Faux amis - R

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).


Radiation (F) vs Radiation (E)

     Radiation (F) is a semi-false cognate. In addition to radiation in physics, it can also mean crossing or striking off (a list, for example). Radier - to cross/strike off.
     Radiation (E) has three translations, depending on the type. Light - irradiation, heat - rayonnement, and radioactivity - radiation.


Raide (F) vs Raid (E)

     Raide (F) is the French adjective for stiff, taut, or steep.
     Raid (E) is the English noun for un raid or une incursion.


Raisin (F) vs Raisin (E)

     Raisin (F) is the French word for grape.
     Raisin (E) is un raisin sec.


Rampant (F) vs Rampant (E)

     Rampant (F) is the French adjective for creeping or crawling: Le chat rampant m'a dérangé - The creeping cat disturbed me.
     Rampant (E) means growing without limit: Rampant vegetation covers the wall - La végétation exubérante couvre le mur.


Rang (F) vs Rang (E)

     Rang (F) is a row, line, or rank. In Canadian French, it can be a country road.
     Rang (E) is the past participle of ring - sonner.


Râpe/Râper (F) vs Rape (E)

     Râpe (F) is a grater or grinder in English. Râper (F) means to grate, rasp, or grind.
     Rape (E) is the noun viol or the verb violer.


Rat (F) vs Rat (E)

     Rat (F) literally means a rat, and can be used pejoratively to refer to a miser.
     Rat (E) is, again, literally un rat. Pejoratively it means un salaud, and when referring to a narc or informer it is equivalent to un mouchard.


Rater (F) vs Rate (E)

     Rater (F) means to misfire, miss, mess up, or fail.
     Rate (E) is the noun proportion or taux or the verb évaluer or considérer.


Réalisation (F) vs Realization (E)

     Réalisation (F) means fulfillment, achievement, completion, or conclusion.
     Realization (E) can refer to la réalisation of one's hopes or ambitions, as well as une prise de conscience.


Réaliser (F) vs Realize (E)

     Réaliser (F) means to fulfill (a dream or aspiration) or achieve.
     Realize (E) means se rendre compte de, prendre conscience de, or comprendre.


Recette (F) vs Receipt (E)

     Recette (F) = recipe or receipts/takings
     Receipt (E) = un reçu, un récépissé.


Récipient (F) vs Recipient (E)

     Récipient (F) refers to a container or receptacle.
     Recipient (E) is une personne qui reçoit, un/e destinataire, or un/e bénéficiaire.


Refus (F) vs Refuse (E)

     Refus (F) means refusal or insubordination
     Refuse (E) (as a noun) refers to garbage: détritus, ordures, déchets. The verb Refuse is equivalent to refuser in French.


Regard (F) vs Regard (E)

     Regard (F) can mean a glance, expression (on one's face), manhole, or peephole.
     Regard (E) can mean attention, considération, respect, or estime.


Regretter (F) vs Regret (E)

     Regretter (F) can mean to regret, but also to miss: Je regrette ma famille - I miss my family.
     Regret (E) is a noun - regret and a verb - regretter or être désolé.


Rein (F) vs Rein (E)

     Rein (F) is a kidney.
     Rein (E) is une rêne or une guide.


Relatif (F) vs Relative (E)

     Relatif (F) = relative.
     Relative (E) can either be an adjective - relatif or a noun - parent or membre de la famille.


Remarquer (F) vs Remark (E)

     Remarquer (F) is a semi-false cognate. It can mean to notice or to remark. Une remarque is a comment or remark.
     Remark (E) is both the noun and the verb - remarque(r).

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