False friends in English : complete course

What Are False Friends in English?

When you learn English, you will sometimes find words that look or sound like words in your own language. These words are called false friends (also known as ‘faux amis’). They seem familiar, but they have a completely different meaning. False friends can cause funny — and sometimes embarrassing — misunderstandings!

For example, a French speaker might think the English word ‘library’ means ‘librairie’ (a bookshop). But in English, ‘library’ is a place where you borrow books for free. That is a big difference!

Simple Examples to Get Started

• Actually does not mean ‘actuellement’ (currently) in French. It means ‘in fact’ or ‘really’.
• Sensible does not mean ‘sensible’ (sensitive) in French or Spanish. In English, it means ‘reasonable’ or ‘practical’.
• Embarrassed does not mean ’embarazada’ (pregnant) in Spanish. It means ‘feeling ashamed or uncomfortable’.

As you can see, false friends are tricky because they look safe — but they are not!

The Key Elements of False Friends in English

Let us look at the main types of false friends you will meet when learning English.

1. Words That Look the Same but Mean Something Different

These are the most common false friends. They share the same spelling or a very similar one, but the meaning is completely different.

• Coin — In French, ‘coin’ means ‘corner’. In English, a ‘coin’ is a piece of metal money.
• Brave — In French and Spanish, ‘brave’ can mean ‘good’ or ‘kind’. In English, it means ‘courageous’.
• Agenda — In Spanish, ‘agenda’ often means a personal diary or planner. In English, it refers to a list of topics for a meeting.

2. Words That Sound Similar but Have Different Meanings

Some false friends do not look the same, but they sound very close. This can confuse you when you listen to English.

• Desert (a dry place with sand) and ‘dessert’ (a sweet food after a meal) — these sound similar and confuse many learners.
• Assist — In French, ‘assister à’ means ‘to attend’. In English, ‘to assist’ means ‘to help’.

3. Partial False Friends

Some words share one meaning but not all meanings. These are called partial false friends.

• Sympathetic — In English, it means ‘showing understanding for someone’s feelings’. In French, ‘sympathique’ simply means ‘nice’ or ‘friendly’. The meanings overlap a little, but they are not the same.

Why False Friends Matter When You Learn English

Understanding false friends is very important for clear communication. If you use the wrong word, people may not understand you — or worse, they may understand something completely different from what you wanted to say.

False friends can also make you less confident when speaking or writing. You might think you know a word because it looks familiar, but then use it incorrectly. Learning to recognise false friends helps you avoid these mistakes and build real vocabulary skills.

False friends also show you something interesting: English, French, Spanish, and many other languages share Latin or Greek roots. This is why so many words look similar. But languages evolve in different directions over time, and meanings change.

Comparison with Other Languages

False friends exist between many languages. Here is a comparison between English, French, and Spanish to help you see the pattern clearly.

As you can see, the same problem exists for French and Spanish speakers. Knowing this helps you pay more attention to these tricky words.

A Complete Example in Context

Here is a short conversation that shows how a false friend can cause confusion:

Situation: A Spanish student is talking to her English teacher.

• Student: ‘My mother is very embarrassed.’ (She means her mother is pregnant — ’embarazada’ in Spanish.)
• Teacher: ‘Oh, I am sorry to hear that. What happened?’
• Student: ‘Nothing bad! She is very happy about it.’
• Teacher: ‘Hmm… that is unusual!’

The student used ’embarrassed’ because it looks like ’embarazada’. But the meaning is totally different. The correct sentence should be: ‘My mother is pregnant.’

Key Points to Remember

• False friends are words that look or sound like words in your language but have a different meaning in English.
• They exist between English, French, Spanish, and many other languages.
• The most common types are: words with the same spelling, words with similar sounds, and partial false friends.
• Always check the meaning of a word before using it — even if it looks familiar!
• Learning false friends will help you speak and write English more accurately and confidently.

Do not be afraid of false friends. Once you know them, they become easy to avoid. And every mistake is a great opportunity to learn something new!

Sources

• Chamizo Domínguez, P. J. (2008). Semantics and Pragmatics of False Friends. Routledge.
• Swan, M. (2005). Practical English Usage (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Council of Europe (2020). Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Cambridge University Press.