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) |