French-English False Cognates - Faux amis
Liste alphabétique - O
Oblitérer vs Obliterate
Oblitérer
is nearly always used to mean cancel, as in a stamp. Cachet d'oblitération - postmark.
Obliterate means to do away with or to wipe out. It can be translated by effacer - to erase or to wear down or by rayer - to cross out.
Occasion vs Occasion
Occasion refers to a(n) occasion, circumstance, opportunity, or second-hand purchase. Une chemise d'occasion = a second-hand or used shirt.
Occasion is une occasion, un événement, or un motif.
Occupé vs Occupied
Occupé is from occuper - to occupy in all senses of the word. It can also mean to employ or to keep busy: Mon travail m'occupe beaucoup - My work keeps me very busy.
Occupied is the past participle of occupy - occuper, habiter, remplir.
Office vs Office
Office is a semi-false cognate. In addition to the meanings below, it can refer to duties, church services or prayers, or a pantry.
Office can mean the physical place where one works as well as the office or position that someone holds.
Offrir vs Offer
Offrir can mean to offer as well as to give (a present) or to buy something for someone.
Offer is both a noun - une offre, proposition, demande - and a verb - offrir.
Once vs Once
Once = ounce.
Once can mean une fois or jadis.
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 occasion: It's an opportunity to improve your French - C'est une occasion de te perfectionner en français.
Or vs Or
Or
has two completely different meanings. It is the word for gold: or fin - fine gold. It is also a conjunction used to make a transition from one idea to another, meaning now or whereas: Je m'attendais au pire, or il attendait patiemment - I expected the worst, whereas he waited patiently.
Or is simply a conjunction used to denote an alternative; the French equivalent is ou : I need to buy a pen or a pencil - Je dois acheter un stylo ou un crayon.
Organe vs Organ
Organe refers to the organs of the body and international organs.
Organ is also the musical instrument orgue.
Original/Originel vs Original
Original can mean original in the sense of new or first as well as eccentric or odd, while originel means original in the sense of primeval - it's the adjecive for origins (e.g., original sin = le péché originel).
Original = original, originel, premier, initial.
Ostensible vs Ostensible
Ostensible
means obvious or conspicuous: Son indifférence est ostensible - Her indifference is conspicuous.
Ostensible means apparent or supposed: His ostensible reason was to help us - Sa raison prétendu était de nous aider.
Ours vs Ours
Un ours is a bear.
Ours is the possessive pronoun le nôtre.
Ouverture vs Overture
Ouverture is a semi-false cognate. In addition to overture, it the French word for opening
Overture means ouverture or avance.
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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.
