Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Vocabulary/Same-Word-Different-Spelling"
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Salut French learners | |||
Salut French learners, | |||
Here is a list of words that can be written in several ways in French and that have the same meaning. | Here is a list of words that can be written in several ways in French and that have the same meaning. | ||
| Line 32: | Line 33: | ||
|feignant/fainéant | |feignant/fainéant | ||
|lazy | |lazy | ||
| | |The words "feignant" and "fainéant" have the same meaning in everyday language. However, there is a difference between "un fainéant" (fait rien), a lazy person (does nothing) and someone who pretends to work ("feignant" from the verbe "feindre", il feint le travail). | ||
|- | |- | ||
|granit/granite | |granit/granite | ||
Revision as of 19:12, 4 February 2020
Salut French learners,
Here is a list of words that can be written in several ways in French and that have the same meaning.
You can complete this list by editing this wiki page if necessary.
| French word | English translation | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| ailloli/aïoli | ailloli | |
| bistro/bistrot | bar | |
| cacahuète/cacahouète | peanut | |
| clef/clé | Key | The spelling "clef" is the oldest. It comes from the Latin "clavis" which gradually transformed into "clé" without the "f". It was a writing problem that made the change because in the 18th century we wrote in the plural "clés" and not "clefs". In addition, at the pronunciation level it is the same thing. "Clé" is now more used, but "clef" is resisting ! Both spellings are recognized by the French Academy. In the plural, it is easier to write "clés" |
| cuillère/cuiller | spoon | |
| feignant/fainéant | lazy | The words "feignant" and "fainéant" have the same meaning in everyday language. However, there is a difference between "un fainéant" (fait rien), a lazy person (does nothing) and someone who pretends to work ("feignant" from the verbe "feindre", il feint le travail). |
| granit/granite | granite | |
| île/isle | Isle | |
| irakien/iraquien | Iraqi | |
| laïc/laïque | laic | |
| ognon/oignon | ognon | |
| orang-outang/orang-outan | Orangutan | |
| paie/paye | Pay | |
| pic-vert/pivert. | woodpecker | |
| pizzéria/pizzeria | pizzeria | |
| resurgir/ressurgir | resurface | |
| saoul/soûl. | drunk | |
| tsar/tzar | tsar | |
| yaourt/yogourt/yoghourt | Yogurt |