12 Tricky French False Cognates: Part 2

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Last Updated: August 31, 2022

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most-tricky-french-false-cognate-blog-part-2In a previous article, we’ve talked about twelve tricky french false cognates that invite a serious blunder from unsuspecting victims.

most-tricky-french-false-cognate-fb-part-2

You can check that out here. 

Now, let’s learn 12 more French and English words that look or sound the same, but have vastly different meanings. 

 

1. Coin (French) and Coin (English)

Coin in French is corner or nook. It could be a street corner, the corner of a certain object or room, or a small spot. It has nothing to do with the loose change on your purse. In French, those are referred to as pièces or monnaie.

coin

Le coin d’une rue = a street corner

2. Disposer de and Dispose

At a glance, disposer de might seem like a no-brainer and would be quickly translated as “to dispose of”. But don’t get tricked! Disposer de instead means TO HAVE (at your disposal) and not to dispose or get rid of which is débarrasser in French.

3. Éditeur and Editor

Here’s a weird one. Éditeur is French for publisher, and not editor which is le rédacteur.

4. Envie and Envy

This one belongs to our cringe-worthy list of embarrassing mistakes so best be careful in interchanging the two. Envie is not French for envy; it means wish or desire. So when you say “J’ai envie de toi”, you’re not saying that you envy the person you’re talking to. What you’re saying is that you desire him or her. *awkward*

5. Excité and Excited

Another embarrassing mistake that you should avoid, “Je suis excité(e) !” does not mean that you are excited in a wholesome way. Rather, it means you are sexually aroused!

So to avoid any raised eyebrows and knowing smirks (not to mention a boatload of embarrassment), make sure to specify what it is exactly that you are so enthusiastic about.

6. Grappe and Grape

If you add an extra “p” to grape, it does not mean the same thing in English. Grappe means a bunch, like a bunch of grapes. Like this:

grappe

Une grappe de raisin = a bunch of grapes

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7. Isolation (French) and Isolation (English)

They look the same but the meaning couldn’t be more different. Isolation in French is insulation, and not the same as the English meaning of isolation. But think of it in the sense that isolation in French is to isolate yourself from heat or noise. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

8. Issue (French) and Issue (English)

Another word pair that is spelled the same way, issue in French is in no way the same with the English version. In French it means exit, an outcome, or a solution. For example:

issue

Une issue de secours = an emergency exit

9. Joli(e) and Jolly

Joli or jolie is a French adjective that means pretty. It doesn’t mean jolly as in “a jolly, good fellow” or cheerful like its English twin.

jolie

Une jolie fille = a pretty girl

10. Journée and Journey

Journée is French for day. So when you say une journée de travail, it means “a working day’, and not a work trip.

11. Librairie and Library

libraire

Via TheBestParis

If you’re looking for a place to borrow books instead of buying them, then don’t ask “où est la librairie?” because you will be directed to a bookstore. Tricky, huh. But in French, librairie means bookstore, and not library. A library is une bibliothèque.

12. Location (French) and Location (English)

Finally, for the final word pair in this list. Did you know that location in French does not mean location in the English sense? The French location means rental, lease, or hire. It stems from the verb louer which means to rent/lease. So when you say “une voiture de location”, it’s not the location of the car. It’s a rental car.

Which one usually trips you up? If you can’t find your favorite french false cognates on this list, make sure to check out the first part of this article here.  There’s also a 3rd part coming soon so watch out for that, too.

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  • Master French pronunciation and sound like a native with our pronunciation course.
  • Receive personalized feedback and guidance from a dedicated French teacher.

About the author 

Frederic Bibard is the founder of Talk in French, a company that helps french learners to practice and improve their french. Macaron addict. Jacques Audiard fan. You can contact him on Instagram

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