Faux Amis
A faux ami ("false friend") is a French word that looks or sounds similar to an English word but has a different meaning, making it easy for learners to confuse the two. A classic example is attendre, which resembles the English verb to attend but actually means to wait (for). For example, J'attends le bus means I'm waiting for the bus, not I'm attending the bus. To express the English verb to attend (a meeting, event, or class), French usually uses assister à.
| actuel | current, present | |||
| actual | réel, véritable | |||
| actuel | current, present | actual | réel, véritable | |
| actuellement | currently | |||
| actually | en fait | |||
| actuellement | currently | actually | en fait | |
| affaires (f) | things, belongings, business | |||
| affairs (romantic) | une liaison | |||
| affaires (f) | things, belongings, business | affairs (romantic) | une liaison | |
| affluence (f) | crowd, large numbers of people | |||
| affluence | la richesse | |||
| affluence (f) | crowd, large numbers of people | affluence | la richesse | |
| agenda (m) | diary, planner | |||
| agenda | un ordre du jour | |||
| agenda (m) | diary, planner | agenda | un ordre du jour | |
| allure (f) | pace, speed; appearance, style | |||
| allure | un attrait, un charme | |||
| allure (f) | pace, speed; appearance, style | allure | un attrait, un charme | |
| ancien | former, old | |||
| ancient | antique | |||
| ancien | former, old | ancient | antique | |
| apologie (f) | defense, justification | |||
| apology | excuses | |||
| apologie (f) | defense, justification | apology | excuses | |
| assister | to attend, to be present at | |||
| to assist | aider | |||
| assister | to attend, to be present at | to assist | aider | |
| assurance (f) | insurance | |||
| assurance | confiance | |||
| assurance (f) | insurance | assurance | confiance | |
| attendre | to wait | |||
| to attend | assister à | |||
| attendre | to wait | to attend | assister à | |
| avertissement (m) | warning | |||
| advertisement | une publicité | |||
| avertissement (m) | warning | advertisement | une publicité | |
| bague (f) | ring | |||
| bag | un sac | |||
| bague (f) | ring | bag | un sac | |
| balance (f) | scales | |||
| balance | un équilibre | |||
| balance (f) | scales | balance | un équilibre | |
| blesser | to injure, to wound | |||
| to bless | bénir | |||
| blesser | to injure, to wound | to bless | bénir | |
| bribes (f) | fragments, snippets | |||
| bribes | des pots-de-vin | |||
| bribes (f) | fragments, snippets | bribes | des pots-de-vin | |
| bras (m) | arm | |||
| bras | un soutien-gorge | |||
| bras (m) | arm | bras | un soutien-gorge | |
| canapé (m) | sofa | |||
| canapé | un amuse-bouche | |||
| canapé (m) | sofa | canapé | un amuse-bouche | |
| car (m) | because; coach | |||
| car | une voiture | |||
| car (m) | because; coach | car | une voiture | |
| cave (f) | cellar, basement | |||
| cave | une grotte | |||
| cave (f) | cellar, basement | cave | une grotte | |
| chef (m) | boss, head, leader | |||
| chef | un chef cuisinier | |||
| chef (m) | boss, head, leader | chef | un chef cuisinier | |
| chair (f) | flesh | |||
| chair | une chaise | |||
| chair (f) | flesh | chair | une chaise | |
| circulation (f) | traffic; circulation (of blood) | |||
| circulation (of newspaper) | le tirage | |||
| circulation (f) | traffic; circulation (of blood) | circulation (of newspaper) | le tirage | |
| coin (m) | corner | |||
| coin | une pièce | |||
| coin (m) | corner | coin | une pièce | |
| collège (m) | middle school (ages 11–15) | |||
| college | une université | |||
| collège (m) | middle school (ages 11–15) | college | une université | |
| commande (f) | order (in a restaurant, shop) | |||
| command | un ordre | |||
