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)