More words that look English but mean something different
False Friends You'll Meet at A2
At A2 you read more French and hit a new set of faux amis. These are trickier because they appear in everyday contexts.
assister à — to attend ≠ to assist sensible — sensitive ≠ sensible sympathique — friendly/nice ≠ sympathetic Don't trust looks — always check meaning in context.
Faux Amis Cluster 1 — Feelings and Character
False friends about people and personalities.
sensible — sensitive (NOT sensible — use raisonnable / sensé) sympathique — friendly / nice (NOT sympathetic — use compatissant) décevoir — to disappoint (NOT to deceive — use tromper) blesser — to injure (NOT to bless — use bénir)
Faux Amis Cluster 2 — Places and Objects
False friends in everyday environments.
la pièce — room OR coin (NOT piece/bit — use morceau) le collège — secondary school (NOT college/university — use université) le lycée — sixth-form / high school (NOT lycée) le journal — newspaper / diary (NOT journal as diary always — both OK)
Faux Amis Cluster 3 — Actions
Verbs that trap English speakers.
demander — to ask (NOT to demand — use exiger) introduire — to insert / put in (NOT to introduce a person — use présenter) prétendre — to claim / to maintain (NOT to pretend — use faire semblant) réaliser — to carry out / to achieve (NOT to realise mentally — use se rendre compte)
Faux Amis Cluster 4 — Everyday Mix
Mixed set of common A2 traps.
éventuellement — possibly / perhaps (NOT eventually — use finalement) large — wide (NOT large as size — use grand) sensé — sensible / rational (NOT sensitive — use sensible) urgent — (same meaning — NOT an error, but note: les urgences = A&E in hospital) les chips — crisps (NOT chips as in chips = les frites)
Quick Summary Table
A2 faux amis at a glance.
Faux ami
French meaning
Looks like
Correct French
sensible
sensitive
sensible
raisonnable
sympathique
friendly/nice
sympathetic
compatissant
décevoir
to disappoint
to deceive
tromper
demander
to ask
to demand
exiger
éventuellement
possibly
eventually
finalement
large
wide
large (big)
grand
prétendre
to claim
to pretend
faire semblant
réaliser
to carry out
to realise
se rendre compte
Common Mistakes
She is very sensitive
→
Elle est très sensible
sensible in French = sensitive, not sensible.
He is friendly / nice
→
Il est sympathique
sympathique = nice/friendly, not sympathetic.
I'll ask the teacher
→
Je demanderai au professeur
demander = to ask (not demand).
eventually
→
finalement
éventuellement = possibly; eventually = finalement.