| commande (f) | order (in a restaurant, shop) | command | un ordre | |
| comment | how | |||
| comment | un commentaire | |||
| comment | how | comment | un commentaire | |
| complet | full, no vacancies | |||
| complete | entier | |||
| complet | full, no vacancies | complete | entier | |
| conducteur (m) | driver | |||
| conductor | un chef d'orchestre, un contrôleur | |||
| conducteur (m) | driver | conductor | un chef d'orchestre, un contrôleur | |
| conférence (f) | lecture, talk | |||
| conference | une réunion | |||
| conférence (f) | lecture, talk | conference | une réunion | |
| confus | embarrassed, ashamed | |||
| confused | perplexe | |||
| confus | embarrassed, ashamed | confused | perplexe | |
| crayon (m) | pencil | |||
| crayon | un crayon de couleur | |||
| crayon (m) | pencil | crayon | un crayon de couleur | |
| cure (f) | priesthood; priest | |||
| cure | un remède | |||
| cure (f) | priesthood; priest | cure | un remède | |
| défaut (m) | flaw, fault | |||
| default | par défaut | |||
| défaut (m) | flaw, fault | default | par défaut | |
| déception (f) | disappointment | |||
| deception | une tromperie | |||
| déception (f) | disappointment | deception | une tromperie | |
| demander | to ask | |||
| to demand | exiger | |||
| demander | to ask | to demand | exiger | |
| disposer | to arrange; to have available | |||
| to dispose | jeter | |||
| disposer | to arrange; to have available | to dispose | jeter | |
| effectif | actual, existing | |||
| effective | efficace | |||
| effectif | actual, existing | effective | efficace | |
| embrasser | to kiss | |||
| to embrace | étreindre, serrer dans ses bras | |||
| embrasser | to kiss | to embrace | étreindre, serrer dans ses bras | |
| en effet | indeed, in fact | |||
| in effect | en vigueur | |||
| en effet | indeed, in fact | in effect | en vigueur | |
| engager | to hire | |||
| to engage | impliquer | |||
| engager | to hire | to engage | impliquer | |
| entrée (f) | starter, appetizer | |||
| entrée | le plat principal | |||
| entrée (f) | starter, appetizer | entrée | le plat principal | |
| éventuellement | possibly, perhaps | |||
| eventually | finalement | |||
| éventuellement | possibly, perhaps | eventually | finalement | |
| excité | aroused | |||
| excited | impatient, enthousiaste | |||
| excité | aroused | excited | impatient, enthousiaste | |
| expérimenté | experienced, skilled | |||
| experimental | expérimental | |||
| expérimenté | experienced, skilled | experimental | expérimental | |
| fabrique (f) | factory | |||
| fabric | un tissu | |||
| fabrique (f) | factory | fabric | un tissu | |
| figure (f) | face | |||
| figure | un chiffre, une silhouette | |||
| figure (f) | face | figure | un chiffre, une silhouette | |
| formidable | great, terrific | |||
| formidable | redoutable | |||
| formidable | great, terrific | formidable | redoutable | |
| formation (f) | training, education | |||
| formation | une formation militaire | |||
| formation (f) | training, education | formation | une formation militaire | |
| gentil | kind, nice | |||
| gentle | doux | |||
| gentil | kind, nice | gentle | doux | |
| grade (m) | rank (military or professional) | |||
| grade | une note | |||
| grade (m) | rank (military or professional) | grade | une note | |
| grand | tall, big | |||
| grand | magnifique | |||
| grand | tall, big | grand | magnifique | |
| grave | serious, severe | |||
| grave (n) | une tombe | |||
| grave | serious, severe | grave (n) | une tombe | |
| habit (m) | outfit, costume | |||
| habit | une habitude | |||
| habit (m) | outfit, costume | habit | une habitude | |
| haïr | to hate | |||
| hair | cheveux | |||
| haïr | to hate | hair | cheveux | |
| hasard (m) | chance, coincidence | |||
