number) or la silhouette (body).
la phrase sentence A2
Écris trois phrases sur ta famille.
Write three sentences about your family.
Not "phrase", which is l'expression or le groupe de mots.
la médecine medicine as a science B1
Mon frère fait des études de médecine.
My brother is studying medicine.
Medicine you take is le médicament.
la cave cellar A2
On garde le vin à la cave.
We keep the wine in the cellar.
Not "cave", which is la grotte.
le car coach A2
On est allés à Lyon en car.
We went to Lyon by coach.
Not "car", which is la voiture.
la course race, errand A2
J'ai des courses à faire au supermarché.
I've got some shopping to do at the supermarket.
Not "course" of study, which is le cours. A meal course is le plat.
le stage internship, training course B1
Elle fait un stage de six mois à Berlin.
She's doing a six-month internship in Berlin.
Not "stage", which is la scène or l'étape.
la nouvelle piece of news, short story B1
J'ai une bonne nouvelle à t'annoncer.
I've got some good news for you.
Not "novel", which is le roman.
le roman novel B1
Je lis un roman policier.
I'm reading a detective novel.
Not "romance", which is une histoire d'amour.
le délai time allowed, deadline B2
Vous avez un délai de trente jours pour répondre.
You have thirty days to reply.
Not "delay", which is le retard.
la fabrique factory, small works B2
Il travaille dans une fabrique de chaussures.
He works in a shoe factory.
Not "fabric", which is le tissu.
le pain bread A1
Je vais acheter du pain.
I'm going to buy some bread.
Not "pain", which is la douleur.
le smoking dinner jacket, tuxedo B2
Il portait un smoking pour le gala.
He wore a tuxedo to the gala.
Not "smoking", which is le fait de fumer or le tabagisme.
le dressing walk-in wardrobe B1
Nous avons transformé la petite chambre en dressing.
We turned the small bedroom into a walk-in wardrobe.
Not salad "dressing", which is la vinaigrette.
les baskets trainers, sneakers A2
Mets tes baskets, on va courir.
Put on your trainers, we're going for a run.
Not "baskets", which is les paniers.
le slip underpants, briefs B1
N'oublie pas d'emporter un slip de bain.
Don't forget to pack some swimming trunks.
Not a "slip" of paper (un bout de papier) or a petticoat (un jupon).
le patron boss B1
Mon patron m'a donné ma journée.
My boss gave me the day off.
Not "patron", which is le mécène or le client.
le sort fate, spell B1
Personne ne connaît le sort des disparus.
Nobody knows the fate of the missing.
Not "sort", which is la sorte or le genre.
une affaire matter, business, bargain B2
Cette voiture à ce prix, c'est une bonne affaire.
This car at that price is a bargain.
A love "affair" is une liaison.
une audience court hearing, official meeting C1
L'audience reprendra à quatorze heures.
The hearing will resume at two o'clock.
A theatre "audience" is le public.
un avertissement warning B2
Il a reçu un dernier avertissement de son employeur.
He received a final warning from his employer.
Not "advertisement", which is une publicité.
un agenda diary, planner B1
Je note tous mes rendez-vous dans mon agenda.
I write all my appointments in my diary.
A meeting "agenda" is l'ordre du jour.
un engagement commitment B2
Il a tenu tous ses engagements.
He kept all his commitments.
A marriage "engagement" is les fiançailles.
une injure insult B2
Il a reçu des injures sur les réseaux sociaux.
He received insults on social media.
Not "injury", which is une blessure.
une blessure wound, injury B1
Sa blessure au genou est grave.
His knee injury is serious.
Not "blessing", which is une bénédiction.
un habit item of clothing B2
Elle a rangé ses habits dans l'armoire.
She put her clothes away in the wardrobe.
Not "habit", which is une habitude.
une apologie defence, praise of something C1
Il a été condamné pour apologie du terrorisme.
He was convicted of glorifying terrorism.
Not "apology", which is des excuses.
une caution deposit, guarantee B2
Le propriétaire demande une caution de deux mois de loyer.
