French False Friends
French and English share thousands of words, which is great news for learners. But some look identical and mean something completely different. These are the ones that cause real misunderstandings.
In this guide
Why false friends matter
Most French–English look-alikes are true friends: important, possible, la table, la musique. That is why false friends are dangerous: you trust them. A few lead to harmless confusion; others can make a conversation very awkward. Learn the most common ones once, and you will avoid the mistakes even advanced learners still make.
The ones that cause the biggest misunderstandings
| French word | What it really means | Not | What you probably want |
|---|---|---|---|
| actuellement | currently, at the moment | actually | en fait |
| éventuellement | possibly, if the case arises | eventually | finalement, à la fin |
| attendre | to wait (for) | to attend | assister à |
| assister à | to attend | to assist | aider |
| sensible | sensitive | sensible | raisonnable, sensé |
| un préservatif | a condom | a preservative | un conservateur |
| excité(e) | excited, enthusiastic or agitated; in certain contexts, sexually aroused | excited (about a plan you’re looking forward to) | J’ai hâte ! / Je suis impatient(e) |
| une librairie | a bookshop | a library | une bibliothèque |
| la location | rental | location | l’emplacement, le lieu |
| rester | to stay | to rest | se reposer |
Everyday false friends
| French word | Real meaning | English word you might confuse it with | The French for that word |
|---|---|---|---|
| un collège | a lower secondary school (France); in Québec, a cégep or, in some contexts, a private secondary school | college | une université, un cégep (Québec) |
| une journée | a day | a journey | un voyage, un trajet |
| la monnaie | change (coins) | money | l’argent |
| un car | a coach (bus) | a car | une voiture |
| une veste | a jacket | a vest | un débardeur, un gilet |
| un raisin | a grape | a raisin | un raisin sec |
| le pain | bread | pain | la douleur |
| un délai | a time limit, a deadline, a waiting time | a delay | un retard |
| une figure | a face | a figure (number, shape) | un chiffre, une forme |
| large | wide | large | grand(e) |
| un coin | a corner | a coin | une pièce (de monnaie) |
| blesser | to injure | to bless | bénir |
At work and in formal French
| French word | Real meaning | Not | Use instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| une lecture | a reading, something you read | a lecture | un cours magistral, une conférence |
| un stage | an internship, a training placement | a stage | une scène (theatre) |
| la prune | a plum | a prune | un pruneau |
| demander | to ask | to demand | exiger |
| une affaire | a deal, a business, a (legal) case | an affair | une liaison |
| un avertissement | a warning | an advertisement | une publicité |
| supporter | to tolerate, to put up with | to support | soutenir |
| rude | harsh, tough | rude | impoli(e) |
Exam tip: actuellement, éventuellement and supporter may appear in news-style texts similar to those used in reading tests. A single wrong meaning can change your understanding of a whole paragraph.
How to remember them
- Learn them in pairs: actuellement = currently / en fait = actually. Your brain remembers the contrast better than the single word.
- Make one sentence each: Actuellement, je travaille à Ottawa. A personal sentence sticks.
- When in doubt, check the example, not the translation. Dictionaries with full example sentences show you how the word is really used.
Quiz
Choose the right word.
- I’m currently looking for a job. → ______, je cherche un emploi. (Actuellement / En fait)
- I attended the meeting. → J’______ à la réunion. (ai attendu / ai assisté)
- I’m going to the library to study. → Je vais à la ______. (librairie / bibliothèque)
- Can’t wait for the holidays! → ______ ! (Je suis excité pour les vacances / J’ai hâte d’être en vacances)
- I need to rest. → J’ai besoin de ______. (rester / me reposer)
- I can’t stand this noise. → Je ne ______ pas ce bruit. (supporte / soutiens)
Show the answers
- Actuellement
- ai assisté
- bibliothèque
- J’ai hâte d’être en vacances
- me reposer
- supporte
Frequently asked questions
Are false friends the same in Canadian French?
Almost all of them, yes. Some words also have local meanings in Québec: for example, un char is a car in informal Québec French, and le dîner is lunch.
What is the most embarrassing false friend?
Préservatif and excité lead the list. For “excited” about a plan, say j’ai hâte or je suis impatient(e).
What does un délai mean, then?
It is the time allowed or needed for something: le délai de réponse est de deux semaines (the response time is two weeks). A delay, when something is late, is un retard.