Learning French as an English speaker might be easier than you think.
English and French share a long history. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, much of the English vocabulary was borrowed from French. Today, it’s estimated that 30 to 40% of English words have French origins.
This gives beginners a helpful head start, allowing them to quickly recognize familiar words in the language of Moliรจre.
Some words are โtrue friendsโ: they look the same and mean the same thing. For example:
- Important โ Important
- Restaurant โ Restaurant
- Minute โ Minute
- Words ending in -ism (like tourism, optimism, realism)
- Words ending in -tion (like information, communication, action)
These words make learning easier and build confidence. But watch out for false friends: words that look familiar but mean something different. They can cause misunderstandingsโฆ or even embarrassing situations!
This article is for English speakers who want to stand out and truly master French.
| English | French False Friend | Correct Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Account | Accompte | Accompte = deposit ; Account = compte |
| To Accommodate | Accomoder | Accomoder = to prepare / arrange ; To Accommodate = loger / recevoir |
| Actual | Actuel | Actuel = current / contemporary ; Actual = vrai |
| Actually | Actuellement | Actuellement = currently ; Actually = vraiment |
| An Advertisement | Avertissement | Avertissement = warning ; An Advertisement = publicitรฉ |
| The Agenda | Agenda | Agenda = diary ; The Agenda = ordre du jour |
| An Affair | Affaires | Affaires = business ; An Affair = liaison amoureuse |
| To Attend | Attendre | Attendre = to wait ; To Attend = assister ร |
| An Arm | Arme | Arme = weapon ; An Arm = bras |
| A Blessing | Blessure | Blessure = injury / wound ; A Blessing = bรฉnรฉdiction |
| A Bra | Bras | Bras = arm ; A Bra = soutien-gorge |
| A Car | Car | Car = coach / bus ; A Car = voiture |
| A Casserole | Casserole | Casserole = saucepan ; A Casserole = ragoรปt |
| A Cave | Cave | Cave = cellar ; A Cave = grotte |
| A Chair | Chair | Chair = flesh ; A Chair = chaise |
| To Charge | Charger | Charger = to load ; To Charge = faire payer |
| Chips | Chips | Chips = crisps ; Chips = frites |
| A Commercial | Commercial | Commercial = salesman ; A Commercial = publicitรฉ (TV) |
| A Coin | Coin | Coin = corner ; A Coin = piรจce de monnaie |
| College | Collรจge | Collรจge = secondary school / middle school ; College = universitรฉ |
| To Cry | Crier | Crier = to scream ; To Cry = pleurer |
| Current | Courant | Courant = ordinary / customary ; Current = actuel |
| Deception | Dรฉception | Dรฉception = disappointment ; Deception = tromperie / supercherie |
| To Deliver | Dรฉlivrer | Dรฉlivrer = to set free ; To Deliver = livrer |
| To Demand | Demander | Demander = to ask ; To Demand = exiger |
| A Degree | Degrรฉ | Degrรฉ = Degree ; A degree = un diplรดme |
| To Dispose | Disposer | Disposer = to arrange ; To Dispose = jeter |
| A Douche | Douche | Douche = shower ; A Douche = crรฉtin |
| Engaged | Engagรฉ | Engagรฉ = involved ; Engaged = fiancรฉ |
| Envy | Envie | Envie = desire / longing ; Envy = jalousie |
| Eventually | Eventuellement | Eventuellement = possibly ; Eventually = finalement |
| Evidence | Evidence | Evidence = obvious ; Evidence = preuves |
| A Factory | Facteur | Facteur = postman ; A Factory = usine |
| Finally | Finalement | Finalement = eventually ; Finally = enfin |
| A Figure | Figure | Figure = face ; A Figure = chiffre |
| Gentle | Gentil | Gentil = nice / kind ; Gentle = doux / douce |
| Hazard | Hasard | Hasard = chance ; Hazard = danger |