The landlord is asking for a deposit of two months' rent.
Not "caution", which is la prudence.
une éducation upbringing B2
Il a reçu une éducation très stricte.
He had a very strict upbringing.
School "education" is usually l'enseignement.
une entrée starter A2
Comme entrée, je prends une salade.
For my starter, I'll have a salad.
Not the American "entrée", which is le plat principal.
le front forehead B1
Le petit a une bosse sur le front.
The little boy has a bump on his forehead.
The "front" of something is le devant.
la rente private income, annuity C1
Elle vit de ses rentes depuis des années.
She has been living off her private income for years.
Not "rent", which is le loyer.
le résumé summary B1
Faites un résumé de ce texte en dix lignes.
Write a ten-line summary of this text.
Not an American "résumé", which is le CV.
la sympathie liking, friendly feeling B2
J'ai beaucoup de sympathie pour lui.
I really like him.
"Sympathy" for grief is la compassion or les condoléances.
le trouble confusion, disorder B2
Il souffre de troubles du sommeil.
He suffers from sleep disorders.
Not "trouble", which is les ennuis or le problème.
la journée day A1
Bonne journée !
Have a nice day!
Not "journey", which is le voyage or le trajet.
une réunion meeting A2
J'ai une réunion à dix heures.
I've got a meeting at ten.
A family "reunion" is les retrouvailles.
le procès trial, lawsuit B2
Le procès a duré trois semaines.
The trial lasted three weeks.
Not "process", which is le processus.
le physicien physicist B2
Marie Curie était physicienne et chimiste.
Marie Curie was a physicist and a chemist.
Not "physician", which is le médecin.
le four oven A2
Le gâteau est encore dans le four.
The cake is still in the oven.
Not "four", which is quatre.
le pet fart B2
Quelqu'un a lâché un pet dans le bus.
Someone farted on the bus.
Vulgar. A "pet" is un animal de compagnie.
le hasard chance, luck B1
On s'est rencontrés par hasard.
We met by chance.
Not "hazard", which is le danger or le risque.
la balance weighing scales B1
Je me pèse sur la balance chaque matin.
I weigh myself on the scales every morning.
"Balance" is l'équilibre; a bank balance is le solde.
la luxure lust C2
La luxure est l'un des sept péchés capitaux.
Lust is one of the seven deadly sins.
Not "luxury", which is le luxe.
le mémoire dissertation C1
Elle rédige son mémoire de master.
She's writing her master's dissertation.
Not "memory", which is la mémoire or le souvenir.
le parti political party B1
Quel parti a gagné les élections ?
Which party won the elections?
A birthday "party" is une fête or une soirée.
la partition musical score C1
Le violoniste a oublié sa partition.
The violinist forgot his score.
A wall "partition" is une cloison.
une humeur mood B1
Il est de bonne humeur aujourd'hui.
He's in a good mood today.
Not "humour", which is l'humour.
le spectacle show B1
Le spectacle commence à vingt heures.
The show starts at eight.
Not "spectacles", which is les lunettes.
le costume suit B1
Il porte un costume pour son entretien.
He's wearing a suit for his interview.
A fancy-dress "costume" is le déguisement.
la robe dress A2
Elle a mis sa robe rouge.
She put on her red dress.
Not a bath "robe", which is le peignoir.
le store window blind B1
Baisse le store, il y a trop de soleil.
Lower the blind, it's too sunny.
Not "store", which is le magasin.
le magasin shop A1
Ce magasin ferme à dix-neuf heures.
This shop closes at seven.
Not "magazine", which is le magazine.
la nappe tablecloth B1
Mets la nappe, on passe à table.
Put the tablecloth on, we're sitting down to eat.
Not "nap", which is la sieste.
la lame blade B2
La lame de ce couteau est très fine.
The blade of this knife is very thin.
Not "lame", which is boiteux.
la file queue, line B1
Il y a une longue file à la caisse.
There's a long queue at the till.
Not a computer "file", which is le fichier.
un inconvénient drawback B2
Le seul inconvénient, c'est le prix.
The only drawback is the price.
"Inconvenience" as a nuisance is le désagrément or la gêne.

