WPWord Play
Home› French for English speakers› A1› Grammar› Faux Amis (False Friends) — A1› Lesson
G12 · Grammar

Faux Amis — False Friends at A1

Words that look English but mean something different

What Are Faux Amis?

Faux amis (false friends) are French words that look or sound like English words but have a different meaning. They are one of the biggest traps for English speakers.

librairie looks like 'library' — but it means bookshop.
library in French = bibliothèque.
Knowing the faux amis saves you from embarrassing mistakes.

Everyday Faux Amis — Part 1

High-frequency traps you will meet at A1.

actuellement — currently / at the moment (NOT 'actually')
actually = en fait / vraiment

assister à — to attend (a meeting, event) (NOT 'to assist')
to assist = aider

attendre — to wait (for) (NOT 'to attend')
to attend = assister à

Everyday Faux Amis — Part 2

More A1-level traps.

blesser — to injure / to hurt (NOT 'to bless')
to bless = bénir

caméra — video/film camera (NOT a photo camera)
photo camera = appareil photo

cave — wine cellar / basement (NOT 'a cave')
a cave = une grotte

Everyday Faux Amis — Part 3

More essential pairs.

commander — to order (food/goods) (NOT 'to command an army')
to command (troops) = diriger / ordonner

étudiant — university student (NOT any student)
a school pupil = un élève

librairie — bookshop (NOT 'library')
library = bibliothèque

Everyday Faux Amis — Part 4

Final set of A1 faux amis.

location — rental (of a car, flat…) (NOT 'a location')
a location (place) = un endroit / un lieu

monnaie — coins / small change (NOT 'money')
money = argent

rester — to stay / to remain (NOT 'to rest')
to rest = se reposer

Quick Summary

Don't translate by appearance — check meaning!

Faux amiFrench meaningEnglish word it looks likeCorrect French
actuellementcurrentlyactuallyen fait
attendreto waitto attendassister à
librairiebookshoplibrarybibliothèque
locationrentallocationendroit / lieu
resterto stayto restse reposer

Common Mistakes

I'm waiting for the bus
→
J'attends le bus
attendre = to wait, NOT attend.
the library
→
la bibliothèque
librairie = bookshop; library = bibliothèque.
car rental
→
location de voiture
location = rental in French — not a place.
actually / in fact
→
en fait / vraiment
actuellement = currently, not actually.

Summary

actuellement
currently
en fait / vraiment = actually
attendre
to wait
assister à = to attend
assister à
to attend
aider = to assist
blesser
to injure
bénir = to bless
librairie
bookshop
bibliothèque = library
location
rental
endroit / lieu = location/place
monnaie
coins / change
argent = money
rester
to stay
se reposer = to rest