False Friends — Faux Amis That Trap French Speakers
Words that look French but mean something completely different in English
Category: False Friends
The Rule
Many English-French word pairs share Latin/French roots but diverged in meaning. These faux amis cause confident mistakes: 'actually' ≠ 'actuellement', 'library' ≠ 'librairie'.
Why This Matters
French gave English thousands of words after 1066, but meanings drifted apart. French speakers confidently use 'library' thinking it means 'bookshop' (librairie), when it actually means 'bibliothèque'. These errors are persistent because the speaker feels certain they're right.
Examples
• Actually, that's wrong. (= en fait) — "Actuellement means 'currently', NOT 'actually'" [actually = en fait / en réalité] • I'm going to the library. (= bibliothèque) — "Librairie means 'bookshop', NOT 'library'" [library = bibliothèque; bookshop = librairie] • She attended the meeting. (= assister à) — "Attendre means 'to wait', NOT 'to attend'" [attend = assister à; wait = attendre]
Common Mistakes
❌ I want to pass my exam. (meaning 'take') ✅ I want to take/sit my exam. → English 'pass' = succeed at. French 'passer un examen' = take an exam. You can't 'pass' an exam you haven't taken yet! ❌ She is very sympathique. ✅ She is very nice/friendly. → English 'sympathetic' = compassionate/understanding. French 'sympathique' = nice/friendly.
Quick Tip
Top faux amis: actually≠actuellement, library≠librairie, attend≠attendre, pass≠passer, sympathetic≠sympathique, bless≠blesser, coin≠coin, sensible≠sensible.
Top faux amis: actually≠actuellement, library≠librairie, attend≠attendre, pass≠passer, sympathetic≠sympathique, bless≠blesser, coin≠coin, sensible≠sensible.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: I want to pass my exam. (meaning 'take') → Correct: I want to take/sit my exam.. English 'pass' = succeed at. French 'passer un examen' = take an exam. You can't 'pass' an exam you haven't taken yet!
Incorrect: She is very sympathique. → Correct: She is very nice/friendly.. English 'sympathetic' = compassionate/understanding. French 'sympathique' = nice/friendly.
Quiz
What does English 'eventually' mean?