French-English False Cognates - Faux amis
Liste alphabétique - U
Ultérieur vs Ulterior
Ultérieur
means later or subsequent: la séance est reportée à une date ultérieure - the meeting is postponed to a later date.
Ulterior is followed by motive, meaning a hidden or secret purpose: he had an ulterior motive - il avait un motif secret.
Unique vs Unique
Unique means only when it precedes a noun (unique fille - only girl) and unique or one of a kind when it follows. More: fickle French adjectives.
Unique means unique, inimitable, or exceptionnel.
Unité vs Unity
Unité means unity as well as unit.
Unity is equivalent to unité when used literally, and harmonie or accord when figurative.
Urne vs Urn
Urne can mean a ballot box or an urn. Aller or Se rendre aux urnes = to vote.
Urn is une urne.
Us vs Us
Us is usually followed by et coutumes and refers to customs.
Us is the first person plural stressed pronoun: nous.
Usage vs Usage
Usage = use as well as custom. It is equivalent to usage only in reference to language; e.g., une expression consacrée par l'usage - an expression fixed by usage.
Usage, outside of language, is equivalent to utilisation or traitement.
User vs Use(r)
User means to wear away/out.
Use as a noun means l'emploi or l'utilisation, while as a verb it is translated by utiliser or se servir de. A user is un usager, consommateur, or, in the negative sense, profiteur.
Usuel vs Usual
Usuel
means ordinary, everyday, or common.
Usual is slightly different: it leans more toward typical or normal - habituel or courant.
Usure vs Usury
Usure refers to wear (and tear) or usury.
Usury = usure.
Utilité vs Utility
Utilité means usefulness or use.
Utility can refer to l'utilité, but when plural means services publics.
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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.