| To Ignore | Ignorer | Ignorer = to not know ; To Ignore = ne pas prรชter attention ร |
| A Journey | Journรฉe | Journรฉe = day ; A Journey = voyage / trajet |
| Jolly | Joli | Joli = pretty ; Jolly = joyeux |
| A Kiosk | Kiosque | Kiosque = summerhouse / bandstand ; Kiosk = telephone booth (UK) |
| A Lecture | Lecture | Lecture = reading ; A Lecture = confรฉrence / morale |
| A Library | Librairie | Librairie = bookshop ; A Library = bibliothรจque |
| A Licence | Licence | Licence = degree ; A Licence = driving license |
| Location | Location | Location = rental ; A Location = emplacement |
| A Prune | Prune | Prune = fruit ; A Prune = pruneau |
| A Pub | Pub | Pub = advertisement ; A Pub = bar |
| A Store | Store | Store = blinds / curtain ; A Store = magasin |
| Medicine | Mรฉdecin | Mรฉdecin = doctor ; Medicine = mรฉdicament |
| Novel | Nouvelle | Nouvelle = short news / announcement ; A Novel = roman |
| Pain | Pain | Pain = bread ; Pain = douleur |
| Patron | Patron | Patron = boss ; Patrons = clients (bar vocabulary) |
| Petrol | Pรฉtrole | Pรฉtrole = oil ; Petrol = essence |
| A Piece | Piรจce | Piรจce = room ; A Piece = morceau |
| Proper | Propre | Propre = clean ; Proper = adรฉquat |
| Pass an Exam | Passer un examen | Passer un examen = to take an exam ; To Pass an Exam = rรฉussir un examen |
| Notice | Notice | Notice = instructions ; Notice = prรฉavis |
| To Prevent | Prรฉvenir | Prรฉvenir = to warn ; To Prevent = empรชcher |
| To Propose | Proposer | Proposer = to offer ; To Propose = demander en mariage |
| Photograph | Photographe | Photographe = photographer ; A Photograph = photographie |
| Raisin | Raisin | Raisin = grape ; A Raisin = raisin sec |
| To Regard | Regarder | Regarder = to look ; To Regard = considรฉrer |
| To Relieve | Relever | Relever = to pick up / raise ; To Relieve = soulager |
| To Retire | Retirer | Retirer = to remove ; To Retire = aller ร la retraite |
| Route | Route | Route = road ; Route = itinรฉraire |
| To Resumer | Rรฉsumer | Rรฉsumer = to summarize ; To Resume = recommencer |
| Sale | Sale | Sale = dirty ; Sale = soldes |
| Sensible | Sensible | Sensible = reasonable / sensible ; Sensible = sensitive |
| Slip | Slip | Slip = underwear / short ; To Slip = glisser |
| Supplier | Supplier | Supplier = to beg ; To Supply = fournir |
| Surname | Surnom | Surnom = nickname ; Surname = nom de famille |
| Sympathetic | Sympathique | Sympathique = nice / friendly ; Sympathetic = compatissant |
| Tissu | Tissue | Tissue = handkerchief ; Tissu = fabric |
| Tongue | Tongs | Tongs = flip-flops ; Tongue = langue ; |
| Umbrella | Ombrelle | Ombrelle = sunshade ; Umbrella = parapluie |
| Vacancy | Vacances | Vacances = holidays ; Vacancy = poste vacant |
| A Venue | Venue | Venue = arrival ; A Venue = lieu de rรฉunion |
| Vest | Veste | Veste = jacket ; Vest = dรฉbardeur / maillot de corps |
| Wagon | Wagon | Wagon = carriage ; Wagon = chariot |
How to Avoid Mistakes with False Friends
- Learn the most common false friends and practice them in real contexts.
- Always check the meaning โ just because a word looks familiar doesnโt mean it means the same.
- Read, listen, and immerse yourself in French to see how words are really used.
- Practice with a teacher or language partner to correct mistakes right away.
Conclusion
False friends are part of learning French. With care and practice, you can communicate confidently, avoid misunderstandings, and really stand out.
At Atelier An Phu, we help English-speaking students spot and master these tricky words while building fluency in speaking and writing. With the right guidance, learning French can be genuinely enjoyable!
