61 False Cognates in French To Watch Out For
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For those who’re studying French, you’re already conscious that many French phrases are straightforward to acknowledge and perceive at first look, as a result of they give the impression of being similar to English phrases—and have the identical that means. These pleasant phrases are referred to as mots apparentés (French cognate phrases), and so they’re certain to make it simpler to study French shortly, proper?
Not essentially. Some phrases are a lot trickier as a result of they don’t have the identical that means (although they give the impression of being the identical). They’re referred to as fake amis (false buddies) or “false cognates.”. As soon as you recognize the most typical false cognate in French, you’ll keep away from potential confusion or embarrassment.
What’s a cognate?
A cognate is a phrase in a single language that’s similar to a phrase in one other language with the identical that means. It might be that the phrase has an analogous linguistic root or that it was borrowed alongside the best way because the languages advanced.
True cognates imply the very same factor like these French and English phrases:
- un accident = an accident
- un éléphant = an elephant
- vital = vital
- la rose = the rose
There are additionally semi-cognates, which aren’t spelled the identical means, however are so intently associated that their that means is apparent.
- dangereux = harmful
- la bicyclette = the bicycle
- la lampe = the lamp
The vital factor is that these similar-looking phrases should imply the identical factor. If not, they’re referred to as false cognates as a result of they don’t relate to one another.
Commonest false cognates in French
Hold your eyes broad open for these fake amis. This group of false cognates in French consists of phrases which have fully completely different meanings that would trigger confusion. The excellent news is, any sympathetic speaker who’s accustomed to novices can have heard many of those French false cognates earlier than and can be capable to determine what you’re attempting to say from the context. Collectively, you may have a great giggle when these inevitable errors happen.
Les affaires (enterprise/issues)
Complicated these two phrases may result in some detrimental false accusations.
- J’ai des affaires à Paris. = I’ve enterprise in Paris.
- Il a eu une aventure à Paris. = He had an affair in Paris. (romantic)
You may additionally hear “affaires” used to seek advice from “stuff/belongings.”
- S’il te plaît, vary tes affaires. = Please decide up your issues
Un avertissement (a warning)
This phrase is usually placed on security merchandise and in instruction manuals to make sure correct use.
- J’ai vu l’avertissement, donc j’ai évité le centre cet après-midi. = I noticed the warning, so I averted the town middle this afternoon.
- J’ai vu la publicité au centre ce matin. = I noticed the advert within the metropolis middle this morning.
Blesser (to harm/injure)
As an alternative of claiming “bless you” when somebody sneezes, the French use the phrase à tes souhaits (to your needs).
- Je me suis blessé au bras. = I damage my arm.
- Le prêtre a béni l’assemblée. = The priest blessed the congregation.
Un bras (an arm)
This phrase can simply journey you up should you see it with out realizing it’s a false buddy in French.
- Je me suis blessée au bras. = I damage my arm.
- Je vais acheter un nouveau soutien-gorge. = I’m going to purchase a brand new bra.
If one thing is pricey, we are saying it prices an “arm and a leg” in English. The French expression is comparable, ça coûte un bras (it prices an arm), however one other French idiom is ça coûte les yeux de la tête (it prices the eyes out of your head).
Le collège (center faculty)
In English, “college” and “faculty” are considerably interchangeable, although there are some variations in accreditation and status. What appears to be like like “faculty” in French is kind of completely different although.
- Je vais aller chercher mon fils au collège. = I’m going to select up my son at (center) faculty.
- On a déposé notre fils à l’université. = We dropped our son off at faculty/college.
Usually a toddler first goes to la maternelle (preschool), adopted by l’école primaire (elementary faculty) earlier than attending le collège after which le lycée (highschool).
L’entrée (the starter/first course)
In the USA, folks use the borrowed phrase “entrée” to seek advice from the primary course of a meal. Whereas ordering in a restaurant in France, that is the “entrance” of the meal, so it’s typically a small first course or an appetizer or starter, eaten and completed earlier than the primary course is served.
- L’entrée se compose d’une salade verte. = The first course is a inexperienced salad.
- Il y avait deux plats principaux.= There have been two primary dishes.
The phrase entrée additionally refers to an entranceway or doorway in French.
La journée (day/daytime)
“Journey” and “voyage” have barely completely different meanings in French.
- Bonne journée ! = Have a terrific day!
- Bon voyage ! = Have a terrific journey!
These are fantastic well-wishes to study alongside methods to say good day in French.
Le ache (the bread)
To specific having bodily ache, the French expression avoir mal à precedes a physique half. For instance, j’ai mal à la tête means “I’ve a headache.”
- J’ai mangé beaucoup de ache. = I ate numerous bread.
- J’ai une douleur à la jambe. = I’ve a ache in my leg.
