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).
Tarif (F) vs Tariff (E)
Tarif (F) can refer to a price list or rate as well as a tariff.
Tariff (E) = un tarif.
Tenant (F) vs Tenant (E)
Tenant (F) is the present participle of the verb tenir - to hold or to keep.
Tenant (E) refers to un locataire.
Thé (F) vs The (E)
Thé (F) means tea.
The (E) is the definite article le, la, or les.
Ticket (F) vs Ticket (E)
Ticket (F) is a bus or subway ticket.
Ticket (E) is translated by un billet for everything else.
Timbre (F) vs Timber (E)
Timbre (F) is a stamp or the timbre of a voice/instrument.
Timber (E) is bois d'oeuvre or de construction.
Tirer (F) vs Tire (E)
Tirer (F) means to pull.
Tire (E) as a verb means fatiguer or lasser, as a noun it means un pneu.
Ton (F) vs Ton (E)
Ton (F) is a noun - tone, pitch, as well as the second person singular possessive adjective - your.
Ton (E) refers to une tonne or un tonneau.
Tongs (F) vs Tongs (E)
Tongs (F) are flip-flops or thongs (for your feet - the other kind of thong is un string).
Tongs (E) are pinces.
Tour (F) vs Tour (E)
Tour (F) when masculine, refers to a walk around, trip, turn, or lathe. Une tour is a tower.
Tour (E) is un voyage or une visite.
Tourniquet (F) vs Tourniquet (E)
Tourniquet (F) usually refers to something that revoles: turnstile, revolving door, turbine, but it can also indicate a tourniquet or court-martial.
Tourniquet (E) is most commonly translated by un garrot.
Trafiquer (F) vs Traffic (E)
Trafiquer (F) means to traffic in the sense of something illegal (guns, drugs, etc). In addition, it means to tamper with or doctor, as in On a trafiquer les freins - Someone tampered with the brakes.
Traffic (E) as a verb has only the first sense above. As a noun, it can refer to illegal trade as well as la circulation (routière).
Traîner (F) vs Trainer/Train (E)
Traîner (F) means to pull or drag, or to lag behind.
Trainer (E) is un entraîneur in reference to a person. To UK English speakers, trainers are des tennis or des baskets. Train (E) = former, instruire, entraîner.
Travailler (F) vs Travel (E)
Travailler (F) means to work.
Travel (E) = voyager.
Trépasser (F) vs Trespass (E)
Trépasser (F) means to pass away.
Trespass (E) means to invade another's property: s'introduire sans permission.
Trimestre (F) vs Trimester (E)
Trimestre (F) means three months, or a quarter of a year.
Trimester (E) usually means four months, or a third of a year. There is no equivalent French term. In reference to pregnancy, however, a trimester does mean three months, because it is a third of the 9-month term.
Trombone (F) vs Trombone (E)
Trombone (F) is a semi-false cognate In addition to a trombone, it can refer to a paper clip.
Trombone (E) refers to une trombone.
Truand (F) vs Truant (E)
Truand (F) = gangster.
Truant (E) doesn't have a simple equivalent, you have to say un élève absent sans autorisation.
Truc (F) vs Truck (E)
Truc (F) refers to an unnamed or unknown object: thing, trick, thingamajig.
Truck (E) is a heavy motor vehicle for carrying things: un camion.
Truculent (F) vs Truculent (E)
Truculent (F) means vivid, colorful, racy, larger than life, etc.
Truculent (E) describes someone who is aggressive or predisposed to fight: brutal, aggressif.
Tube (F) vs Tube (E)
Tube (F) usually indicates a tube but is also an informal word for a musical hit. À pleins tubes - full throttle.
Tube (E) = un tube.
Type (F) vs Type (E)
Type (F) is an informal word for a guy or bloke. In the normal register, it can mean type, kind, or epitome. Quel type de moto ? - What kind of motorbike? Le type de l'égoïsme - The epitome of selfishness.
Type (E) means un type, un genre, une espèce, une sorte, une marque, etc.
Archives
| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
