False Friends: Words That Look Similar but Have Different Meanings
Have you ever seen an English word that looks just like one in your native language... but means something completely different? These tricky words are called false friends, and they can lead to some funny (and sometimes embarrassing) mistakes!
Let’s explore some of the most confusing false friends from different languages and make sure you never fall into their traps.
Spanish False Friends
Spanish speakers, beware! These words look familiar but don’t mean what you think:
| English Word | Looks Like in Spanish | But Actually Means... |
|---|---|---|
| Embarrassed | Embarazada | Pregnant 🤰 |
| Actual | Actual | Current 🕒 |
| Library | Librería | Bookstore 🏬 |
| Exit | Éxito | Success 🎉 |
| Assist | Asistir | To attend 📅 |
Imagine saying, "I'm so embarazada right now!" when you just mean you're embarrassed. That could lead to some shocked faces!
French False Friends
French and English share many words, but some don’t mean what they seem.
| English Word | Looks Like in French | But Actually Means... |
|---|---|---|
| Raisin | Raisin | Grape 🍇 |
| Coin | Coin | Corner 🏠 |
| Bless | Blesser | To injure 🤕 |
| Lecture | Lecture | Reading 📖 |
| Pain | Pain | Bread 🍞 |
Be careful! If a French person offers you pain, they’re not being mean... they’re just offering you bread.
German False Friends
German learners, these words might trick you!
| English Word | Looks Like in German | But Actually Means... |
|---|---|---|
| Gift | Gift | Poison ☠️ |
| Chef | Chef | Boss 👨💼 |
| Rat | Rat | Advice 💡 |
| Bald | Bald | Soon 🕐 |
| To see | See | Lake 🌊 |
So if someone in Germany tells you "Das ist ein Gift!" - don't open it, it's poison!
Russian False Friends
Russian has a few tricky ones that can lead to hilarious mix-ups.
| English Word | Looks Like in Russian | But Actually Means... |
|---|---|---|
| Magazine | Магазин (Magazin) | Store 🛍️ |
| Fabric | Фабрика (Fabrika) | Factory 🏭 |
| Confetti | Конфеты (Konfety) | Candies 🍬 |
| Artist | Артист (Artist) | Performer 🎭 |
| Accurate | Аккуратный (Akkuratnyy) | Neat ✨ |
If a Russian tells you "This artist is amazing!" they might not be talking about a painter, but a singer or dancer!
Italian False Friends
Even though Italian and English share Latin roots, some words don’t match up.
| English Word | Looks Like in Italian | But Actually Means... |
|---|---|---|
| Parent | Parente | Relative 👵 |
| Camera | Camera | Room 🏠 |
| Educated | Educato | Polite 🤝 |
| Annoyed | Annoiato | Bored 😴 |
| Estate | Estate | Summer ☀️ |
So if an Italian tells you "I stayed in a nice camera!"—don’t expect a new Canon or Nikon, they mean a hotel room!
How to Avoid False Friend Mistakes?
Here are some tips to make sure these tricky words don’t confuse you:
✅ Check the dictionary first – If a word looks too familiar, confirm its meaning.
✅ Make a list of false friends – Practice with flashcards available in Speekl mobile app.
✅ Engage with natives – Interact with native speakers via Speekl to get real-time feedback.
✅ Pay attention to context – If something sounds weird, it probably is!
✅ Learn with a professional tutor – Start learning Spanish, French, German, Russian, Italian, and more with an expert tutor on Speekl!