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0z\"\u002F>",true,{"id":36,"title":37,"author":38,"authorsTake":39,"body":40,"category":1042,"cefrLevel":1043,"date":1044,"description":1045,"extension":1046,"faqs":1047,"heroImage":1043,"intro":1043,"language":1043,"lastUpdated":1043,"meta":1060,"navigation":34,"path":1061,"seo":1062,"socialDescription":1043,"stem":1063,"tags":1064,"tldr":1069,"verbSlugs":1043,"__hash__":1070},"resources\u002Fresources\u002Ffrench\u002Ffrench-false-friends.md","French False Friends: The Words That Look Like English But Mean Something Else","Michael McGettrick","My year as an English assistant in Le Havre let me watch French false friends from both directions, because my students were making the symmetric errors back into English and the catalogue was structurally identical. They wrote 'I assist the meeting' and 'eventually I will come', I said 'je demande la note' with too much edge, we all said 'librairie' when we meant library at least once. The pattern is not random; it is the predictable shadow cast by the Latin-Norman-English vocabulary overlap, and the more cognates a learner spots, the more they need to check rather than trust.\n\nThe position I will defend is that demander is the costliest false friend on this list, full stop, because it produces pragmatic rather than semantic failures. A learner saying 'le client demande la note' is grammatically correct French; the sentence parses cleanly. But the English-shaped speaker who learned that demander means demand will deploy it with English forcefulness in their tone and word choice, and the French listener will register the sentence as more aggressive than the speaker intended. The damage is in the cross-cultural business interaction rather than in the grammar. Fix this one early.\n\nMy sharper take is that English speakers under-fear the subtle drift cases (sympathique, confidence, manifestation, phrase) and over-fear the comedy cases (chair, coin, blesser). The comedy cases are usually caught by context because the meaning is so far from English expectation that nobody is confused for long. The drift cases survive in conversation because the speaker thinks they have said one thing and the listener understands another, and neither realises the miscommunication until much later. Drill the subtle ones with the same seriousness as the obvious ones.\n",{"type":41,"value":42,"toc":1004},"minimark",[43,48,61,64,67,72,75,80,86,89,100,104,110,113,122,126,132,138,141,145,151,154,160,163,167,173,179,182,186,192,199,202,206,212,218,221,225,229,235,244,247,251,257,266,269,273,279,282,288,291,295,301,304,311,315,321,324,331,334,338,344,347,356,360,366,369,376,379,383,389,392,399,402,406,412,415,427,431,437,440,446,450,454,460,463,472,476,482,485,496,500,506,509,512,516,522,532,536,542,551,554,558,564,567,570,574,580,586,589,593,596,921,925,953,957],[44,45,47],"h1",{"id":46},"french-false-friends","French False Friends",[49,50,51,52,56,57,60],"p",{},"False friends, or ",[53,54,55],"strong",{},"faux amis",", are words that look identical or near-identical to English words but mean something different. French has the most extensive false-friend territory of any major Romance language for English speakers, for a structural reason: ",[53,58,59],{},"modern English has absorbed roughly 30% of its vocabulary directly from French"," through the Norman Conquest and centuries of subsequent borrowing. The result is huge overlap in word forms - and within that overlap, a meaningful number of words have drifted in meaning between the two languages.",[49,62,63],{},"This article catalogues the most common French-English false friends, ranked by how often they cause real comprehension problems. The first batch are the ones that produce sentence-meaning failures; the second batch are the embarrassing comedy ones; the third batch are the subtle drift cases that