Lost in Translation: The Trick of False Friends in French

As a French teacher working with learners who use English in their daily lives, whether they’re expats, international students, or professionals, I often notice one recurring challenge: anglicisms. The influence of English on French learners’ speech is strong, and understandably so. But sometimes, this influence causes confusion, especially when it comes to false friends, words that look the same in both languages but have different meanings.

Let’s talk about it!

What Are False Friends?

“False friends” (or faux amis in French) are words that look or sound similar in two languages but mean completely different things. They can be sneaky and lead to some awkward misunderstandings.

Take for example:

• "Actuellement"
  Many English speakers assume it means actually, but it really means currently or at the moment.

✘ “Actuellement, je n’aime pas le chocolat.”
✔ “Actuellement, je vis à Toulouse.”

• "Library" vs. "Librairie"
  A classic one!

✘ “I’m going to the librairie to borrow a book.”
✔ “Une librairie” is a bookshop. If you want to borrow books, you go to “la bibliothèque!”

• "Sympathique" ≠ "Sympathetic"

✘ “Il était très sympathique quand je lui ai annoncé la mauvaise nouvelle.”
✔ “Sympathique” in French just means ‘nice’ or ‘friendly’. For ‘sympathetic’, use compatissant.

Four more false friends to watch out for

• attendre = to attend

  attendre = to wait

  J’attends le bus. I’m waiting for the bus.

• assister à = to assist

  assister à = to attend an event

  Elle a assisté à la conférence. She attended the conference.

• passer un examen = to pass an exam

  passer un examen = to take an exam

  Il a passé l’examen hier. He took the exam yesterday.

• rester = to rest

  rester = to stay

  Je reste à la maison ce week-end. I’m staying home this weekend.

English in Disguise: When French Sounds a Bit Too… English

False friends aren’t always single words. Sometimes, entire expressions or sentence structures sneak in from English and dress up like French. These “franglais” constructions sound strange, or even incorrect, to native speakers.

Here are a few examples I often hear:

• "Je suis confortable avec ça."
  A direct translation of I’m comfortable with that.
  ✔ Instead, say: “Je suis à l’aise avec ça.”

• "Il a appliqué pour le poste."
  From He applied for the job.
  ✔ In French, you say: “Il a postulé.”

• "C’est normal."
  French speakers often say this to mean It’s okay / don’t worry / that makes sense.
  But in English, “It’s normal” can sound cold or dismissive.
  Example:

  ✔French: “Tu es fatigué après ce voyage ? C’est normal.”
  ✔English: “You’re tired after that trip? Of course you are.” / “That’s totally understandable.”

• "Je vais introduire mon collègue."
  From to introduce someone, right? But in French, introduire is rarely used this way, it often refers to putting something into something else, to insert.

  ✘ “Elle a introduit son ami à ses parents.”
  ✔ “Elle a présenté son ami à ses parents.”

These small shifts make a big difference. They move your French from “understandable” to “natural.”

How to Avoid These Traps?

• Be curious about native phrasing, even if your version makes logical sense.

• Read and listen to real French: podcasts, interviews, blogs… not just textbooks.

• Ask questions! Pause and think: “Wait, how would a real French person say this?”

• And finally: don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Every error is a clue pointing you toward better, deeper fluency.

Language learning isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary, it’s about shifting your thinking. Being aware of false friends helps you build stronger, more precise communication skills.

So next time you say “Je suis excité(e)” thinking it means “I’m excited,” pause. That might not mean what you think! 😉

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