FluenDay Blog – Learn languages

In a scene from the Netflix series “Emily in Paris,” Emily intended to order a croissant with fruit “preserves,” but she mistakenly asked for “la preservatif,” which means “condom” in French. This mistake created an embarrassing situation for Emily, but Mindy mentioned it is a common cause of confusion among French learners.

“Un crayon is not a crayon, it’s a pencil. Un medicine is not a medicine, it’s a doctor.” — Mindy

The abundance of false friends between English and French can be confusing, but it is worth exploring these pitfalls and uncovering the nuances that make language learning more fascinating!

What Are “False Friends”?

False friends, also known as faux amis, are words or phrases in two languages that look or sound identical or similar, but have different meanings. These misleading words often result in confusion and misunderstandings, as illustrated in the scene from “Emily in Paris” mentioned above.

Why Did False Friends Arise?

Cultural Influences

Some false friends emerged from cultural differences between languages. One such example is the French word “sympathique,” which is often translated to “friendly” in English. However, in French, “sympathique” goes beyond mere friendliness, meaning someone or something that is pleasant, nice, or likable.

Historical Influences

Language evolution often leads to the divergence of meanings between related words. This process can give rise to false friends, where a word in one language retains an older meaning that has evolved differently in another language. For instance, the French word “prénom,” meaning “first name,” has evolved from its Latin origins. In contrast, the English word “prenominal” has maintained a more literal meaning, referring to something that comes before a noun.

Morphological Variations

False friends can result from differences in word formation. For example, “library” in English and “librairie” in French both come from the Latin “liber,” meaning “book.” However, their meanings have diverged. “Library” refers to a collection of books for borrowing, while “librairie” refers to a place where books are sold. Understanding etymology is crucial to avoid confusion in language learning.

Semantic Shifts

Languages often experience semantic shifts, causing words with similar roots to diverge in meaning over time. For example, the French word “location,” derived from the Latin “locatio,” originally meant “a place.” However, its meaning shifted to refer to a rental or lease.

Borrowed from Other Languages

Many English and French words have been borrowed from Latin, resulting in words that look similar but have distinct meanings. One such example is “actuellement.” It closely resembles the English word “actually”, but it originates from Latin “actualis,” meaning “current.”

In addition to the above examples, here are other common false friends between English and French you ought to watch out for in daily life.

French	English translation	English	French translation
assister	to attend	assist	aider
agenda	diary	agenda	l’ordre du jour
blesser	injure	bless	bénir
un car	a coach	car	voiture
chair	flesh	chair	chaise
coin	corner	coin	monnaie
déception	disappointment	deception	duperie
habit	clothing	habit	habitude
lecture	reading	lecture	conférence
raisin	grape	raisin	raisin sec

How to Master False Friends?

False friends pose a big challenge for language learners, but once you understand their relationships and historical origins, you will find it easier to manage. Here are some tips to help you master false friends:

Contextual Learning: Learning words in context can help you understand the true meanings and usage. This approach is more effective than just memorizing definitions, as it allows you to grasp the nuances of words and how they can change meaning depending on the context.

Online Resources: There are a lot of resources and apps available online to help you learn and understand false friends. These tools often highlight false friends, providing explanations and examples of correct word usage.

Speaking and Writing Practice: Regular practice speaking and writing in French can reinforce your understanding of correct word meanings and usage. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with the language!

Navigating false friends is an essential part of learning French. By understanding the origins and adopting effective learning strategies, you can enhance your language skills and steer clear of common pitfalls. Ultimately, you can turn these false friends into your “true friends” in mastering the language!