intermediate learners still get wrong.",[49,65,66],{},"The author spent his year as an English language assistant in Le Havre. Almost every false friend below caused either himself or one of his students a memorable incident.",[68,69,71],"h2",{"id":70},"the-high-frequency-embarrassing-ones","The high-frequency embarrassing ones",[49,73,74],{},"These false friends produce the most memorable failures. Memorise them as a unit.",[76,77,79],"h3",{"id":78},"sensible-vs-sensible","Sensible vs sensible",[49,81,82,85],{},[53,83,84],{},"Sensible"," in French means \"sensitive\" (emotionally responsive), not \"sensible\" (level-headed, practical).",[49,87,88],{},"\"Il est tres sensible\" means \"he is very sensitive.\"",[49,90,91,92,95,96,99],{},"If you want to say someone is sensible in the English sense: ",[53,93,94],{},"raisonnable"," or ",[53,97,98],{},"sense \u002F sensee",".",[76,101,103],{"id":102},"deception-vs-deception","Deception vs deception",[49,105,106,109],{},[53,107,108],{},"Deception"," in French means \"disappointment\" - NOT \"deception\" in the English sense of deceit.",[49,111,112],{},"\"J'ai eu une grande deception\" means \"I had a big disappointment.\" Not \"I deceived someone.\"",[49,114,115,116,95,119,99],{},"If you want to say \"deception\" in the English sense, the French word is ",[53,117,118],{},"tromperie",[53,120,121],{},"duperie",[76,123,125],{"id":124},"librairie-vs-library","Librairie vs library",[49,127,128,131],{},[53,129,130],{},"Librairie"," means \"bookshop\" - NOT \"library.\"",[49,133,134,135,99],{},"If you want to say \"library,\" the French word is ",[53,136,137],{},"bibliotheque",[49,139,140],{},"This is one of the most common French-English false friends because the temptation to use librairie is constant. Both involve books; the structural distinction is that French has kept librairie for \"place that sells books\" and bibliotheque for \"place that lends books.\"",[76,142,144],{"id":143},"blesser-vs-to-bless","Blesser vs to bless",[49,146,147,150],{},[53,148,149],{},"Blesser"," means \"to wound\" or \"to hurt\" - NOT \"to bless.\"",[49,152,153],{},"\"Il s'est blesse\" means \"he hurt himself\" or \"he was wounded.\"",[49,155,156,157,99],{},"If you want to say \"to bless,\" the French verb is ",[53,158,159],{},"benir",[49,161,162],{},"This is one of the false friends that catches English speakers in unexpected contexts. A French person saying \"vous m'avez blesse\" is telling you they were hurt, not that they were blessed.",[76,164,166],{"id":165},"chair-vs-chair","Chair vs chair",[49,168,169,172],{},[53,170,171],{},"Chair"," in French means \"flesh\" - NOT \"chair.\"",[49,174,175,176,99],{},"If you want to say \"chair\" (the piece of furniture), the French word is ",[53,177,178],{},"chaise",[49,180,181],{},"\"La chair\" in a butcher's context means \"the meat.\" In a religious or philosophical context \"la chair\" means \"the flesh.\" Neither is what English speakers expect.",[76,183,185],{"id":184},"coin-vs-coin","Coin vs coin",[49,187,188,191],{},[53,189,190],{},"Coin"," in French means \"corner\" - NOT \"coin.\"",[49,193,194,195,198],{},"If you want to say \"coin,\" the French word is ",[53,196,197],{},"piece"," (de monnaie).",[49,200,201],{},"\"Le coin de la rue\" means \"the corner of the street.\"",[76,203,205],{"id":204},"habit-vs-habit","Habit vs habit",[49,207,208,211],{},[53,209,210],{},"Habit"," in French means \"outfit\" or \"clothing\" - NOT \"habit\" (a repeated behaviour).",[49,213,214,215,99],{},"If you want to say \"habit\" in the English sense, the French word is ",[53,216,217],{},"habitude",[49,219,220],{},"\"Un habit\" is an outfit, especially a formal or ceremonial one (a priest's habit, a Victorian costume).",[68,222,224],{"id":223},"the-medium-frequency-comedy-ones","The medium-frequency comedy ones",[76,226,228],{"id":227},"eventuellement-vs-eventually","Eventuellement vs eventually",[49,230,231,234],{},[53,232,233],{},"Eventuellement"," in French means \"possibly\" - NOT \"eventually.