"False friends" are words that seem to be the same but in fact have different meanings (eg actuel/actual). Listed here are some of the most common false friends for French and English, as well as a few other words that give particular problems.
| French | English translation | Comments and Examples |
| actuel | present | in the present situation |
| actuellement | at present | I am studying English at present |
| réel | actual | his actual words were... |
| réellement | actually | |
| air | air | fresh air |
| air | look, appearance, air, manner | an air of luxury |
| air | air, melody, tune, aria | he sung an air |
| aire | area | vast area |
| ancien, ex- | former | ancien professeur a former professor |
| ancien, de jadis | ancient | La Grèce ancienne ancient Greece |
| assister à | to attend | to attend a meeting, conference |
| assister (aider) | to assist | to assist sby in doing sth |
| attendre | to wait (for) | |
| commander, diriger | to command | to command an army |
| commander | to order | to order a meal |
| complet | comprehensive | a comprehensive price-list |
| compréhensif | understanding | an understanding friend |
| conseils | advice | uncountable |
| conseil | a piece of advice | countable |
| contrée | surrounding territory | people from the region |
| pays | country | people from all the countries |
| contrôler | to check | to check passengers' tickets |
| maîtriser | to control | control yourself! |
| crier | to shout | |
| pleurer | to cry | |
| demander | to ask | to ask sby for sth |
| exiger, réclamer | to demand | to demand a refund |
| démissioner | to resign | he resigned from the company |
| licencier | to dismiss | he was dismissed without notice |
|
se résigner (à) |
resign oneself (to) | she resigned herself to her fate |
| divertissement | entertainment | uncountable |
| entrainement | training | uncountable |
| état | state | the American states |
| état | estate | real estate; the third estate |
| état | status | civil status |
| éventuel, possible | possible | one possible result |
| éventuellement | possibly | he could possibly arrive |
| final(ement) | eventual(ly) | eventually he surrendered |
| expérience | experiment | a scientific experiment |
| expérience | experience | experience of life |
| experimenté | experienced | an experienced teacher |
| fait | fact | |
| haut faits, exploit | feat, exploit | |
| frère | brother | they were brother and sister |
| moine, frère | friar, monk | the friars of the Franciscan order |
| ignorer, ne pas connaître | not to know, to be unaware of | I know nothing about the matter |
| ignorant [adj] | ignorant | ignorant of the rule, he |
| ignorant [mf] | ignoramus | what an ignoramus you are! |
| ne tenir aucun compte de | to ignore | I shall ignore your impertinence |
| important | important | (quality) an important event, fact, question, meeting, decision; a VIP |
| important | big, sizeable | (quantity) a big house, a sizeable turnover |
| informations | news | uncountable |
| renseignements | information | uncountable |
| intéressant, captivant | interesting | an interesting book or person |
| intéressant, avantageux | attractive, worthwhile | an attractive price or offer |
|
journée |
day; day's work | he worked all the day |
| voyage | journey, voyage | a journey through the country |
| labeur, travail | labor, toil | |
| labour, labourage | ploughing | |
| location | rent, hire | car hire, a hire-car |
| situation | location | a suitable location for a car factory, filmed on location |
| noise | quarrel | |
| bruit | noise | |
| occasion, circonstance | occasion | on the first occasion that it happened |
| occasion, conjoncture favorable | opportunity, chance | to jump at the chance |
| occasion | second-hand buy | a second-hand or used car |
| bargain | a real bargain at $100 | |
| offrir, proposer | to offer | to offer to help, how much do you offer for it? |
| offrir, donner | to give | to give sby a birthday present |
| politique [adj] | political | a political campaign, speech |
| politique [nf] | policy | it is not company policy |
| politique [nm] | politician | an honest politician |
| préciser | to specify, to make clear | the verb "to precise" does not exist in English |
| prix | prize | to win first prize |
| prix | price | the price is $10 |
| retrouvailles | reunion | a school reunion every year |
| réunion | meeting | a meeting with clients |
| meeting | meeting | a sports or political meeting |
| se retirer | to withdraw | to withdraw from a race |
| prendre sa retraite | to retire | to retire at 60 |
| travail | work | a work to be done |
| torture | travail, torture | |
| voyage | travel |
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Zdravko Batzarov