Kilo Lingo

Ch 20 · Lesson 8

False friends: aktuala, kurioza and the adjectives

is topical, not actual; is possible, not eventual; is odd, not inquisitive; is wide, not large. And the word you wanted each time.

The short version

is topical, not actual

, .

A topical subject, but the actual price.
Why?

The worst false friend in the language, because the wrong reading still parses. means topical, of current interest: . For actual, meaning real, say , and for actually, efektive; for plain current, careful writers say . Two more for the same day: is possible, and eventual is ; is odd, and inquisitive is .

is wide, and large is

, .

A wide street, but a small house.
Why?

measures across, like French large: a wide street, a broad river. It does not mean big, which is . Two more adjectives from the same trap: is usually likeable, and for feeling sorry for someone you want a; is punctual, and accurate is .

A few dozen words look like English words and mean something else. is topical, not actual; is to claim, not to pretend. The fix is always a different word, and it is usually one you already know.

the false friendthe word you wantedWhat do the colours mean?

The ten that cause the most trouble:

False friendMeansSay instead
topical real
possible final
odd, remarkable curious
wide large
to claim pretend
to check control
to ask (a question) demand
to wait attend
fate sort
department store magazine

Why English is the odd one out

Almost every false friend is a root English borrowed from Latin or French and then moved. Esperanto took it at the value French still gives it:

EsperantoFrenchWhat English did
actuelactual came to mean real
éventueleventual came to mean final
contrôlercontrol came to mean rule
largelarge came to mean big
attendreattend came to mean go to
demanderdemand came to mean insist

So a French speaker reads (I am waiting for the bus) without a second thought. The English speaker has to remember where everybody else stayed.

Adjectives that lie

the false friendthe word you wantedWhat do the colours mean?
EsperantoMeansSay instead
topicalactual:
possibleeventual:
odd, remarkableinquisitive:
widelarge:
likeablepitying:
punctualaccurate:
suitable, fittinghandy:
carefreecareless: nezorgema

is the big one. Its core sense is topical, of current interest:

  • . - That is a topical subject.
  • ? - What is the actual price?
  • . - The current situation is difficult.

The calls an eminent false friend and advises for plain current. You will still meet everywhere; is the careful choice. Actually is or .

points at a in the road, not the end of it:

  • , . - Write to me, or phone if need be.
  • . - Eventually he came.

took only one half of English curious:

  • . - An odd story.
  • . - She is a curious (inquisitive) child.

measures across; it does not mean big:

  • , . - A wide street, but a small house.

is usually likeable; for feeling sorry for someone, use a:

  • . - He is very likeable.
  • . - She is compassionate towards the poor.

is punctual: . - He is always on time. The dictionary marks the sense exact as one to avoid; say .

fits the occasion; is free of worries:

  • - suitable clothes for the party
  • - a convenient time
  • infanaĝo - a carefree childhood

And one that is usually praise where English often sneers: is a magnificent, imposing cathedral.

Going further: Verbs that lie and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.

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Lesson 8 of 28 in this chapter

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What do the colours mean?