\"",[49,236,237,238,95,241,99],{},"If you want to say \"eventually\" in the English sense of \"at some future time,\" the French phrase is ",[53,239,240],{},"finalement",[53,242,243],{},"par la suite",[49,245,246],{},"This is the French equivalent of the Spanish \"eventualmente\" trap.",[76,248,250],{"id":249},"actuellement-vs-actually","Actuellement vs actually",[49,252,253,256],{},[53,254,255],{},"Actuellement"," in French means \"currently\" - NOT \"actually.\"",[49,258,259,260,95,263,99],{},"If you want to say \"actually\" in the English sense, the French phrase is ",[53,261,262],{},"en fait",[53,264,265],{},"en realite",[49,267,268],{},"\"Actuellement je travaille a Paris\" means \"I currently work in Paris.\" Not \"I actually work in Paris.\"",[76,270,272],{"id":271},"demander-vs-to-demand","Demander vs to demand",[49,274,275,278],{},[53,276,277],{},"Demander"," means \"to ask\" - NOT \"to demand.\"",[49,280,281],{},"\"Le client demande la note\" means \"the customer is asking for the bill.\" Not \"the customer is demanding the bill.\"",[49,283,284,285,99],{},"If you want to say \"to demand\" in the English sense (with force, authority), the French verb is ",[53,286,287],{},"exiger",[49,289,290],{},"This false friend is the source of substantial pragmatic friction in cross-cultural business interactions. English speakers reading French texts about clients \"demandant\" something often misread the assertion as more aggressive than it is.",[76,292,294],{"id":293},"assister-vs-to-assist","Assister vs to assist",[49,296,297,300],{},[53,298,299],{},"Assister"," in French means \"to attend\" - NOT \"to assist.\"",[49,302,303],{},"\"Assister a la reunion\" means \"to attend the meeting.\"",[49,305,306,307,310],{},"If you want to say \"to assist\" in the English sense, the French verb is ",[53,308,309],{},"aider"," (to help).",[76,312,314],{"id":313},"attendre-vs-to-attend","Attendre vs to attend",[49,316,317,320],{},[53,318,319],{},"Attendre"," means \"to wait\" - NOT \"to attend.\"",[49,322,323],{},"\"J'attends le bus\" means \"I am waiting for the bus.\"",[49,325,326,327,330],{},"If you want to say \"to attend\" in the English sense, the French verb is ",[53,328,329],{},"assister"," (which is itself a false friend, see above).",[49,332,333],{},"The pair attendre \u002F assister is doubly confusing because both look like English \"to attend\" but each means something different.",[76,335,337],{"id":336},"achever-vs-to-achieve","Achever vs to achieve",[49,339,340,343],{},[53,341,342],{},"Achever"," means \"to complete\" or \"to finish\" - NOT \"to achieve\" in the broader English sense.",[49,345,346],{},"\"Achever un projet\" means \"to complete a project.\"",[49,348,349,350,95,353,99],{},"If you want to say \"to achieve\" in the English sense of accomplishing a goal, the French verb is ",[53,351,352],{},"realiser",[53,354,355],{},"accomplir",[76,357,359],{"id":358},"realiser-vs-to-realise","Realiser vs to realise",[49,361,362,365],{},[53,363,364],{},"Realiser"," in French primarily means \"to carry out\" or \"to accomplish\" - NOT \"to realise\" (to become aware of).",[49,367,368],{},"\"Realiser un projet\" means \"to carry out a project.\"",[49,370,371,372,375],{},"If you want to say \"to realise\" in the English sense, the French verb is ",[53,373,374],{},"se rendre compte de"," (literally \"to give oneself account of\").",[49,377,378],{},"\"Je me rends compte que tu as raison\" means \"I realise you are right.\"",[76,380,382],{"id":381},"pretendre-vs-to-pretend","Pretendre vs to pretend",[49,384,385,388],{},[53,386,387],{},"Pretendre"," in French means \"to claim\" - NOT \"to pretend\" (to feign).",[49,390,391],{},"\"Je pretends avoir raison\" means \"I claim to be right.