Master B2-level false cognates that confuse even advanced learners
Subtle Verb False Friends
These B2-level verb false friends are particularly deceptive because they appear in academic and professional contexts.
French
Looks like
Actual meaning
True translation
ignorer
to ignore
to be unaware of / not to know
faire semblant de ne pas voir (to ignore sb)
prétendre
to pretend
to claim / to maintain
faire semblant de (to pretend)
supporter
to support
to put up with / to tolerate
soutenir / appuyer (to support)
décevoir
to deceive
to disappoint
tromper / induire en erreur (to deceive)
préserver
to preserve
to protect / maintain
correct (✓ — this one matches!)
Adjective and Noun False Friends
B2-level false friends in nouns and adjectives that appear in formal texts.
French
Looks like
Actual meaning
sensé
sensed
sensible / reasonable / makes sense
censé
—
supposed to (il est censé venir = he's supposed to come)
propre
proper
clean (propre = clean) / own (ma propre voiture = my own car)
une monnaie
money
currency / change (coins)
un agenda
agenda
diary / planner (not a meeting agenda)
In Context
Seeing B2 faux amis in authentic context cements the correct usage.
Il ignore que la réunion a été annulée. (He doesn't know the meeting was cancelled.) ✓
Elle prétend qu'elle était là. (She claims she was there.) ✓
Je ne peux pas supporter ce bruit. (I can't stand this noise.) ✓
Il m'a déçu. (He disappointed me.) ✓ NOT He deceived me.
Il est censé arriver à 10h. (He's supposed to arrive at 10.) ✓
C'est ma propre décision. (It's my own decision.) ✓
Common Mistakes
Je ne peux pas le supporter dans la réunion. (attend)
→
Je ne peux pas le supporter = I can't stand him. (Je ne peux pas l'endurer)
Supporter = tolerate/stand. To support someone in a meeting = soutenir quelqu'un.
Il prétend faire quelque chose = He pretends to do something?
→
Il prétend faire quelque chose = He claims to do something.
Prétendre = to claim. To pretend = faire semblant de.
Il ignore mes messages. (doesn't know / ignores?)
→
Both are possible but different: ignorer = not know (usually) or deliberately ignore (context-dependent)
In modern French, ignorer can mean both. Context clarifies: Il ignore la nouvelle (he doesn't know the news) vs Il ignore mes messages (he ignores my messages — deliberate).
Sensé vs censé
→
sensé = makes sense; censé = supposed to
Il est sensé = it makes sense. Il est censé venir = he's supposed to come.