Faux amis - N

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).


Napkin (F) vs Napkin (E)

     Napkin (F) is not in any of my dictionaries, but I learned the hard way :-) that it means a sanitary napkin: J'ai besoin d'un napkin - I need a sanitary napkin.
     Napkin (E) is correctly translated by serviette: I need a napkin - J'ai besoin d'une serviette.


Nature (F) vs Nature (E)

     Nature (F) can be the noun nature, but is also an adjective that means plain, natural, or uninhibited.
     Nature (E) = la nature.


Niche (F) vs Niche (E)

     Niche (F) is a semi-false cognate. In addition to niche or recess, it can refer to a kennel or doghouse.
     Niche (E) means une niche, un créneau, or une voie (when used figuratively: His niche in life - Sa voie dans la vie).


Note (F) vs Note (E)

     Note (F) is a semi-false cognate. In addition to note, it can refer to scholarly marks or grades or to a bill, check, or account.
     Note (E) is translated by une note except in the sense of a short letter - un mot.


Notion (F) vs Notion (E)

     Notion (F) refers to a conscious notion, as in "Je n'ai aucune notion de cela" - I have no notion about that. It can also mean elementary knowledge, such as "J'ai quelques notions d'arabe" - I know a smattering of Arabic.
     Notion (E) usually means une idée.