Verbs

Practise these

assister à to attend B1
J'ai assisté à un concert hier soir.
I went to a concert last night.
Not "to assist", which is aider.
attendre to wait for A2
J'attends le bus depuis vingt minutes.
I've been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes.
Not "to attend", which is assister à.
blesser to injure, to hurt B1
Il s'est blessé au genou pendant le match.
He hurt his knee during the match.
Not "to bless", which is bénir.
demander to ask A2
Je vais demander l'heure à ce monsieur.
I'll ask that man the time.
Not "to demand", which is exiger.
rester to stay A2
Je reste à la maison ce week-end.
I'm staying at home this weekend.
Not "to rest", which is se reposer.
passer un examen to take an exam B1
Elle passe son examen de français demain.
She's taking her French exam tomorrow.
Not "to pass an exam", which is réussir un examen.
prétendre to claim B2
Il prétend qu'il ne savait rien.
He claims he knew nothing.
Not "to pretend", which is faire semblant.
supporter to put up with B1
Je ne supporte plus ce bruit.
I can't stand this noise any more.
Not "to support", which is soutenir.
réaliser to make, to carry out B1
Elle a réalisé un film sur son village.
She made a film about her village.
"To realise" is se rendre compte; réaliser is now used for it in casual speech.
ignorer not to know B2
J'ignore pourquoi il est parti.
I don't know why he left.
"To ignore" someone is ne pas prêter attention à.
achever to finish, to finish off B2
Il a achevé son roman à quatre-vingts ans.
He finished his novel at eighty.
Not "to achieve", which is réaliser or atteindre.
abuser to go too far, to take advantage B2
Deux heures de retard, tu abuses !
Two hours late, you're pushing it!
"To abuse" someone is maltraiter.
décevoir to disappoint B1
Ce film m'a beaucoup déçu.
This film really disappointed me.
Not "to deceive", which is tromper.
disposer de to have available B2
Nous disposons de deux heures pour finir.
We have two hours to finish.
"To dispose of" is se débarrasser de or jeter.
entretenir to maintain B2
Il entretient très bien son jardin.
He keeps his garden in very good shape.
Not "to entertain", which is divertir or recevoir.
fournir to supply B1
L'entreprise fournit les uniformes.
The company supplies the uniforms.
Not "to furnish", which is meubler.
introduire to insert B2
Introduisez votre carte dans le lecteur.
Insert your card in the reader.
"To introduce" someone is présenter.
labourer to plough C1
L'agriculteur laboure son champ en automne.
The farmer ploughs his field in autumn.
Not "to labour", which is peiner or travailler dur.
rater to miss, to fail B1
J'ai raté mon train ce matin.
I missed my train this morning.
Not "to rate", which is évaluer or noter.
remarquer to notice B1
Je n'ai rien remarqué d'anormal.
I didn't notice anything unusual.
"To remark" is faire remarquer or observer.
reporter to postpone B2
La réunion est reportée à lundi.
The meeting has been postponed until Monday.
"To report" a problem is signaler.
résumer to sum up B1
Pouvez-vous résumer cet article ?
Can you sum up this article?
Not "to resume", which is reprendre.
retirer to remove, to withdraw B1
J'ai retiré de l'argent au distributeur.
I withdrew some money from the cash machine.
Not "to retire", which is prendre sa retraite.
user to wear out B2
Il a usé ses chaussures en un an.
He wore out his shoes in a year.
Not "to use", which is utiliser.
tirer to pull A2
Il faut tirer la porte, pas la pousser.
You have to pull the door, not push it.
Not "to tire", which is fatiguer.
travailler to work A1
Je travaille dans une banque.
I work in a bank.
Not "to travel", which is voyager.
visiter to visit a place A2
On a visité le Louvre en mars.
We visited the Louvre in March.
"To visit" a person is rendre visite à.
prévenir to warn B2
Préviens-moi si tu es en retard.
Let me know if you're running late.
Also to prevent a disease, but "to prevent" is usually empêcher.
sortir to go out A2
Ce soir, je sors avec des amis.
Tonight I'm going out with friends.
Not "to sort", which is trier.
traîner to drag, to hang around B2
Les jeunes traînent devant le lycée.
Young people hang around outside the school.
Not "to train", which is s'entraîner or former.
transpirer to sweat B2
Je transpire beaucoup quand il fait chaud.
I sweat a lot when it's hot.
"To transpire" as happen is se produire.
crier to shout A2
Ne crie pas, je ne suis pas sourd !
Don't shout, I'm not deaf!
"To cry" as weep is pleurer.
pester to grumble, to curse C1
Il pestait contre la pluie.
He was cursing the rain.
"To pester" is embêter or harceler.
sympathiser to hit it off C1
J'ai sympathisé avec ma voisine de train.
I hit it off with the woman next to me on the train.
"To sympathise" is compatir.

