Often-Confused French Words: Paronyms
Common French Paronyms
Paronyms are words which are almost spelled the same (homonyms) but have different meanings.
What follows is a list of common French paronyms one should be on the lookout for as they can easily be confused for one another. The words, their definitions and English translations are shown in the following format:
Paronym #1: definition in English
Sample sentence with word in use: English translation
Paronym #2: definition in English
Sample sentence with word in use: English translation
Affectif/Effectif
Affectif: related to emotions
Difficultés affectives: Emotional difficulties
Effectif: which really exists, really happens
L’armistice est devenue effective ce matin: The armistice took effect this morning.
Collision/Collusion
Collision: an accident when two vehicles crash into each other.
La collision des voitures s’avera mortelle: The car crash turned out to be deadly.
Collusion: a secret agreement which is harmful to others
Ces deux policiers sont soupçonnés de collusion avec avec la Mafia: These two policemen are suspected of operating in collusion with the Mafia.
Confirmer/Infirmer
Confirmer: to show that something is definitely true
Sa mort fut confirmée le matin suivant: Her death was confirmed the next morning.
Infirmer: to invalidate
Elle parvint à infirmer son hypothèse: She managed to invalidate his hypothesis.
Décade/Décennie
*No sample sentences will be provided for this paronym as it is fairly straightforward.
Décade: a period of tend days
Décennie: a period of ten years
Éminent/Imminent
Éminent: remarkable
Un éminent personnage: a remarkable character (individual)
Imminent: about to happen
L’effondrement du bâtiment est imminent: The building should collapse any moment now.
Éruption/Irruption
Éruption: sudden spurting or gushing
Volcan en éruption: erupting volcano
Irruption: sudden entrance of a person into a room
Ils n’ont pas pu empêcher l’irruption des fans sur le terrain: They were unable to stop the fans from storming onto the field.
Lacune/Lagune
Lacune: gap
La mémoire de ma mère Ma mémoire a des lacunes: The memory of my mother is full of gaps.
Lagune: lagoon
Elle s’est noyée dans cette lagune: She drowned in this lagoon.
Prodige/Prodigue
Prodige: a wonderful event, a miracle.
Le fait qu’il se soit rendu à cette ville avec une jambe cassée tient du prodige: It’s a miracle that he managed to get to this town despite his broken legs.
Prodigue: someone who spends too much money, spends money unwisely (profligate).
L’héritier prodigue gaspille son argent en achetant des voitures: The profligate son is wasting all his money on cars.
Review Exercise
The time has come to review your understanding of the previously listed paronyms. In the following sentence, fill up the blank with the proper paronym.
1. Affectif/Effectif
Il devrait développer son côté ___________.
2. Éruption/Irruption
Il fit ___________ dans cette maison.
3. Lacune/lagune
Il y a plusieurs ___________ en français.
4.Confirmer/Infirmer
Je vais ___________ ma participation au concours.
5. Décade/décennie*
La ___________ des années 80 fut particulièrement paisible.
6.Prodige/prodigue
Marcher sur les eaux relève du ___________.
7. Collision/collusion
Il y a eu une ___________ sur l’autoroute.
8. Éminent/imminent
La conférence a été donnée par un professeur ___________.
Answer Key
- affectif
- irruption
- lacune
- confirmer
- décennie
- prodige
- collision
- éminent
This post is part of the series: French Homonyms and Paronyms
This short series provides examples, translations and review exercises about French Homonyms and Paronyms.
