False Friends & Real Traps — taught, question by question.
A master lesson, then every question explained in full with a worked example, a Remember box, and 5 fresh self-grading drills each.
False Friends & Real Traps
Les faux amis et les piègesA French word that LOOKS English is guilty until proven innocent. False friends mislead by appearance: actuellement is not “actually”, assister à is not “assist”, sensible is not “sensible”, librairie is not “library”. The cure is to learn two things for each trap: what the French word really means, and which French word carries the English meaning you wanted.
actuellement = currently (≠ actually = en fait); éventuellement = possibly (≠ eventually = finalement).
assister à = attend; attendre = wait for; rester = stay (≠ rest = se reposer); ignorer = be unaware; prétendre = claim (≠ pretend = faire semblant); supporter = bear (≠ support = soutenir); passer un examen = sit it (réussir = pass it).
librairie = bookshop (library = bibliothèque); location = rental; monnaie = coins (money = argent); coin = corner; raisin = grape; lecture = reading; habit = garment.
sensible = sensitive (sensible = raisonnable); déception = disappointment, décevoir = disappoint (≠ deception = tromperie).
| French word | Looks like | Actually means |
|---|---|---|
| actuellement | actually | currently |
| assister à | to assist | to attend |
| librairie | library | bookshop |
| sensible | sensible | sensitive |
| location | location | rental |
| rester | to rest | to stay |
| English | Correct French | Not… |
|---|---|---|
| actually | en fait | actuellement |
| library | bibliothèque | librairie |
| to support | soutenir | supporter |
| to pretend | faire semblant | prétendre |
| money | argent | monnaie |
- A word that looks English is guilty until proven innocent — learn its real meaning.
- actuellement = currently; en fait = actually.
- assister à = attend; attendre = wait for.
- librairie = bookshop; bibliothèque = library.
- sensible = sensitive; raisonnable = sensible.
Q62librairie ≠ library▸
librairie = bookshop (you buy); bibliothèque = library (you borrow).
Q63bibliothèque = library▸
bibliothèque = library (borrow/read free).
Q64actuellement = currently▸
actuellement = currently (now).
Q65en fait = actually▸
en fait = actually (in reality).
Q66assister à = to attend▸
assister à = attend; aider = assist.
Q67attendre = to wait for▸
attendre = wait for (no preposition).
Q68sensible = sensitive▸
sensible = sensitive (easily affected).
Q69raisonnable = sensible▸
raisonnable = sensible/wise.
Q70se reposer = to rest▸
se reposer = rest; rester = stay.
Q71rester = to stay▸
rester = stay; se reposer = rest.
Q72journal = newspaper▸
journal = newspaper / diary; voyage = journey.
Q73éventuellement = possibly▸
éventuellement = possibly; finalement = eventually.
Q74finalement = eventually▸
finalement = eventually (in the end).
Q75location = rental▸
location = rental; emplacement/lieu = location.
Q76réussir = to pass (succeed)▸
réussir = pass/succeed; passer = sit/take.
Q77passer un examen = to take▸
passer = sit/take; réussir = pass.
Q78prétendre = to claim▸
prétendre = claim; faire semblant = pretend.
Q79faire semblant = to pretend▸
faire semblant = pretend; prétendre = claim.
Q80supporter = to bear/stand▸
supporter = bear/tolerate; soutenir = support.
Q81soutenir = to support▸
soutenir = support; supporter = endure.
Q82ignorer = to not know▸
ignorer = be unaware of; ne pas tenir compte de = ignore.
Q83blesser = to injure▸
blesser = injure/hurt; bénir = bless.
Q84monnaie = change/coins▸
monnaie = coins/change; argent = money.
Q85argent = money▸
argent = money; monnaie = coins.
Q86raisin = grape▸
raisin = grape; raisin sec = raisin.
Q87coin = corner▸
coin = corner; une pièce = a coin.
Q88déception = disappointment▸
déception = disappointment; tromperie = deception.
Q89décevoir = to disappoint▸
décevoir = disappoint; tromper = deceive.
Q90lecture = reading▸
lecture = reading; conférence/cours = lecture.
Q91habit = garment▸
habit = garment/clothes; habitude = habit.