VOCABULARY
List of English-French Faux Amis
False friends or faux amis are words in a foreign language bearing a deceptive resemblance to words in one's own language. For example the word actually means really in English. In French actuellement has a diffrent meaning; it means at present.
This is a list of English-French faux amis (false friends)
| English word | French Equivalent |
|---|---|
| to abuse | insulter and not abuser (which means in English take advantage of) |
| to accommodate | loger and not accommoder (which means in English prepare) |
| to achieve | réaliser and not achever (which means in English complete) |
| actually | en fait and not actuellement (which means in English at present) |
| caution | prudence and not caution (which means in English guarantee) |
| character | personnage and not caractère (which means in English nature) |
| to charge | faire payer and not charger (which means in English load) |
| check | contrôle and not chèque (which means in English cheque) |
| close | proche, serré and not clos (which means in English closed) |
| commodity | marchandise and not commodité (which means in English convenience) |
| comprehensive | complet and not compréhensif (which means in English understanding) |
| conductor | contrôleur and not conducteur (which means in English driver) |
| confection | friandise and not confection (which means in English ready-made clothes) |
| consistent | cohérent and not consistant (which means in English solid, thick) |
| contemplate | One of its meanings is envisager and not contempler (which means in English gaze at) |
| countenance | expression (visage) and not contenance (which means in English capacity) |
| to deceive | tromper and not décevoir (which means in English disappoint) |
| delay | retard and not délai (which means in English time limit) |
| to dispose | se débarrasser and not disposer (which means in English arrange) |
| dispute | conflit and not dispute (which means in English quarrel, argument) |
| engaged | occupé and not engagé (which means in English committed) |
| estate | domaine and not état (which means in English state, condition) |
| eventually | finalement and not éventuellement (which means in English possibly) |
| expertise | compétence and not expertise (which means in English expert's report) |
| extra | supplémentaire and extra (which means in English first-rate) |
| fortunate | chanceux and not fortuné (which means in English wealthy, well-off) |
| gentle | aimable, doux and not gentil (which means in English nice, kind) |
| grand | grandiose and not grand (which means in English tall, big) |
| grapes | raisin and not grappe (which means in English bunch of grapes) |
| habit | habitude and not habit (which means in English dress, clothes) |
| hazard | danger and not hasard (which means in English chance) |
| inconvenient | inopportun and not inconvenant (which means in English improper) |
| indulge | laisser aller and not indulgence (which means in English leniency) |
| invaluable | inestimable and not non valable (which means in English invalid, not valid) |
| lecture | conférence and not lecture (which means in English reading) |
| location | emplacement and not location (which means in English renting, lease) |
| mechanic | mécanicien and not mécanique (which means in English engineering) |
| medicine | médicament and not médecin (which means in English doctor) |
| mercy | miséricorde and not merci (which means in English thanks) |
| notice | avis, préavis and not notice (which means in English note, instructions) |
| partition | séparation and not partition (which means in English (musical) score) |
| petrol | essence and not pétrole (which means in English oil, petroleum) |
| photograph | photographie and not photographe (which means in English photographer) |
| phrase | expression and not phrase (which means in English sentence) |
| to prevent | empêcher and not prévenir (which means in English warn) |
| proper | adéquat and not propre (which means in English clean, decent) |
| to recover | se rétablir and not recouvrir (which means in English cover) |
| to regard | considérer and not regarder (which means in English look at) |
| relieve | soulager and not relever (which means in English raise) |
| to resume | recommencer and not résumer (which means in English sum up) |
| route | itinéraire and route (which means in English road) |
| rude | grossier and not rude (which means in English rough, hard) |
| sensible | raisonnable and not sensible (which means in English sensitive) |
| socket | douille and not socquette (which means in English sock) |
| store | grand magasin and not store (which means in English blind, shade) |
| suit | costume and not suite (which means in English rest) |
| to supply | fournir and not supplier (which means in English implore) |
| to survey | examiner and not surveiller (which means in English supervise) |
| sympathetic | compatissant and not sympathique (which means in English nice, friendly) |
| wagon | chariot and not wagon (which means in English carriage, car) |
