Your A to Z of French ‘Faux Amis’

Last updated: Mar 18th, 2024


Have you spotted a word in French that looks similar to a word we have in the English language? Beware, all may not be quite as it seems!

There are examples of ‘faux amis’ or ‘false friends’, which are words in a foreign language which resemble words in one’s own language but have a different meaning.

We’ve popped together our A to Z (or rather A to V) of the most common ‘faux amis’ to ensure your language learners don’t get themselves into any sticky situations.

French word

English meaning

English resemblance

French translation

actuel current, present actual réelexact
agenda diary agenda ordre du jour (de réunion)
allure pace, speed; appearance; style allure attraitcharme
avertissement warning advertisement publicité
balance scales (for weighing) balance équilibre
bribes fragments bribes pots-de-vin
car coach car voiture
cave cellar cave grotte
chair flesh chair chaisefauteuilsiège
chance luck chance hasard
coin corner coin pièce (de monnaie)
déception disappointment deception tromperieduperie
demander to ask for demand exiger
éventuellement possibly, if necessary eventually finalement
fabrique factory fabric tissu
formidable great, terrific, fantastic formidable redoutable; impressionnant
gentil kind, nice, likeable gentle doux
journée day journey voyage
lecture reading (matter) lecture cours magistral
librairie bookshop library bibliothèque
monnaie change (coins) money argent
patron boss patron client
procès trial process processus
prune plum prune pruneau
prétendre to claim pretend faire semblant
quitter to leave quit arrêtercesser
raisin grape raisin raisin sec
rester to stay rest se reposer
sensible sensitive sensible sensible = raisonnable
stage (training) course stage stade; (Theatscène
sympathique nice, pleasant sympathetic compatissantcompréhensif
tissu fabric, material tissue mouchoir en papier
veste jacket, coat US vest maillot de corps

Source : http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/difficulties-in-french-false-friends-and-franglais