Faux amis - M

One of the great things about learning French or English is that many words have the same roots in the Romance languages and English. However, there are also a great many faux amis, or false cognates, which look similar but have different meanings. This is one of the biggest pitfalls for students of French. There are also "semi-false cognates": words that can only sometimes be translated by the similar word in the other language.

This alphabetical list (newest additions) includes hundreds of French-English false cognates, with explanations of what each word means and how it can be correctly translated into the other language. To avoid confusion due to the fact that some of the words are identical in the two languages, the French word is followed by (F) and the English word is followed by (E).


Machin (F) vs Machine (E)

     Machin (F) is an informal noun synonomous with un truc; it means thingummyjig, whatsit, contraption, or whats-his-name.
     Machine (E) is une machine or un appareil.


Magasin (F) vs Magazine (E)

     Magasin (F) is the general word for a store. It is also equivalent to the magazine of a gun.
     Magazine (E) is une revue or un périodique.


Mail (F) vs Mail (E)

     Mail (F) is the French word for the old-fashioned meaning of mall, i.e., a tree-lined walk or square. It is also sometimes used to mean email, but this is not correct (learn more).
     Mail (E) as a noun = poste or courrier; as a verb = envoyer or expédier (par la poste), poster.


Main (F) vs Main (E)

     Main (F) is the French noun for hand.
     Main (E) is the English adjective for principal, premier, majeur, or essentiel.


Maîtriser (F) vs Master (E)

     Maîtriser (F) means to control, overcome, contain, or master.
     Master (E) is a noun: un maître, un professeur, or une maîtrise as well as a verb: maîtriser, dompter, saisir, apprendre.


Malice (F) vs Malice (E)

     Malice (F) is a semi-false cognate; it can mean malice or simply mischievousnous or mischief.
     Malice (E) has only the stronger meaning of deliberate cruelty: méchanceté or malveillance.


Mandat (F) vs Mandate (E)

     Mandat (F) refers to many different types of legal documents and powers: mandate, proxy, power of attorney, and warrant, as well as a money order.
     Mandate (E) is a noun - un mandat - and a verb - donner mandat.


Manger (F) vs Manger (E)

     Manger (F) means to eat.
     Manger (E) = une crèche (religion) or une mangeoire (agriculture).


manifestation (F) vs manifestation (E)

     manifestation (F) can mean manifestation, but is also commonly used in reference to a political demonstration or some kind of event.
     manifestation (E) = manifestation.


Marche (F) vs March (E)

     Marche (F) refers to walking, gait, a walk, march, running/working, progress, or a step or stair.
     March (E) can be une marche, un défilé, or une manifestation.


Marmite (F) vs Marmite (E)

     Marmite (F) = cooking pot or soup pot.
     Marmite (E) is a British food, a paste for bread made from yeast extract - une pâte à tartiner à base d'extrait de levure.


Marron (F) vs Maroon (E)

     Marron (F) is a color, brown, and a food, chestnut.
     Maroon (E) is a reddish color, best translated by bordeaux.


Match (F) vs Match (E)

     Match (F) is a sports match or game.
     Match (E) can be a un match and also refers to une allumette.

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