False Friends Speakers of other, mainly European, languages may come across certain English words and because they look similar to words in their own language wrongly assume that the meaning is the same. The confusion might be because of a chance similarity in spelling; because the original meaning, in one or other language, has changed over the years; or because the original word was borrowed from one language and, from the start, used differently in the other. Such words are called ‘false friends’. In each pair of words below, the first word is the false friend and the second is the word it is often confused with. Put each word in its correct place in the sentences which follow each pair. il (a) (b) (9) 2 actual (real) present (current, existing now) Carter and Bush are former American Presidents. Who is the one? I've known many rich men, but he is the only millionaire I've met. She used to work in advertising, but her job is in journalism. ignore (deliberately take no notice of, pay no attention to) not know His speech was interrupted by loud shouts but he wisely decided to them and carry on How can you Well, if you to you your teacher's name? You see her every day! my warnings, | cannot be responsible for what happens