Faux amis - P

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).


Pacifique (F) vs Pacific (E)

     Pacifique (F) means peaceful or peace-loving. When capitalized, it refers to the Pacific Ocean.
     Pacific (E) can mean pacifique or paisible, but most commonly refers to le Pacifique.


Pain (F) vs Pain (E)

     Pain (F) is the French word for bread.
     Pain (E) is the English word for douleur, peine, souffrance.


Pair (F) vs Pair (E)

     Pair (F) means a peer; as an adjective, pair means even: le côté pair de la rue - the even-numbers side of the street.
     Pair (E) is usually translated by une paire: a pair of shoes - une paire de chaussures.


Pale (F) vs Pale (E)

     Pale (F) is an oar, paddle, or propeller blade.
     Pale (E) means light in color. When referring to a person's complexion, it is translated by pâle. But pale blue - bleu clair.


Pamphlet (F) vs Pamphlet (E)

     Pamphlet (F) refers to a satire or lampoon.
     Pamphlet (E) is une brochure.


Pan (F) vs Pan (E)

     Pan (F) has numerous meanings: piece, side, patch [of light], area, etc) - check a dictionary for the complete listing.
     Pan (E) is usually une casserole.


Parcelle (F) vs Parcel (E)

     Parcelle (F) means a bit or a fragment, or can refer to a parcel of land.
     Parcel (E) refers to un colis or un paquet.


Parent (F) vs Parent (E)

     Parent (F) can refer to any relative. It is also an adjective meaning related.
     Parent (E) = le père or la mère.


Parole (F) vs Parole (E)

     Parole (F) is a word or speech in general.
     Parole (E) refers to parole d'honneur or liberté conditionnelle.


Parti/Partie (F) vs Party (E)

     Parti (F) can refer to several different things: a political party, an option or course of action (prendre un parti - to make a decision), or a match (as in he's a good match for you). It is also the past participle of partir. Partie (F) can mean a part (e.g., une partie du film - a part of the film), a field or subject, a game (e.g., une partie de cartes - a game of cards), or a party in a trial.
     Party (E) can also mean une fête, soirée, or réception; un correspondant (au téléphone); or un groupe/une équipe.


Particulier (F) vs Particular (E)

     Particulier (F) as an adjective has a range of meanings: particular, specific, characteristic, distinctive, special, peculiar, or private. As a noun, it refers to a person or individual.
     Particular (E) means particulier as an adjective, or un détail, un point, or un renseignement as a noun.


Passer (F) vs Pass (E)

     Passer (F) is a semi-false cognate. It is normally translated by to pass, except when talking about a test. Je vais passer un examen cet après-midi - I'm going to take a test this afternoon.
     Pass (E) is translated by réussir when talking about a test: I passed the test - J'ai réussi à l'examen.


Pathétique (F) vs Pathetic (E)

     Pathétique (F) can mean pathetic, but it's much more commonly used to mean moving, touching, poignant.
     Pathetic (E) = pitoyable, navrant.


Patron (F) vs Patron (E)

     Patron (F) is an owner, boss, or employer.
     Patron (E) is a client, someone who purchases from a store, restaurant, or other business: un client or (for the theater only) un habitué.


Pavé (F) vs Paved (E)

     Pavé (F) can be the adjective paved, but it is also a noun - cobblestone or paving stone.
     Paved (E) = pavé or carrelé.


Pays (F) vs Pays (E)

     Pays (F) refers to a certain territory, usually a country, but can on occasion refer to a village.
     Pays (E) is the third person singular conjugation of the verb to pay: he pays me cash - il me paie en liquide.


Pédant (F) vs Pedantic (E)

     Pédant (F) can be an adjective or noun meaning pretentious, a pretentious person.
     Pedantic (E) = pointilleux.


Pension (F) vs Pension (E)

     Pension (F) is a semi-false cognate. In addition to a pension, it can refer to a boarding house, boarding school, or room and board in a hotel.
     Pension (E) = la pension, la retraite.


permanence (F) vs permanence (E)

     permanence (F) means permanence, but extends this meaning to refer to someone on duty, so heures de permanence refers to office hours.
     permanence (E) means permanence


Permis (F) vs Permit (E)

     Permis (F) is an adjective - permitted, as well as a noun - permit, license. Permis de conduire = driver's license.
     Permit (E) can refer to une autorisation écrite, un permis, un laissez-passer, or un passavant.


Personne (F) vs Person (E)

     Personne (F) is a semi-false cognate. As a noun, it means person (and is always feminine, even when referring to a man), but as a pronoun, it can mean anyone or no one: Elle le connais mieux que personne - She knows him better than anyone. Personne n'est ici - No one is here.
     Person (E) refers to a human being.


Personnel (F) vs Personnel (E)

     Personnel (F) is an adjective - personal, as well as a noun - personnel.
     Personnel (E) = le personnel.


Perverti (F) vs Perverted (E)

     Perverti (F) is the past participle of pervertir: to corrupt, deprave, poison (figuratively). It can also have the milder sense of alter or distort.
     Perverted (E) = pervers.


Pet (F) vs Pet (E)

     Pet (F) is a familiar noun meaning either thump, bash, dent or fart (so don't ever ask if you can pet un chien).
     Pet (E) as a noun means animal domestique; as a verb, it's equivalent to câliner, chouchouter, caresser.


Pétulant (F) vs Petulant (E)

     Pétulant (F) = exuberant, vivacious.
     Petulant (E) = irritable, irrité.


Flemme (F) vs Phlegm (E)

     Flemme (F) is an informal word for laziness. It's commonly used in the expressions "avoir la flemme" (J'ai la flemme d'y aller - I can't be bothered to go) and "tirer sa flemme" - to loaf about.
     Phlegm (E) = la mucosité.


Photographe (F) vs Photograph (E)

     Photographe (F) is a photographer.
     Photograph (E) is une photo (short for photographie).


Phrase (F) vs Phrase (E)

     Phrase (F) is a sentence.
     Phrase (E) refers to une expression or locution.


Physicien (F) vs Physician (E)

     Physicien (F) = physicist.
     Physician (E) = médicin.

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