\"",[49,393,394,395,398],{},"If you want to say \"to pretend\" in the English sense, the French verb is ",[53,396,397],{},"faire semblant"," (literally \"to make a semblance\").",[49,400,401],{},"\"Il fait semblant de dormir\" means \"he is pretending to sleep.\"",[76,403,405],{"id":404},"location-vs-location","Location vs location",[49,407,408,411],{},[53,409,410],{},"Location"," in French means \"rental\" - NOT \"location.\"",[49,413,414],{},"\"Une location de voiture\" means \"a car rental.\"",[49,416,417,418,95,421,95,424,99],{},"If you want to say \"location\" in the English sense, the French word is ",[53,419,420],{},"emplacement",[53,422,423],{},"endroit",[53,425,426],{},"lieu",[76,428,430],{"id":429},"patron-vs-patron","Patron vs patron",[49,432,433,436],{},[53,434,435],{},"Patron"," in French means \"boss\" or \"employer\" - NOT \"patron\" (a customer).",[49,438,439],{},"\"Le patron du restaurant\" means \"the boss of the restaurant.\" Not \"the patron of the restaurant.\"",[49,441,442,443,99],{},"If you want to say \"patron\" (customer) in the English sense, the French word is ",[53,444,445],{},"client",[68,447,449],{"id":448},"the-subtle-drift-cases","The subtle drift cases",[76,451,453],{"id":452},"sympathique-vs-sympathetic","Sympathique vs sympathetic",[49,455,456,459],{},[53,457,458],{},"Sympathique"," in French means \"likeable\" or \"nice\" - NOT \"sympathetic\" (showing compassion).",[49,461,462],{},"\"Il est tres sympathique\" means \"he is very likeable.\"",[49,464,465,466,95,469,99],{},"If you want to say \"sympathetic\" in the English sense, the French phrases are ",[53,467,468],{},"comprehensif",[53,470,471],{},"compatissant",[76,473,475],{"id":474},"confidence-vs-confidence","Confidence vs confidence",[49,477,478,481],{},[53,479,480],{},"Confidence"," in French means \"secret\" or \"intimate disclosure\" - NOT \"self-assurance\" or \"trust.\"",[49,483,484],{},"\"Je vais te faire une confidence\" means \"I am going to tell you a secret.\"",[49,486,487,488,491,492,495],{},"If you want to say \"confidence\" in the English sense, the French words are ",[53,489,490],{},"confiance"," (trust) or ",[53,493,494],{},"assurance"," (self-assurance).",[76,497,499],{"id":498},"manifestation-vs-manifestation","Manifestation vs manifestation",[49,501,502,505],{},[53,503,504],{},"Manifestation"," in French primarily means \"demonstration\" or \"protest\" (the political event).",[49,507,508],{},"\"Une manifestation\" in news context typically means a public demonstration in the streets.",[49,510,511],{},"The English meaning of \"manifestation\" (something becoming apparent or showing itself) is also valid but less frequent.",[76,513,515],{"id":514},"conducteur-vs-conductor","Conducteur vs conductor",[49,517,518,521],{},[53,519,520],{},"Conducteur"," in French means \"driver\" - NOT \"conductor\" (of an orchestra or train).",[49,523,524,525,528,529,99],{},"If you want to say \"conductor\" of an orchestra, the French word is ",[53,526,527],{},"chef d'orchestre",". For a train conductor, ",[53,530,531],{},"controleur",[76,533,535],{"id":534},"phrase-vs-phrase","Phrase vs phrase",[49,537,538,541],{},[53,539,540],{},"Phrase"," in French means \"sentence\" - NOT \"phrase.\"",[49,543,544,545,95,548,99],{},"If you want to say \"phrase\" in the English sense of a fragment shorter than a sentence, the French words are ",[53,546,547],{},"expression",[53,549,550],{},"groupe de mots",[49,552,553],{},"This catches grammar-discussing learners constantly. A French grammar book talking about \"une phrase\" is talking about a full sentence.",[76,555,557],{"id":556},"note-vs-note-grades","Note vs note (grades)",[49,559,560,563],{},[53,561,562],{},"Note"," in French is universally used for \"grade\" or \"mark\" (academic).",[49,565,566],{},"\"Une bonne note\" means \"a good grade.