| hazard | un danger | |||
| hasard (m) | chance, coincidence | hazard | un danger | |
| hâte (f) | haste, hurry | |||
| hate | détester, haïr | |||
| hâte (f) | haste, hurry | hate | détester, haïr | |
| ignorer | to be unaware of | |||
| to ignore (to disregard) | ne pas tenir compte de | |||
| ignorer | to be unaware of | to ignore (to disregard) | ne pas tenir compte de | |
| important | large, significant | |||
| important | essentiel | |||
| important | large, significant | important | essentiel | |
| injure (f) | insult, abuse | |||
| injury | une blessure | |||
| injure (f) | insult, abuse | injury | une blessure | |
| intoxication (f) | poisoning | |||
| intoxication | ivresse (f) | |||
| intoxication (f) | poisoning | intoxication | ivresse (f) | |
| issue (f) | exit, way out; outcome | |||
| issue | un problème, une question | |||
| issue (f) | exit, way out; outcome | issue | un problème, une question | |
| journal (m) | newspaper | |||
| journal | un journal intime | |||
| journal (m) | newspaper | journal | un journal intime | |
| journée (f) | day | |||
| journey | un voyage | |||
| journée (f) | day | journey | un voyage | |
| large | wide, broad | |||
| large | grand | |||
| large | wide, broad | large | grand | |
| lecture (f) | reading | |||
| lecture | une conférence, un cours | |||
| lecture (f) | reading | lecture | une conférence, un cours | |
| librairie (f) | bookshop | |||
| library | une bibliothèque | |||
| librairie (f) | bookshop | library | une bibliothèque | |
| licence (f) | bachelor's degree | |||
| licence | un permis | |||
| licence (f) | bachelor's degree | licence | un permis | |
| location (f) | rental, hire | |||
| location | un emplacement, une position, un lieu | |||
| location (f) | rental, hire | location | un emplacement, une position, un lieu | |
| lunatique | moody | |||
| lunatic | fou | |||
| lunatique | moody | lunatic | fou | |
| luxure (f) | lust | |||
| luxury | un luxe | |||
| luxure (f) | lust | luxury | un luxe | |
| luxurieux | lustful, lecherous | |||
| luxurious | luxueux | |||
| luxurieux | lustful, lecherous | luxurious | luxueux | |
| magasin (m) | shop, store | |||
| magazine | un magazine | |||
| magasin (m) | shop, store | magazine | un magazine | |
| médecin (m) | doctor | |||
| medicine | un médicament | |||
| médecin (m) | doctor | medicine | un médicament | |
| médecine (f) | medicine (the field of study) | |||
| medicine (drug) | un médicament | |||
| médecine (f) | medicine (the field of study) | medicine (drug) | un médicament | |
| monnaie (f) | change, coins; currency | |||
| money | argent (m) | |||
| monnaie (f) | change, coins; currency | money | argent (m) | |
| nouvelle (f) | short story; news | |||
| novel | un roman | |||
| nouvelle (f) | short story; news | novel | un roman | |
| occasion (f) | opportunity; bargain | |||
| occasion | un événement | |||
| occasion (f) | opportunity; bargain | occasion | un événement | |
| or (m) | gold | |||
| or | ou | |||
| or (m) | gold | or | ou | |
| pain (m) | bread | |||
| pain | une douleur | |||
| pain (m) | bread | pain | une douleur | |
| partie (f) | part, section | |||
| party | une fête | |||
| partie (f) | part, section | party | une fête | |
| passer | to spend (time); to go by | |||
| to pass | réussir | |||
| passer | to spend (time); to go by | to pass | réussir | |
| patron (m) | boss | |||
| patron | un client | |||
| patron (m) | boss | patron | un client | |
| pétrole (m) | crude oil | |||
| petrol | essence | |||
| pétrole (m) | crude oil | petrol | essence | |
| phrase (f) | sentence | |||
| phrase | une expression | |||
| phrase (f) | sentence | phrase | une expression | |
| plat (m) | dish, course (of food) | |||
| plate | une assiette | |||
