French-English False Cognates - Faux amis

Liste alphabétique - D

Dalle vs Dale 

Dalle is a paving stone, and is also used in some familiar expressions.
Dale refers to une vallée or un vallon.

Dame vs Dame 

Dame = a lady.
Dame is much less polite: une fille or une nana. 

Décade vs Decade

Décade is a period of ten days.
Decade is a period of ten years: une décennie or simply dix ans.

Déception vs Deception 

Déception means disappointment or let-down.
Deception is une tromperie or duperie.

Décevoir vs Deceive

Décevoir means to disappoint: Il va te décevoir - He's going to disappoint you.
To deceive means to deliberately trick or lead someone astray: I didn't mean to deceive you - Je n'avais pas l'intention de te tromper.

Défaut vs Default 

Défaut is a flaw, fault, drawback, or lack.
Default is un défaut in judiciary proceedings. To default = manquer à ses engagements or prendre une valeur par défaut.

Défendre vs Defend 

Défendre can mean to defend or to forbid (défense de fumer - no smoking).
Defend means défendre. 

Défi vs Defy

Défi is a noun: defiance or challenge.
Defy is the verb défier or braver.

Défiler vs Defile

Défiler means to march past: les visiteurs défilaient devant le musée - the visitors marched past the museum and it can mean to unthread (a needle): Je dois défiler l'aiguille - I need to unthread the needle.
To defile is to dirty or deface something or to ruin someone's name: It's wrong to defile a great man - C'est mal de profaner un grand homme.

Délai/Délayer vs Delay

Délai is a time limit or deadline: dans un délai de 15 jours - within two weeks. Délayer means to water down or thin down, as in cooking or mixing paint.
Delay has a slightly negative connotation - it indicates that the time was unexpected and is usually translated by "retard" : They arrived with an hour's delay - Ils sont arrivés avec une heure de retard.

Délivrer vs Deliver 

Délivrer means to set free, to rid someone of, or to issue.
Deliver = livrer, remettre, or distribuer.

Demander vs Demand

Demander means to ask for: Il m'a demandé de chercher son pull - He asked me to look for his sweater. Note that the French noun une demande does correspond to the English noun demand.
(to) Demand is usually translated by exiger: He demanded that I look for his sweater - Il a exigé que je cherche son pull.

Démenti vs Demented 

Démenti refers to a denial or refutation (démentir - to deny, refute).
Demented can mean dément, en démence, fou, or insensé.

Déranger vs Derange 

Déranger in addition to derange (the mind), déranger means to bother, disturb, or disrupt.
Derange is used only when talking about mental health (usually as an adjective: deranged = dérangé).

Dérogation vs Derogation

Dérogation is a special dispensation or exemption.
Derogation refers to une atteinte or une réduction.

Dérogatoire vs Derogatory

Dérogatoire means dispensatory or exceptional (being an exception).
Derogatory = désobligeant, dénigrant, péjoratif.

Dessiner vs Design

Dessiner usually means to draw, but can also mean to lay out or design.
Design is a noun: un design, un stylisme, un plan - and a verb: concevoir, élaborer.

Détail vs Detail 

Détail is a semi-false cognate. In addition to detail, it can refer to retail.
Detail means détail or renseignements.

Devise vs Devise

Devise refers to currency or a slogan/motto.
Devise is a verb: imaginer, concevoir.

Diligent vs Diligent 

Diligent is an archaic semi-false cognate - it meant diligent at one time and speedy or prompt at another.
Diligent means appliqué, assidu, or laborieux.

Dire vs Dire

Dire means to say or to tell.
Dire is an adjective which means affreux, terrible, or extrême.

Dispenser vs Dispense 

Dispenser means to exempt or excuse.
Dispense can be translated by distribuer or offrir.

Disposer vs Dispose

Disposer means to arrange, to incline/dispose someone to, or (formally) to leave. Disposer de means to have (at one's disposal).
Dispose of = se débarasser de, éliminer, jeter, renvoyer.

Divers vs Divers

Divers means diverse, varied, or several.
Divers is the plural of diver - plongeur.

Dot vs Dot

Dot is a dowry.
Dot is un point or un pois.

Douche vs Douche

une Douche is a shower, while Douche refers to a method of cleaning a body cavity with air or water: lavage interne.

Douter vs Doubt

Douter means to doubt or be doubtful about, while se douter means to suspect or imagine.
Doubt = le doute, l'incertitude, douter.

Draguer vs Drag 

Draguer informally means to flirt. Formally, it means to fish with a dragnet or to dredge.
Drag means traîner or tirer.

 

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Disclaimer: The words that I have chosen to discuss are not explained in every possible context. There may be occasions where the French and English mean the same thing. I have chosen word pairs that are usually not related by anything other than spelling. For complete definitions and more extensive examples, please consult a dictionary.