Faux amis (pronounced fo.z‿a.mi).
The classic definition of a false friend is; a pair of words in different languages or dialects, that look similar and may be related but that differ significantly in meaning.
I always encourage my students to recognise the fact that they already have a large knowledge of French vocabulary. Think of all the French words commonly used today in English; avant-garde, carte blanche and cliché to name but a few! Then add in most words with the suffixes -ation/information – l’information, -tion/acceleration/l’accélération, ssion/passion – la passion, – able/capable-capable, isme/racism-le racisme etc., and you have quite a repertoire of French vocabulary.
However, watch out, it does not mean that this works all the time!
While many words look and sound alike in both languages and often mean the same thing, there are always of course, exceptions to this rule.
Faux amis – false friends: These words can easily trick you into saying something embarrassing! They sound similar but mean totally different things!
I am afraid that there is no other way around it, you must learn to recognise them and when to use them.
Here a few useful and fun ones to keep you out of trouble!
actually – en fait, en réalité
actuellement – now, at present
affair – une aventure, une liaison (amoureuse)
une affaire – business, matter
to assist – aider
assister – to attend
bra – un soutien-gorge
un bras – arm
car – une voiture
un car – coach, bus
chair – une chaise
la chair – flesh
coach – un autocar, un car
un coach – trainer, coach
coin – une pièce, une pièce de monnaie
un coin – corner
to demand – exiger
demander – to ask
eventually – finalement, pour finir
éventuellement – possibly, potentially
formidable – redoutable, impressionnant
formidable – astounding, terrific
grave – une tombe
grave – serious
to injure – blesser, se blesser
injurier – to insult
library – une bibliothèque
une librairie – bookshop
memory – un souvenir, des souvenirs
la mémoire – memory, recollection
money – l’argent
la monnaie – change, currency
to pass an exam – réussir un examen, être reçu(e) à un examen
passer un examen – to take an exam
race – une course (de chevaux, voitures, etc.)
race – breed
store – un magasin
un store – blind, awning
to survey – mener une enquête, faire un sondage, interroger
surveiller – to supervise, to watch, to monitor
tentative – timide, indécis(e), hésitant(e)
une tentative – attempt, try
Contact me for some fun and easy ways to learn French, and most imporantly to make friends with “false friends” in French!
