Welcome to the world of false friends, or faux amis: French words that look like English but have very different meanings. These sneaky terms are responsible for many vocabulary mix-ups, awkward moments, and exam errors.
In this article, we’ll explore 25 common French false friends, explain what they really mean, and help you avoid falling into the trap.
🧠 What Are False Friends?
False friends (faux amis) are words that look or sound similar in French and English, but don’t share the same meaning. For example, you might think actuellement means "actually"—but it really means "currently".
Learning to spot and correctly interpret these words is a powerful way to improve your fluency and avoid miscommunication.
🔍 25 Common French False Friends (and Their Real Meanings)
❌ Looks Like (English) ✅ Really Means in French 📝 English Equivalent
Actuellement Currently Actually → en fait Assister à To attend To assist → aider Collège Middle school College → université Prétendre To claim To pretend → faire semblant Sensible Sensitive Sensible → raisonnable Monnaie Change (money) Money → argent Rester To stay To rest → se reposer Déception Disappointment Deception → tromperie Librairie Bookstore Library → bibliothèque Passer un examen To take an exam To pass an exam → réussir un examen Blesser To injure To bless → bénir Demander To ask To demand → exiger Lecture Reading Lecture → conférence Préservatif Condom Preservative → conservateur Sérieux Serious Serious (tone) → grave Location Rental Location → emplacement Envy (envie) Desire or craving Envy → jalousie Attendre To wait To attend → assister Expérience Experiment or experience Experience (life) → vécu Coin Corner Coin → pièce (de monnaie) Grave Serious (in tone or severity) Grave (burial) → tombe Chef Leader or boss Chef (cook) → cuisinier Habit Clothing Habit → habitude Éventuellement Possibly / Maybe Eventually → finalement Soutenir To support To sustain → maintenir
🗣️ How to Avoid Faux Amis Mistakes
Learn in context: Don’t study words separately. Learn them in full sentences or conversations.
Ask for clarification: In lessons at Educateme, we help students spot and correct false friends early.
Keep a list: Track the words you personally confuse—everyone has their own set of “troublemakers.”
🎯 Why This Matters
False friends are funny at first—until they cost you points in an oral exam or lead to embarrassing misunderstandings.
At Educateme, we incorporate common error correction into every French course. Our lessons help learners not only avoid false friends but become fully fluent in French vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
📘 Want to avoid vocabulary traps like these?
Book a free consultation and get expert guidance from our French teachers in Luxembourg online: https://Educateme.lu/#courses