French-English False Cognates - Faux amis
Liste alphabétique - T
Tarif vs Tariff
Tarif can refer to a price list or rate as well as a tariff.
Tariff = un tarif.
Tenant vs Tenant
Tenant is the present participle of the verb tenir - to hold or to keep.
Tenant refers to un locataire.
Thé vs The
Thé means tea.
The is the definite article le, la, or les.
Timbre vs Timber
Timbre is a stamp or the timbre of a voice/instrument.
Timber is bois d'oeuvre or de construction.
Tirer vs Tire
Tirer means to pull.
Tire as a verb means fatiguer or lasser, as a noun it means un pneu.
Ton vs Ton
Ton is a noun - tone, pitch, as well as the second person singular possessive adjective - your.
Ton refers to une tonne or un tonneau.
Tongs vs Tongs
Tongs are flip-flops or thongs (for your feet - the other kind of thong is un string).
Tongs are pinces.
Tour vs Tour
Tour, when masculine, refers to a walk around, trip, turn, or lathe. Une tour is a tower.
Tour is un voyage or une visite.
Tourniquet vs Tourniquet
Tourniquet usually refers to something that revoles: turnstile, revolving door, turbine, but it can also indicate a tourniquet or court-martial.
Tourniquet is most commonly translated by un garrot.
Trafiquer vs Traffic
Trafiquer means to traffic in the sense of something illegal (guns, drugs, etc). In addition, it means to tamper with or doctor, as in On a trafiquer les freins - Someone tampered with the brakes.
Traffic as a verb has only the first sense above. As a noun, it can refer to illegal trade as well as la circulation (routière).
Traîner vs Trainer/Train
Traîner means to pull or drag, or to lag behind.
Trainer is un entraîneur in reference to a person. Trainers, to UK English speakers, are des tennis or des baskets. To train = former, instruire, entraîner.
Travailler vs Travel
Travailler means to work.
Travel = voyager.
Trépasser vs Trespass
Trépasser
means to pass away.
Trespass means to invade another's property: s'introduire sans permission.
Trimestre vs Trimester
Trimestre means three months, or a quarter of a year.
Trimester usually means four months, or a third of a year. There is no equivalent French term. In reference to pregnancy, however, a trimester does mean three months, because it is a third of the 9-month term.
Trombone vs Trombone
Trombone is a semi-false cognate. In addition to a trombone, it can refer to a paper clip.
Trombone refers to une trombone.
Truc vs Truck
Truc refers to an unnamed or unknown object: thing, trick, thingamajig.
Truck is a heavy motor vehicle for carrying things: un camion.
Truculent vs Truculent
Truculent
means vivid, colorful, racy, larger than life, etc.
Truculent describes someone who is aggressive or predisposed to fight: brutal, aggressif.
Tube vs Tube
Tube usually indicates a tube but is also an informal word for a musical hit. À pleins tubes - full throttle.
Tube = un tube.
Type vs Type
Type is an informal word 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.
Archives:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The free, twice-weekly About French Language newsletter keeps you informed about changes to this site, including new lessons, articles, and forum discussions. Subscribe today!
|
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.
