What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase “false friends”? A bad friend? A fake one? That’s fair, but if you’re learning a new language, this term means something else, and it might be more important than you think.
False friends, also known as false cognates, can make or break your ability to communicate in your target language. So, what are they exactly? They’re words in two languages that look or sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Why does this happen? To keep it simple, languages often borrow words from one another. Over time, those words can evolve, drift apart, and end up with meanings that are no longer related.
In this post, we’ll explore a list of the 10 most common false friends in French and English.
Why Bother Learning Them?
Because nothing kills a conversation faster than saying something you thought was right… only to get a blank stare or a raised eyebrow in return.
False friends sneak up on everyone, even fluent speakers. So if you’ve made a mistake before, don’t worry. What matters is recognizing these little traps and learning from them. Once you do, your fluency improves, but more importantly, your confidence will too.
Let’s cut to the chase: Here are 10 of the most common false friends between French and English.
1. “Library” vs. “Librairie”
- Librairie (FR) = bookstore
- Library (EN) = a place where you borrow books
Common mistake made by a French speaker: “I’m going to the library to buy a novel.”
Correction: “I’m going to the bookstore to buy a novel.”
2. “Actually” vs. “Actuellement”
- Actuellement (FR) = currently
- Actually (EN) = in fact
Mistake: “Actually, I’m working in Paris.” (intended to mean currently)
Correction: “Currently, I’m working in Paris.”
3. “Money” vs. “Monnaie”
- Monnaie (FR) = change (coins or leftover money after a transaction)
- Money (EN) = general term for currency
Mistake: “Do you have money for the vending machine? I only need one euro.”
Correction: “Do you have change for the vending machine? I only need one euro.”
4. “Assist” vs. “Assister”
- Assister à (FR) = to attend
- Assist (EN) = to help
Mistake: “I assisted a great concert last night.”
Correction: “I attended a great concert last night.”
5. “Cave” vs. “Cave”
- Cave (FR) = basement, cellar
- Cave (EN) = a natural underground hollow space
Mistake: “We keep our wine in the cave under the house.”
Correction: “We keep our wine in the cellar under the house.”
6. “Sensible” vs. “Sensible”
- Sensible (FR) = sensitive
Sensible (EN) = practical, reasonable
Mistake: “She’s very sensible about criticism.” (meaning sensitive)
Correction: “She’s very sensitive about criticism.”
7. “Deception” vs. “Déception”
- Déception (FR) = disappointment
- Deception (EN) = dishonesty or trickery
Mistake: “I watched a movie last night—what a deception!”
Correction: “I watched a movie last night—what a disappointment!”
8. “Pass an exam” vs. “Passer un examen”
- Passer un examen (FR) = to take an exam
- Pass an exam (EN) = to succeed at an exam
Mistake: “I passed my exam yesterday, but I don’t know my grade yet.”
Correction: “I took my exam yesterday, but I don’t know my grade yet.”
9. “Bless” vs. “Blesser”
- Blesser (FR) = to injure or hurt
- Bless (EN) = to give a blessing or wish well
Mistake: “He was blessed in the accident.” (meant injured)
Correction: “He was injured in the accident.”
10. “Sympathetic” vs. “Sympathique”
- Sympathique (FR) = nice, friendly, cool
- Sympathetic (EN) = feeling compassion for someone
Mistake: “The place was very sympathetic.”
Correction: “The place was very nice.”
How do I remember all this?
I get it—it’s a lot to take in. All these words and subtle differences can feel overwhelming at first. But don’t worry! One practical trick is to write down the false friends you’ve been using incorrectly and create your own personal list. This way, you’re building something tailored to your learning.
Even better? Try memorizing a short sentence or phrase where the tricky word is used correctly. That’s actually how I learned the third conditional. To this day, I still remember the sentence: “If I had known you were coming, I would have waited for you.” It stuck with me, and yours can too.
Another great method is simply exposing yourself to more of the language. Listen to podcasts, watch videos, read articles, or sign up for English lessons online with a native teacher. The more input you have, the more natural these word choices will start to feel. Before long, you’ll catch yourself using them correctly without even thinking about it.
To sum up
False friends can be sneaky. Even though they might look familiar, they often mean something entirely different. But don’t let that discourage you. With a bit of attention and practice, you CAN and WILL master them. I’ve been working with French speakers for a while, and I’ve noticed some common mistakes when using these words. Let’s just say that if you work in a French office but often use English with colleagues. Just keep in mind:
- Say “attend a meeting,” not “assist a meeting.”
- Say “I’m currently working on the report” (if you intend to say that you are working on it at that moment), and not “I’m actually working on the report.”
Little changes like these make a big difference—and you’ve absolutely got this! We invite you to test your false cognate skills with the following quiz.
This article was written by BIE’s online teacher and blog contributor Yessenia Pardo Jaramillo.