\"",[49,568,569],{},"The English meaning of \"note\" (a short written message) is also valid in French as \"une note\" but the grade-meaning is dominant in educational contexts.",[76,571,573],{"id":572},"travail-vs-travel","Travail vs travel",[49,575,576,579],{},[53,577,578],{},"Travail"," in French means \"work\" - NOT \"travel.\"",[49,581,582,583,99],{},"If you want to say \"travel,\" the French verb is ",[53,584,585],{},"voyager",[49,587,588],{},"This catches A1-A2 learners often. The English-shaped assumption \"travail = travel\" produces sentences like \"j'aime le travail\" intended as \"I like to travel\" but actually meaning \"I like work.\"",[68,590,592],{"id":591},"the-full-reference-table","The full reference table",[49,594,595],{},"Quick reference for the false friends above and a few additional common ones:",[597,598,599,618],"table",{},[600,601,602],"thead",{},[603,604,605,609,612,615],"tr",{},[606,607,608],"th",{},"French word",[606,610,611],{},"Looks like (English)",[606,613,614],{},"Actually means",[606,616,617],{},"Correct English equivalent in French",[619,620,621,634,646,659,672,684,696,708,721,734,747,759,771,784,796,809,821,833,846,858,871,884,896,908],"tbody",{},[603,622,623,627,629,632],{},[624,625,626],"td",{},"sensible",[624,628,626],{},[624,630,631],{},"sensitive",[624,633,94],{},[603,635,636,639,641,644],{},[624,637,638],{},"deception",[624,640,638],{},[624,642,643],{},"disappointment",[624,645,118],{},[603,647,648,651,654,657],{},[624,649,650],{},"librairie",[624,652,653],{},"library",[624,655,656],{},"bookshop",[624,658,137],{},[603,660,661,664,667,670],{},[624,662,663],{},"blesser",[624,665,666],{},"to bless",[624,668,669],{},"to wound",[624,671,159],{},[603,673,674,677,679,682],{},[624,675,676],{},"chair",[624,678,676],{},[624,680,681],{},"flesh",[624,683,178],{},[603,685,686,689,691,694],{},[624,687,688],{},"coin",[624,690,688],{},[624,692,693],{},"corner",[624,695,197],{},[603,697,698,701,703,706],{},[624,699,700],{},"habit",[624,702,700],{},[624,704,705],{},"outfit",[624,707,217],{},[603,709,710,713,716,719],{},[624,711,712],{},"eventuellement",[624,714,715],{},"eventually",[624,717,718],{},"possibly",[624,720,240],{},[603,722,723,726,729,732],{},[624,724,725],{},"actuellement",[624,727,728],{},"actually",[624,730,731],{},"currently",[624,733,262],{},[603,735,736,739,742,745],{},[624,737,738],{},"demander",[624,740,741],{},"to demand",[624,743,744],{},"to ask",[624,746,287],{},[603,748,749,751,754,757],{},[624,750,329],{},[624,752,753],{},"to assist",[624,755,756],{},"to attend",[624,758,309],{},[603,760,761,764,766,769],{},[624,762,763],{},"attendre",[624,765,756],{},[624,767,768],{},"to wait",[624,770,329],{},[603,772,773,776,779,782],{},[624,774,775],{},"achever",[624,777,778],{},"to achieve",[624,780,781],{},"to complete",[624,783,352],{},[603,785,786,788,791,794],{},[624,787,352],{},[624,789,790],{},"to realise",[624,792,793],{},"to carry out",[624,795,374],{},[603,797,798,801,804,807],{},[624,799,800],{},"pretendre",[624,802,803],{},"to pretend",[624,805,806],{},"to claim",[624,808,397],{},[603,810,811,814,816,819],{},[624,812,813],{},"location",[624,815,813],{},[624,817,818],{},"rental",[624,820,420],{},[603,822,823,826,828,831],{},[624,824,825],{},"patron",[624,827,825],{},[624,829,830],{},"boss",[624,832,445],{},[603,834,835,838,841,844],{},[624,836,837],{},"sympathique",[624,839,840],{},"sympathetic",[624,842,843],{},"likeable",[624,845,468],{},[603,847,848,851,853,856],{},[624,849,850],{},"confidence",[624,852,850],{},[624,854,855],{},"secret",[624,857,490],{},[603,859,860,863,865,868],{},[624,861,862],{},"manifestation",[624,864,862],{},[624,866,867],{},"protest",[624,869,870],{},"(English meaning also