Avoid Errors: 10 Common French False Friends To Master

Hello everyone! Today, we're focusing on 10 false friends in French. But what exactly are false friends? They are words that, in two different languages, look similar in form but differ in meaning. Mastering these false friends helps avoid misunderstandings, communication errors, and sometimes even embarrassing situations.

We will provide a clear explanation for each, the typical mistake to avoid, and of course, the correct translation or usage in French. Is the video enough for you and you're eager to test your knowledge? Go straight to the end of this article 😉

1. Money and "Monnaie"

In French, the word "monnaie" does not refer to money in a general sense, but rather to coins and low-value bills, the equivalent of the English term "change".

To talk about "money" in French in a broad sense, the word "argent" is used.

In this sentence, "argent" refers to money in general, while "monnaie" denotes specific coins for the parking meter.

2. Actually and "Actuellement"

The word "actually" in English can easily mislead when translating into French. Many mistakenly think it translates to "actuellement", whereas it means "now" or "at the present moment" in French.

The correct French expressions for "actually" are "en fait", "en réalité", or "effectivement".

Here, "en réalité" is the correct translation to express a contrary idea or a clarification, and not "actuellement", which would describe a state or action taking place in the present moment. In the following example, "actuellement" is correctly used:

3. Location and "Location"

In English, the word "location" denotes a place or position. However, a literal translation into French can lead to confusion with the word "location", which refers to the notion of renting something, like an apartment or a car.

To express the idea of a location or place in French, the correct terms are "un emplacement" or "un endroit".

In this example, "emplacement" is used to indicate where the hotel is located.

In this case, "location" is correctly used to mean "renting something".

4. Eventually and "Éventuellement"

"Eventually" means that an action will happen at some point in the future, often after a number of events or delays, while "éventuellement" in French expresses a possibility, equivalent to "maybe".

To convey the idea that something will inevitably happen in the future in French, one might use expressions such as "finalement", "en définitive", or "un jour ou l'autre". These terms better capture the sense of "eventually", indicating certainty rather than mere possibility.

This example illustrates the use of "finalement" to indicate that, after several obstacles, the project will come to fruition, thus reflecting the precise meaning of "eventually" in English and avoiding confusion with "éventuellement".

In this sentence, "éventuellement" is used to express uncertainty, it could be replaced with "maybe".

5. Sensible and "Sensible"

In English, "sensible" refers to someone who is reasonable, capable of good judgment. In contrast, "sensible" in French describes someone easily affected by emotions, someone sensitive to feelings.

To express the idea of being sensible in French, one would use "raisonnable" or "sensé".

This example shows the use of "raisonnable" to talk about someone who exhibits good sense.

In this case, "sensible" is used to describe a person who deeply feels emotions.

6. Assist and "Assister"

In English, "to assist" means aider, soutenir quelqu'un in an action or task. Meanwhile, "assister" in French suggests the act of being present at an event without necessarily implying active help.

This example illustrates the meaning of providing help to someone.

In this case, "assister" is correctly used to indicate attendance at an event.

7. Attend and "Attendre"

"Attend" means to participate or be present at an event, while "attendre" in French means to wait for something or someone.

The French equivalent of "to attend" would be "assister à".

This example shows the correct use to express participation in an event.

In this case, "attendre" illustrates the action of waiting.

8. Comprehensive and "Compréhensif"

The word "comprehensive" in English, describing something complete or exhaustive, is often confused with "compréhensif" in French. The latter instead qualifies a person who shows understanding or empathy.

To translate "comprehensive" into French, one could use "complet", "exhaustif", or "détaillé".

This example demonstrates the use of "complet" to qualify something as exhaustive.

Here, "compréhensif" is rightly used to describe an empathetic person.

9. Pass an exam and "Passer un examen"

"Pass an exam" in English means "to succeed in an exam", whereas the phrase "passer un examen" is used to indicate the act of taking an exam, without knowing the outcome.

This example illustrates the use of "réussir" to indicate that someone has successfully passed their exam.

In this case, "passer" is correctly used to talk about the action of undergoing an exam.

10. Excited and "Excité"

Although "excited" in English and "excité" in French share common roots, the use in French can sometimes lead to confusion due to the sexual connotation the word can also carry.

To translate this feeling of positive excitement in French, one would prefer to use "enthousiaste" or "impatient". However, "excité" can also be used depending on the context.

This example shows the use of "enthousiaste" to express a state of positive excitement. Using "excité" in this context would be inappropriate.

In this second example, "excité" is employed in a clear context where the connotation is positive and unambiguous.

Let's get serious

Well now that we've covered these false friends, how about learning the vocabulary? It's your turn!

La monnaie	Change
Actuellement	Currently
La location	Rental
Éventuellement	Possibly
Sensible	Sensitive
Assister	To attend
Attendre	To wait
Compréhensif	Understanding
Passer un examen	To take an exam
Excité	Excited
L'argent	Money
Maintenant	Now
L'emplacement	Location
Finalement	Finally
Raisonnable	Reasonable
Réussir un examen	To pass an exam
Excité	Excited
Aider	To help

Conclusion

Understanding and mastering false friends in French is essential to avoid misunderstandings and enrich your vocabulary. We have explored together 10 of these common false friends, highlighting the nuances and correct meanings for each. This learning is a step further towards a deep mastery of the French language.

To continue structuring your French learning, we invite you to discover our video courses on Udemy. With a methodical and structured approach, these courses are designed to guide you through the subtleties of the language and help you build a solid foundation in French.

Discover our courses on Udemy

Moreover, to enrich your vocabulary and practice in a fun way, our blog offers a variety of themes to explore with flashcards and exercises to assist you in your French learning journey.

Learn how to Introduce yourself

See you soon for new linguistic adventures and especially bon courage!