Language/French/Vocabulary/English-French-False-Cognates
False cognates, also known as false friends (“faux-ami” in French), are words in two different languages that look or sound similar but have different meanings. English and French have many false cognates, and they can cause confusion and misunderstandings for English speakers learning French.
In this page, you will find a comprehensive list of 150+ English-French false cognates, along with their correct meanings and translations. By familiarizing yourself with these false cognates, you can avoid common mistakes and improve your accuracy in both speaking and writing in French.
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, this page is an essential resource for anyone looking to improve their French skills. So start exploring our list of English-French false cognates today, and take your French language skills to the next level!
English | French | Not to be confused with | Translation in English |
---|---|---|---|
Actually | En fait, en réalité | Actuellement | Now, at present, currently |
Advertisement | Publicité | Avertissement | Warning |
affair | une aventure, une liaison | une affaire | business, matter (law) |
Affluence | Richesse | Affluence | Rush |
Agenda | Programme, ordre du jour | Agenda | Diary (UK), Schedule (US) |
Ancient | Ancien | Ancien | former, old, ancient |
Announcer | Présentateur | Annonceur | Advertiser |
Apology | Excuses | Apologie | Praise, vindication |
Bachelor | Célibataire | Bachelier | Graduate |
Balance | Equilibre | Balance | Scales |
Baskets | Panier | Baskets | Trainers (UK), sneakers (US) |
Benefit | Avantage | Bénéfice | Profit |
blanket | une couverture | blanquette | veal stew |
bra | un soutien-gorge | un bras | arm |
brilliant | génial, super | brillant(e) | bright, shiny |
Brushing | Brossage | Brushing | Blow dry, a perm |
camera | un appareil photo | une caméra | video camera |
car | une voiture | un car | coach, bus |
Caution | Prudence | Caution | Guarantee |
caution | la prudence | une caution | bail, guarantee |
Cave | Grotte | Cave | Cellar |
Chair | Chaise | Chaire | Flesh |
Chance | Opportunité | Chance | Luck |
Character | Personnage | Caractère | Nature |
Chat | Discuter | Chat | Cat |
chips [UK] | des frites | des chips | crisps [UK] |
clay | argile (f) | une clé | key |
Close | Proche | Serré(e) | Closed |
coach | un autocar, un car | un coach | trainer, coach |
coin | une pièce, une pièce de monnaie | un coin | corner |
College [US] | Université | Collège | High-school |
comment | une remarque, un commentaire | comment | how?, what? |
Commodity | Marchandise | Commodité | Convenience |
commodity | une marchandise, un article | la commodité | convenience, usefulness |
Competition | Concurrence | Compétition | Tournament, sporting event |
competition | la concurrence | une compétition | tournament |
Comprehensive | Complet | Compréhensif.ive | Understanding |
comprehensive | complet(ète), exhaustif(ve) | compréhensive | understanding |
concurrence | une concomitance, une coïncidence | la concurrence | competition |
Conductor | Contrôleur | Conducteur.trice | Driver |
Confection | Friandise | Confection | Clothes manufacturing |
Confidence | Confiance | Confidence | Secret |
Copy | Exemplaire | Copie | Reproduction |
Corpse | Cadavre | Corps | Body |
current | actuel, en cours | courant | common, ordinary, usual |
currently | actuellement | couramment | commonly, frequently |
deception | une tromperie, une supercherie | une déception | disappointment, disillusion |
Delay | Retard | Délai | Time limit, deadline |
Demand | Exiger | Demander | To ask |
dent | une bosse, une entaille | une dent | tooth |
Designer | Créateur de mode | Désigner | To appoint, to name |
Disappointment | Déception | Deception | Tromperie |
Dispute | Conflict | Dispute | Argument, quarrel |
douche | une poire ou douche vaginale | une douche | shower |
dramatic | tthéâtral(e), spectaculaire | dramatique | terrible, tragic |
Engaged | Occupé(e) | Engagé(e) | Committed |
engaged | fiancé(e) | engagé(e) | committed, involved |
entrée [US] | le plat principal, le plat de résistance | une entrée | starter, first course [US] |
Estate | Domaine | Etat | State, condition |
eventually | finalement, pour finir | éventuellement | possibly, potentially |
Evidence | Preuve | Evidence | Obviousness |
evidence | un indice, une preuve | une évidence | forgone conclusion, obvious |
Fabric | Tissu | Fabrique | Manufacture(r) |
face | le visage, la figure | une face | side, face |
Facilities | Installations, équipements | Facilité | Ease |
Figure | Silhouette; chiffre | Figure | Face |
formidable | redoutable, impressionnant | formidable | astounding, terrific |
Fortunate | Chanceux | Fortuné(e) | Wealthy, rich |
foul | fétide, sale | foul | crazy |
frippery | des frivolités | une friperie | second hand clothes store |
genial | sympa, aimable | génial(e) | brilliant, of genius |
Gentle | Aimable | Gentil.le | Nice, kind |
Grand | Grandiose | Grand | Tall, big |
grape | le raisin, la vigne | une grappe | bunch, cluster |
Grapes | Raisins | Grappe | Bunch (of grapes) |