valid)",[603,872,873,876,879,882],{},[624,874,875],{},"conducteur",[624,877,878],{},"conductor",[624,880,881],{},"driver",[624,883,527],{},[603,885,886,889,891,894],{},[624,887,888],{},"phrase",[624,890,888],{},[624,892,893],{},"sentence",[624,895,547],{},[603,897,898,901,903,906],{},[624,899,900],{},"note",[624,902,900],{},[624,904,905],{},"grade",[624,907,870],{},[603,909,910,913,916,919],{},[624,911,912],{},"travail",[624,914,915],{},"travel",[624,917,918],{},"work",[624,920,585],{},[68,922,924],{"id":923},"how-to-actually-avoid-these-mistakes","How to actually avoid these mistakes",[926,927,928,941,947],"ol",{},[929,930,931,934,935,940],"li",{},[53,932,933],{},"Drill the most common ones explicitly."," The top 15 from the table account for most of the embarrassment risk. Use the ",[936,937,939],"a",{"href":938},"\u002Ftools\u002Fflashcards","French flashcards tool"," for spaced-repetition practice.",[929,942,943,946],{},[53,944,945],{},"Read French novels and journalism."," Encountering these words in their actual French context cements the meaning. A French novel where \"sensible\" describes the sensitive character makes the meaning more permanent than any wordlist drill.",[929,948,949,952],{},[53,950,951],{},"When in doubt, paraphrase."," If you are uncertain, use a different construction. \"Je suis decu\" (I am disappointed) works without the deception trap; \"je me rends compte\" works without the realiser trap.",[68,954,956],{"id":955},"cross-references","Cross-references",[958,959,960,968,975,992,997],"ul",{},[929,961,962,963,967],{},"The ",[936,964,966],{"href":965},"\u002Ffrench","French for adult learners pillar"," covers the wider French learning approach.",[929,969,962,970,974],{},[936,971,973],{"href":972},"\u002Fresources\u002Fcommon-mistakes-french-english-speakers","common mistakes for English speakers in French"," covers the wider category of structural errors that false friends are part of.",[929,976,962,977,981,982,986,987,991],{},[936,978,980],{"href":979},"\u002Ffrench\u002Fgrammar","French grammar cheatsheet"," and the ",[936,983,985],{"href":984},"\u002Ffrench\u002Fgrammar\u002Fintermediate","intermediate"," and ",[936,988,990],{"href":989},"\u002Ffrench\u002Fgrammar\u002Fadvanced","advanced"," grammar pages cover the structural side of French.",[929,993,962,994,996],{},[936,995,939],{"href":938}," provides spaced-repetition drilling.",[929,998,962,999,1003],{},[936,1000,1002],{"href":1001},"\u002Fresources\u002Fspanish-false-friends","Spanish false friends piece"," covers the Spanish equivalent for comparison.",{"title":1005,"searchDepth":1006,"depth":1006,"links":1007},"",2,[1008,1018,1030,1039,1040,1041],{"id":70,"depth":1006,"text":71,"children":1009},[1010,1012,1013,1014,1015,1016,1017],{"id":78,"depth":1011,"text":79},3,{"id":102,"depth":1011,"text":103},{"id":124,"depth":1011,"text":125},{"id":143,"depth":1011,"text":144},{"id":165,"depth":1011,"text":166},{"id":184,"depth":1011,"text":185},{"id":204,"depth":1011,"text":205},{"id":223,"depth":1006,"text":224,"children":1019},[1020,1021,1022,1023,1024,1025,1026,1027,1028,1029],{"id":227,"depth":1011,"text":228},{"id":249,"depth":1011,"text":250},{"id":271,"depth":1011,"text":272},{"id":293,"depth":1011,"text":294},{"id":313,"depth":1011,"text":314},{"id":336,"depth":1011,"text":337},{"id":358,"depth":1011,"text":359},{"id":381,"depth":1011,"text":382},{"id":404,"depth":1011,"text":405},{"id":429,"depth":1011,"text":430},{"id":448,"depth":1006,"text":449,"children":1031},[1032,1033,1034,1035,1036,1037,1038],{"id":452,"depth":1011,"text":453},{"id":474,"depth":1011,"text":475},{"id":498,"depth":1011,"text":499},{"id":514,"depth":1011,"text":515},{"id":534,"depth":1011,"text":535},{"id":556,"depth":1011,"text":557},{"id":572,"depth":1011,"text":573},{"id":591,"depth":1006,"text":592},{"id":923,"depth":1006,"text":924},{"id":955,"depth":1006,"text":956},"Methodology",null,"2026-06-05T00:00:00+00:00","The French false cognates (faux amis) that trip up English speakers most often, ranked by frequency and by the embarrassment they cause.","md",[1048,1051,1054,1057],{"q":1049,"a":1050},"What are false friends in French?","False