Faux amis

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 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).


Newest faux amis


extra (F) vs extra (E)

     extra (F) is an adjective that means first-rate or terrific. Un extra is a catering assistant or a treat.
     extra (E) the adjective means supplémentaire. As an adverb, it might be translated by plus, très, or even un supplément (e.g., to pay extra - payer un supplément). As a noun meaning "perk," it's equivalent to un à-côté. Extras as in "extra options" are en option or gâteries, "extra fees" are frais supplémentaires. An acting extra is un figurant and extra time in sports is prolongation(s).


inhabité (F) vs inhabited (E)

     inhabité (F) = uninhabited.
     inhabited (E) means habité.


médecin (F) vs medicine (E)

     un médecin (F) is a doctor.
     medicine (E) means la médecine.


misérable (F) vs miserable (E)

     misérable (F) means destitute, impoverished, or shabby.
     miserable (E) means très malheureux.


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

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