Grave | Tombe | Grave | Serious |
Habit | Habitude | Habit | Clothes |
Hazard | Danger | Hasard | Chance, coincidence |
Issue | Problème | Issue | Outcome, exit |
jolly | joyeux(euse), gai(e) | joli | pretty, attractive |
journey | un voyage, un trajet | une journée | day, daytime |
Lecture | Conférence | Lecture | Reading |
Library | Bibliothèque | Librairie | Bookshop (UK), bookstore (US) |
Location | Emplacement | Location | Rental |
location | un lieu | la location | rental, renting, hire |
main | principal(e) | une main | hand |
Mariage | Vie conjugale | Mariage | Wedding |
may | pouvoir | mais | but |
Medicine | Médicament | Médecin | Doctor |
memory | un souvenir, des souvenirs | mémoire | memory, recollection |
Mercy | Miséricorde | Merci | Thanks |
Miserable | Malheureux | Misérable | Poor, unfortunate |
misery | une grande tristesse, la détresse | la misère | extreme poverty, impoverishment |
money | l'argent | la monnaie | change, currency |
Notice | Avertissement, préavis | Notice | Instructions, precautions |
Novel | Roman | Nouvelle | Short story |
opportunity | une occasion, une possibilité, un moment opportun | une opportunité | appropriateness, opportuneness |
Pain | Douleur | le pain | Bread |
party | une fête, une réception | une partie | part, section |
patron | un mécène (art) or un parrain/une marraine (event) | un patron | boss |
petite | menue, très mince | petite | small, short |
Photograph | Photographie | Photographe | Photographer |
Phrase | Expression | Phrase | Sentence |
piece | un morceau | un pièce / une pièce | a play / a room |
Prejudice | Préjugé | Préjudice | Damage |
Preservative | Agent conservateur | Préservatif | Condom |
Proper | Adéquat, correct | Propre | Clean |
race | une course (horses, cars, etc.) | une race | breed |
relative | un parent, un membre de la famille | relatif(ve) | related to, linked with, regarding |
Relief | Soulagement | Relief | Mountainous area |
Rest | Se reposer | Rester | To stay |
Resume | CV | Résumer | To sum up |
Retard (slang, insult) | Attardé, débile | Retard | Delay |
Reunion | Retrouvailles | Réunion | Meeting |
Route | Itinéraire | Route | Road |
Rude | Grossier | Rude | Rough, hard |
sale | une vente, les soldes | sale | dirty |
sans doute | sans aucun doute | sans doute | perhaps |
Sensible | Raisonnable | Sensible | Sensitive |
sentence | une phrase | une sentence | sentence (trial) |
slip | une glissade | un slip | pants, underpants |
Society | Société | Société | Company |
Stage | Etape | Stage | Internship |
Stationery | Fournitures de bureau | Stationnaire | Stable, stationary |
Store | Magasin | Store | Blind |
Supplier | Fournisseur | Supplier | To beg, to plead |
Surname | Nom de famille | Surnom | Nickname |
Sympathetic | Compatissant | Sympathique | Friendly |
Tape | Ruban, bande | Taper | To slap, to smack |
tentative | timide, hésitant(e) | une tentative | attempt, try |
the news | les infos, les informations | les nouvelles | piece of news (event, person) |
To abuse | Insulter | Abuser | To take advantage of |
To accommodate | Loger | Accommoder | To prepare |
To achieve | Réaliser | Achever | To complete, to accomplish |
to advocate | plaider | le avocat | lawyer, solicitor |
To assist | Aider | Assister | To attend |
to attend | assister, participer | attendre | to wait |
to bless | bénir | blesser | to wound, to injure, to hurt |
To charge | Faire payer | Charger | To load |
To check | Contrôler | Chèque | Cheque (UK), Check (US) |
to choke | s'étouffer | choquer | to shock |
to comprise | faire partie de qqch | compris | understood |
To contemplate | Envisager | Contempler | To gaze at |
To cry | Pleurer | Crier | To scream, to shout |
To deceive | Tromper | Décevoir | To disappoint |
to demand | exiger | demander | to ask |
To dispose | Se débarrasser | Disposer | To arrange |
To experience | Ressentir, éprouver | Expérimenter | To experiment |
to grip | s'agripper | la grippe | the 'flu |
to injure | blesser, se blesser | injurier | to insult |
to introduce | présenter, faire les présentations | introduire | to insert |
to pass an examen | réussir un examen, être reçu(e) à un examen | passer un exam | to take an exam |
To pass un exam | Réussir un examen | Passer un examen | To take an exam |
To pretend | Faire semblant | Prétendre | To claim |
To prevent | Empêcher | Prévenir | To warn |
To recover | Se rétablir, se remettre | Recouvrir | To cover |
To regard | Considérer | Regarder | To look at |
To relieve | Soulager | Relever | To raise |
to rest | se reposer | rester | to stay, to remain |
To retire | Prendre sa retraite | Se retirer | To withdraw |
to survey | mener une enquête, faire un sondage, interroger | surveiller | to supervise, to watch, to monitor |
truck | un camion | truque | fake |
Vacation | Vacances | Vacation | Session, shift |
Wagon | Chariot | Wagon | Carriage |
Videos[edit | edit source]
TOP 10 FRENCH-ENGLISH FALSE FRIENDS - YouTube[edit | edit source]
French Lesson 193 - FALSE FRIENDS in French English False ...[edit | edit source]
12 French Cognates - Words we use in English and French - YouTube[edit | edit source]