friends, or faux amis, are French words that look identical or near-identical to English words but mean something different. French has the most extensive false-friend territory of any major Romance language for English speakers because modern English absorbed roughly 30% of its vocabulary from French through the Norman Conquest. The overlap is huge and within it a meaningful number of words have drifted in meaning between the two languages.",{"q":1052,"a":1053},"What does 'sensible' actually mean in French?","Sensible in French means 'sensitive' (emotionally responsive), not 'sensible' in the English sense of level-headed or practical. Il est tres sensible means 'he is very sensitive'. To say someone is sensible in the English sense, use raisonnable or sense \u002F sensee.",{"q":1055,"a":1056},"Why doesn't 'librairie' mean library in French?","Librairie means bookshop in French; the French word for library is bibliotheque. Both involve books, but French has kept librairie for 'place that sells books' and bibliotheque for 'place that lends books'. The constant temptation to use librairie is the reason it appears on every French false-friend list and the fix is mechanical: memorise the pair as a unit.",{"q":1058,"a":1059},"What is the difference between 'attendre' and 'assister' in French?","Attendre means 'to wait' (J'attends le bus, I am waiting for the bus); assister means 'to attend' (Assister a la reunion, to attend the meeting). The pair is doubly confusing because both look like the English verb 'to attend' but only assister carries that meaning, and 'to assist' in the English sense uses the French verb aider (to help) instead.",{},"\u002Fresources\u002Ffrench\u002Ffrench-false-friends",{"title":37,"description":1045},"resources\u002Ffrench\u002Ffrench-false-friends",[1065,1066,1067,1068],"french vocabulary","false friends","french false cognates","language learning","Modern English absorbed roughly 30% of its vocabulary from French through the Norman Conquest, so French has the deepest false-friend territory of any major language for English speakers; the highest-cost ones (sensible, deception, librairie, blesser, chair, coin, actuellement, demander, assister, attendre, location, patron) produce sentence-meaning failures rather than just embarrassment.","pYYTobyCg6UsiHkQo_3egnpUnK3btlZWfW5XV5QukB8",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":1072},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M10 18v-7m1.119-8.795a2 2 0 0 1 1.762 0l7.84 3.846A.5.5 0 0 1 20.5 7h-17a.5.5 0 0 1-.22-.949zM14 18v-7m4 7v-7M3 22h18M6 18v-7\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":1074},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M12 15V3m9 12v4a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2v-4\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"m7 10l5 5l5-5\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":1076},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M13 21h8M15 5l4 4m2.174-2.188a1 1 0 0 0-3.986-3.987L3.842 16.174a2 2 0 0 0-.5.83l-1.321 4.352a.5.5 0 0 0 .623.622l4.353-1.32a2 2 0 0 0 .83-.497z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":1078},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Crect width=\"18\" height=\"18\" x=\"3\" y=\"3\" rx=\"2\" ry=\"2\"\u002F>\u003Ccircle cx=\"9\" cy=\"9\" r=\"2\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"m21 15l-3.086-3.086a2 2 0 0 0-2.828 0L6 21\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":1080},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M6 22a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V4a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h8a2.4 2.4 0 0 1 1.704.706l3.588 3.588A2.4 2.4 0 0 1 20 8v12a2 2 0 0 1-2 2z\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M14 2v5a1 1 0 0 0 1 1h5M10 9H8m8 4H8m8 4H8\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",1781519465555]