False Friends: 15 French Words That Don’t Mean What You Think
✨ Introduction: When French Words Lie to You (But Not on Purpose)
Imagine this: you’re proudly chatting in French, feeling good about your conversation skills. You tell your French friend you’re "excited" about an upcoming trip and say, Je suis excité(e) pour mes vacances! Your friend raises an eyebrow. You notice a smirk. And then it hits you: that word doesn't mean what you thought it did.
Welcome to the sneaky world of false friends (or faux amis in French)—words that look like English equivalents but carry totally different meanings. These linguistic imposters can confuse even confident learners, leading to awkward misunderstandings, charming blunders, and plenty of moments that make you wish the ground would swallow you whole.
But false friends are also part of the fun of learning French. They teach us that language isn’t just about translating—it’s about culture, nuance, and thinking differently. The sooner you get familiar with them, the better you’ll navigate the subtleties of real-world French.
Let’s be honest: when you’re learning a language, there’s something comforting about words that look familiar. You cling to them like friendly faces in a crowd. And then—bam! You find out that sensible doesn’t mean what you think, préservatif doesn’t belong in a food conversation, and actuellement won’t help you explain that something is actually true. It can feel like betrayal, or worse—embarrassment.
And yet, this is where real learning happens. False friends push you beyond surface-level fluency. They demand that you tune into context, to read between the lines, and to listen to how French people actually use their language. They're not just vocabulary quirks—they're cultural keys.
False friends also give us great stories. Every French learner has one. Maybe you meant to say you attended a wedding (assister à un mariage) but told someone you were waiting for one (attendre un mariage). Maybe you proudly announced you had assisté someone, not realizing it could imply they were helpless. These slip-ups are more than mistakes; they’re rites of passage.
And in many ways, they're a reminder that perfection is not the goal. Connection is. Being understood. Making someone laugh (even if unintentionally). Learning from the moment, dusting yourself off, and getting better the next time. If you're learning French, embracing false friends isn't just wise—it's essential.
In this article, we’ll explore 15 of the most common and surprising French false friends, explain what they reallymean, and help you use them correctly. Whether you're a beginner or brushing up your skills, you’ll come away a little wiser—and a lot less likely to accidentally talk about being aroused when you just meant "excited."
Let’s dive in! 🚀
1. Préservatif 🛑
What you think it means: Preservative (like in food)
What it actually means: Condom
Say instead: Conservateur alimentaire (food preservative)
2. Excité(e) 🔥
What you think it means: Excited
What it actually means: Sexually aroused
Say instead: J'ai hâte de... or Je suis ravi(e)
3. Attendre ⌛
What you think it means: To attend
What it actually means: To wait
Say instead: Assister à
4. Demander ❓
What you think it means: To demand
What it actually means: To ask
Say instead: Exiger (for demands)
5. Collège 🎒
What you think it means: College
What it actually means: Middle school
Say instead: Université
6. Rentrer 🏠
What you think it means: To re-enter
What it actually means: To return (home)
Example: Je rentre à la maison (I'm going home)
7. Monnaie 💰
What you think it means: Money
What it actually means: Change (coins)
Say instead: Argent (for general money)
8. Location 🚗
What you think it means: A place
What it actually means: Rental
Say instead: Endroit or lieu
9. Passer un examen 📝
What you think it means: To pass an exam
What it actually means: To take an exam
Say instead: Réussir un examen (to pass)
10. Sensible 💞
What you think it means: Sensible
What it actually means: Sensitive
Say instead: Raisonnable or prudent(e)
11. Actuellement 🕰️
What you think it means: Actually
What it actually means: Currently
Say instead: En fait or vraiment
12. Lecture 📖
What you think it means: A lecture
What it actually means: Reading (as an activity)
Say instead: Un cours magistral (for a lecture)
13. Assisté(e) 🛟
What you think it means: Assisted
What it actually means: Socially dependent
Say instead: Serviable or utile
14. Prétendre ⚖️
What you think it means: To pretend
What it actually means: To claim
Say instead: Faire semblant
15. Éventuellement 🎲
What you think it means: Eventually
What it actually means: Possibly / maybe
Say instead: Finalement or tôt ou tard
🎯 Conclusion: Embrace the Blunders, Master the Language
False friends are part of every language learner’s journey. They trip us up, but they also push us to listen more carefully, to speak with more intention, and to appreciate the richness of nuance.
The good news? Once you learn a false friend, you rarely forget it. In fact, these "mistakes" are often the moments that cement your learning the most. They force you to slow down, ask questions, and interact with the language in a deeper way.
False friends remind us that fluency isn’t just about speed or vocabulary size—it’s about awareness. It’s about learning to pause before you speak, to check for double meanings, and to understand the cultural layers that live inside each word.
At Polyglottist Language Academy, we teach students how to navigate real-world French with confidence, clarity, and cultural awareness. We don’t just teach grammar—we teach how to think like a French speaker. Ready to level up your language skills?
Click here to learn more and join our growing community in Berkeley or online.
📌 You Might Also Like:
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French for Absolute Beginners: Where and How to Start
The Top 10 Mistakes English Speakers Make in French—And How to Fix Them
French Grammar Isn’t Scary: Here’s How to Make It Fun
How to Navigate French Etiquette Without Embarrassing Yourself
❓ FAQs: False Friends in French
Q: Are false friends always misleading?
A: Not always! Some are partial matches but are used differently in context. Learning them deepens your cultural and linguistic understanding.
Q: Should I avoid using any of these words entirely?
A: No—just use them correctly! Words like demander and lecture are completely safe when used in their proper sense.
Q: How can I remember the correct meanings?
A: Try creating flashcards with visuals, silly mnemonics, or example sentences. Humor helps memory stick!
Q: Can native speakers tell when I misuse a false friend?
A: Absolutely—and they’ll usually be kind about it. It’s part of the learning process.
Q: Where can I get help with confusing French vocabulary?
A: At Polyglottist Language Academy, we make vocabulary fun and cultural. Check out our programs here!