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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)