| plat (m) | dish, course (of food) | plate | une assiette | |
| poisson (m) | fish | |||
| poison | un poison | |||
| poisson (m) | fish | poison | un poison | |
| préservatif (m) | condom | |||
| preservative | un agent de conservation | |||
| préservatif (m) | condom | preservative | un agent de conservation | |
| prétendre | to claim, to maintain | |||
| to pretend | faire semblant | |||
| prétendre | to claim, to maintain | to pretend | faire semblant | |
| prévenir | to warn, to notify | |||
| to prevent | empêcher | |||
| prévenir | to warn, to notify | to prevent | empêcher | |
| procès (m) | trial | |||
| process | un processus | |||
| procès (m) | trial | process | un processus | |
| propre | clean; own | |||
| proper | correct, convenable | |||
| propre | clean; own | proper | correct, convenable | |
| prune (f) | plum | |||
| prune | un pruneau | |||
| prune (f) | plum | prune | un pruneau | |
| quitter | to leave | |||
| to quit | arrêter, cesser | |||
| quitter | to leave | to quit | arrêter, cesser | |
| raisin (m) | grape | |||
| raisin | un raisin sec | |||
| raisin (m) | grape | raisin | un raisin sec | |
| récupérer | to get back, to retrieve | |||
| to recuperate | se remettre | |||
| récupérer | to get back, to retrieve | to recuperate | se remettre | |
| rester | to stay, to remain | |||
| to rest | se reposer | |||
| rester | to stay, to remain | to rest | se reposer | |
| résumé (m) | summary | |||
| résumé | un CV, un curriculum vitae | |||
| résumé (m) | summary | résumé | un CV, un curriculum vitae | |
| retard (m) | delay, lateness | |||
| retard (offensive) | un attardé | |||
| retard (m) | delay, lateness | retard (offensive) | un attardé | |
| roman (m) | novel | |||
| Roman | romain | |||
| roman (m) | novel | Roman | romain | |
| sale | dirty | |||
| sale | soldes | |||
| sale | dirty | sale | soldes | |
| sensible | sensitive | |||
| sensible | raisonnable | |||
| sensible | sensitive | sensible | raisonnable | |
| sévère | strict, stern | |||
| severe | grave | |||
| sévère | strict, stern | severe | grave | |
| slip (m) | underpants, briefs | |||
| slip (underdress) | une combinaison | |||
| slip (m) | underpants, briefs | slip (underdress) | une combinaison | |
| sort (m) | fate, spell | |||
| sort | trier | |||
| sort (m) | fate, spell | sort | trier | |
| stage (m) | internship, work placement | |||
| stage | une scène | |||
| stage (m) | internship, work placement | stage | une scène | |
| stores (m) | blinds, window shades | |||
| stores (shops) | des magasins, des boutiques | |||
| stores (m) | blinds, window shades | stores (shops) | des magasins, des boutiques | |
| stylo (m) | pen | |||
| stylus | un stylet | |||
| stylo (m) | pen | stylus | un stylet | |
| subtilité (f) | trick, cleverness | |||
| subtlety | finesse | |||
| subtilité (f) | trick, cleverness | subtlety | finesse | |
| supporter | to tolerate, to put up with | |||
| to support | soutenir | |||
| supporter | to tolerate, to put up with | to support | soutenir | |
| sympathique | nice, friendly, likeable | |||
| sympathetic | compatissant | |||
| sympathique | nice, friendly, likeable | sympathetic | compatissant | |
| tissu (m) | fabric, cloth | |||
| tissue | un mouchoir | |||
| tissu (m) | fabric, cloth | tissue | un mouchoir | |
| travail (m) | work | |||
| travail | une souffrance, une peine | |||
| travail (m) | work | travail | une souffrance, une peine | |
| user | to wear out | |||
| to use | utiliser | |||
| user | to wear out | to use | utiliser | |
| versatile | fickle, changeable | |||
| versatile | polyvalent | |||
| versatile | fickle, changeable | versatile | polyvalent | |
| veste (f) | jacket | |||
| vest | un gilet | |||
| veste (f) | jacket | vest | un gilet |