English Grammar and Exercises for ESL learners.

FAUX AMIS - FALSE FRIENDS

(French-English)

Faux amis or 'false friends' are words that appear to be the same in French and in English,
but have a different meaning.
(Les faux amis sont des mots qui se ressemblent en francais et en anglais mais n'ont pas le meme
sens.)

FRENCH ENGLISH Example

Incorrect Correct
The renovation
was finished at
the end of 2010.
Complete /
Achever Achieve We
finish
have complete
d the
programme.
At the
At the
Actuellem moment I am
Actually moment,
ent revising my
currently.
English.
There
were crowds of
Affluence Affluence Crowds
people in the
streets.
I note all my
Agenda Agenda Diary appointments in
my diary.
Our former chai
Ancien Ancient Former rman was more
dynamic.
All the
personnel
Assister a Assist Attend
must attend the
meeting.
The message
Avertisse Advertise
Warning was sent as
ment ment
a warning.
 We can move in
Bail Bail Lease as soon as we
sign the lease.
He
Blesser Bless Hurt / injure was injured in a
road accident.
He
Scraps, overheard snatc
Bribes Bribes
snatches hes of the
conversation.
Good luck! I
Chance Chance Luck hope you'll be
as lucky as Tom.
The cinema is at
Coin Coin Corner the corner of
the street.
Command Comman He ordered foo
Order
er d d for everybody.
She told
Conducteu Conducto the driver to be
Driver
r r careful on the
roads.
He works in
Confectio Clothing
Confection the clothing
n industry
industry.
Tickets
Controle Control Check are checked
before boarding.
His failure was a
Disappointm
Deception Deception big disappoint
ent
ment.
The players
Decevoir Deceive Disappoint were disappoin
ted not to win.
We were given
Time a time
Delai Delay
limit/deadline limit. Friday is
the deadline.
I don't want to
Want / feel
Envie Envy go/ I don't feel
like
like going.
Possibly/per Perhaps/If
Eventuelle Eventuall
haps/if need need be I could
ment y
be send a fa