French English False Cognates - Faux amis

French and English have hundreds of cognates (words which look and/or are pronounced alike in the two languages), including true (similar meanings), false (different meanings), and semi-false (some similar and some different meanings). My alphabetized list of hundreds of false cognates can be a bit unwieldy, so here is an abridged version of the most common false cognates in French and English.

Opportunité vs Opportunity

Opportunité refers to timeliness or appropriateness: Nous discutons de l'opportunité d'aller à la plage - We're discussing the appropriateness of going to the beach (under the circumstances).

Opportunity leans toward favorable circumstances for a particular action or event and is translated by une occasion: It's an opportunity to improve your French - C'est une occasion de te perfectionner en français.

Parti/Partie vs Party

Un parti can refer to several different things: a political party, an option or course of action (prendre un parti - to make a decision), or a match (i.e., He's a good match for you). It is also the past participle of partir (to leave). Une partie can mean a part (e.g., une partie du film - a part of the film), a field or subject, a game (e.g., une partie de cartes - a game of cards), or a party in a trial.

A party usually refers to une fête, soirée, or réception; un correspondant (on the phone), or un groupe/une équipe.

Pièce vs Piece

Une pièce is a semi-false cognate. It means piece only in the sense of broken pieces. Otherwise, it indicates a room, sheet of paper, coin, or play. Piece is a part of something - un morceau or une tranche.

Professeur vs Professor

Un professeur refers to a high school, college, or university teacher or instructor, while a professor is un professeur titulaire d'une chaire.

Publicité vs Publicity

Publicité is a semi-false cognate. In addition to publicity, une publicité can mean advertising in general, as well as as a commercial or advertisement. Publicity is translated by de la publicité.

Quitter vs Quit

Quitter is a semi-false cognate: it means both to leave and to quit (i.e., leave something for good). When quit means to leave something for good, it is translated by quitter. When it means to quit (stop) doing something, it is translated by arrêter de: I need to quit smoking - Je dois arrêter de fumer.

Raisin vs Raisin

Un raisin is a grape; a raisin is un raisin sec.

Rater vs Rate

Rater means to misfire, miss, mess up, or fail, while rate is the noun proportion or taux or the verb évaluer or considérer.

Réaliser vs Realize

Réaliser means to fulfill (a dream or aspiration) or achieve. To realize means se rendre compte de, prendre conscience de, or comprendre.

Rester vs Rest

Rester is a semi-false cognate. It usually means to stay or remain: Je suis restée à la maison - I stayed at the house. When it is used idiomatically, it is translated by rest: He refused to let the matter rest - Il refusait d'en rester là.

The verb to rest in the sense of getting some rest is translated by se reposer: Elle ne se repose jamais - She never rests.

Réunion vs Reunion

Une réunion can mean collection, gathering, raising (of money), or reunion. A reunion is une réunion, but note that it usually refers to a meeting of a group that has been separated for an extended period of time (e.g., class reunion, family reunion).

Robe vs Robe

Une robe is a dress, frock, or gown, while a robe is un peignoir.

Sale vs Sale

Sale is an adjective - dirty. Saler means to salt. A sale is une vente or un solde.

Sympathique vs Sympathetic

Sympathique (often shortened to sympa) means nice, likeable, friendly, kindly. Sympathetic can be translated by compatissant or de sympathie.

Type vs Type

Un type is informal for a guy or bloke. In the normal register, it can mean type, kind, or epitome. Quel type de moto ? - What kind of motorbike? Le type de l'égoïsme - The epitome of selfishness.

Type means un type, un genre, une espèce, une sorte, une marque, etc.

Unique vs Unique

The French word unique means only when it precedes a noun (unique fille - only girl) and unique or one of a kind when it follows. In English, unique means unique, inimitable, or exceptionnel.

Zone vs Zone

Une zone usually means a zone or an area, but it can also refer to a slum. A zone is une zone.


More French-English false cognates:
Page 1: Actuellement/Actually to Collège/College
Page 2: Commander/Command to Expérience/Experience
Page 3: Finalement/Finally to Occasion
Page 4: Parti/Partie/Party to Zone

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