French nouns and other parts of speech that sound like their English counterparts, but have different meanings, can cause confusion. Students of French should study these tricky words with extra care.
Faux Amis
If you should read the sentence “Il a sensiblement grandi”, it would make little sense, if you think the adverb means the same as its English equivalent. The adjective “sensible” which means “sensitive” would also present a similar predicament. What is really meant in that sentence is “it is obvious that he has grown up”
Here are some more of those troublesome words shared by French and English. They are called ‘faux amis’ (false friends.). They are listed first with the English word, then the French false friend, then the French meaning for the false friend, then you’ll see its French equivalent for the most common meaning in English. For example the word “agony” in English means anguish and suffering at any time, including before death. In French the equivalent word “agonie” cannot be used so loosely; that word in French pertains only to the last struggle before death. The words are grouped according to nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs from a to e:
Nouns
English / faux amis / French meaning for faux amis / French equivalent for English word
appointments / appointments (n.m.pl.) / salary / rendez-vous
audience / audience (n.f.) / plenary session, court hearing / les spectateurs , l’auditoire (n.m.)
box / box (n.m.) / a horse box or a car compartment / boîte
bureau / bureau (n.m.) / desk, study / commode
cabinet / cabinet (n.m.) / small room / placard
cargo / cargo (n.m.) / cargo boat / charge
defiance / défiance (n. f.) / suspicion, distrust / défi
dot / dot (n.f.) / dowry / point
engagement / engagement (n.m.) / commitment / fiançailles, rendez-vous
Verbs
English / faux amis / French meaning for faux amis / French equivalent for English word
avert / avertir (v. t.) / warn / éviter
agree / agréer (v.i.) / accept / être d’accord
attend / attendre / to wait for / assister à
assist / assister à / to attend / aider
bless / blesser / to wound, to hurt, to offend / bénir
cry / crier / cry out, yell, shout / pleurer
demand / demander / to ask / exiger
err / error / to wander / se tromper
Adjectives
English / faux amis / French meaning for faux amis / French equivalent for English word
actual / actuel / current, present / vrai
affluent / affluent / affluent (referring to a course of water) / riche
Adverbs
English / faux amis / French meaning for faux amis / French equivalent for English word
actually / actuellement / currently, presently / véritablement
eventually / éventuellement / possibly, hypothetically / imprévisiblement