Adjectives

Practise these

actuel current B1
La situation actuelle est préoccupante.
The current situation is worrying.
Not "actual", which is réel or véritable.
sensible sensitive B1
Ma sœur est très sensible à la critique.
My sister is very sensitive to criticism.
Not "sensible", which is raisonnable or sensé.
sympathique nice, friendly A2
Tes parents sont très sympathiques.
Your parents are very nice.
Not "sympathetic", which is compatissant.
formidable terrific B1
C'était un concert formidable.
It was a terrific concert.
The English sense "formidable" is redoutable.
large wide A2
Cette rue est très large.
This street is very wide.
Not "large", which is grand.
joli pretty A2
Elle a un joli sourire.
She has a pretty smile.
Not "jolly", which is joyeux.
confus embarrassed, muddled B1
Je suis vraiment confus de ce retard.
I'm very sorry about this delay.
"Confused" is often perdu.
éventuel possible B2
En cas de retard éventuel, appelez-moi.
In the event of any possible delay, call me.
Not "eventual", which is final.
fastidieux tedious C1
Remplir ces formulaires est un travail fastidieux.
Filling in these forms is tedious work.
Not "fastidious", which is méticuleux or pointilleux.
injurieux insulting C1
Il a tenu des propos injurieux.
He made insulting remarks.
Not "injurious", which is nuisible.
malicieux mischievous B2
Elle a un sourire malicieux.
She has a mischievous smile.
Not "malicious", which is malveillant.
misérable wretched, poverty-stricken B2
Ils vivent dans un quartier misérable.
They live in a wretched neighbourhood.
"Miserable" as unhappy is malheureux.
mondain society, fashionable C1
Elle adore les soirées mondaines.
She loves fashionable society parties.
Not "mundane", which is banal.
pathétique moving, heartbreaking B2
Ce film contient une scène pathétique.
This film contains a moving scene.
"Pathetic" as feeble is lamentable or minable.
propre clean, own B1
Mets une chemise propre.
Put on a clean shirt.
"Proper" is correct or convenable.
rude harsh, tough B2
L'hiver a été rude cette année.
The winter was harsh this year.
"Rude" is impoli.
sale dirty A2
Tes mains sont sales.
Your hands are dirty.
A "sale" is la vente or, in shops, les soldes.
sauvage wild, unsociable B2
On a vu des chevaux sauvages en Camargue.
We saw wild horses in the Camargue.
"Savage" as brutal is féroce.
versatile fickle C1
L'opinion publique est versatile.
Public opinion is fickle.
Not "versatile", which is polyvalent.
dramatique tragic B2
L'accident a eu des conséquences dramatiques.
The accident had tragic consequences.
"Dramatic" as striking is spectaculaire.
candide naive, innocent C1
Il a posé une question candide.
He asked a naive question.
Not "candid", which is franc.
effectif real, actual C1
La baisse effective des prix reste faible.
The actual fall in prices remains small.
Not "effective", which is efficace.
engagé politically committed B2
C'est une chanteuse très engagée.
She's a very politically committed singer.
"Engaged" to marry is fiancé.
gentil kind, nice A2
Merci, tu es très gentil.
Thank you, you're very kind.
Not "gentle", which is doux.
libre free, available A2
Tu es libre samedi soir ?
Are you free on Saturday evening?
"Free" of charge is gratuit.
marron brown A2
Il a les yeux marron.
He has brown eyes.
Doesn't change form. Not "maroon", which is bordeaux.
rentable profitable B2
Ce commerce n'est plus rentable.
This business is no longer profitable.
Not "rentable", which is à louer.
avare miserly B2
Il ne donne jamais rien, il est avare.
He never gives anything, he's miserly.
Not "aware", which is conscient or au courant.
bénévole volunteer, unpaid C1
Elle fait un travail bénévole à l'hôpital.
She does voluntary work at the hospital.
Not "benevolent", which is bienveillant.
compréhensif understanding B2
Mon chef a été très compréhensif.
My boss was very understanding.
Not "comprehensive", which is complet or exhaustif.

Adverbs

Practise these

actuellement currently B1
Il travaille actuellement à Genève.
He's currently working in Geneva.
Not "actually", which is en fait.
éventuellement possibly, if need be B2
On pourrait éventuellement se voir demain.
We could possibly meet tomorrow.
Not "eventually", which is finalement or à la longue.
finalement in the end B1
Finalement, on a décidé de rester.
In the end, we decided to stay.
"Finally" at long last is enfin.
sensiblement noticeably, more or less C1
Les prix ont sensiblement augmenté.
Prices have risen noticeably.
Not "sensibly", which is raisonnablement.
largement by far, amply B2
Tu as largement le temps.
You've got plenty of time.
Not "largely", which is en grande partie.
également also B1
Il parle également l'espagnol.
He also speaks Spanish.
"Equally" is de la même façon or tout aussi.
effectivement indeed B2
Effectivement, tu avais raison.
You were indeed right.
Not "effectively", which is efficacement.
fatalement inevitably C1
À ce rythme, cela devait fatalement arriver.
At this rate, it was bound to happen.
Not "fatally", which is mortellement.
définitivement for good, permanently B2
Il a quitté définitivement la France.
He left France for good.
Not "definitely", which is certainement or sans aucun doute.
décidément really, clearly C1
Décidément, tu oublies tout aujourd'hui !
You really are forgetting everything today!
Not "decidedly", which is résolument.
instamment insistently C2
Nous vous prions instamment de répondre.
We urgently beg you to reply.
Formal. Not "instantly", which is instantanément.
rudement really, extremely B2
C'est rudement bon, ce gâteau !
This cake is really good!
Informal. Not "rudely", which is impoliment.

Little words

Practise these

or now, yet B2
Il devait venir ; or il n'est jamais arrivé.
He was supposed to come, yet he never arrived.
Formal. Not "or", which is ou. Also a noun: gold.
car because A2
Je reste ici, car il pleut.
I'm staying here because it's raining.
Not "car", which is la voiture.
on we, one, people A1
On mange à midi.
We eat at noon.
Not "on", which is sur.
pour for A1
C'est un cadeau pour ma mère.
It's a present for my mother.
Not "to pour", which is verser.