List of 54 False Friends in English and Russian

English Word Russian Mistake Correct Meaning + Example

Abort Аборт Прерывать, прекращать

(abortion) This website contains malware.
Please abort connection!

Accord Аккорд Согласие

(chord) The political rivals managed to reach
an accord.

Accurate Аккуратный Точный, меткий

(tidy, smart) Are these financial statistics accurate?

Actual Актуальный Фактический, реальный

(urgent, topical) There was a minor car accident, but with
no actual damage.

Alley Аллея Узкий проход, переулок

(avenue, lane) I heard two cats fighting in the alley last
night.

Angina Ангина Стенокардия

(tonsillitis) The patient had high blood pressure and
suffered from angina.

Artist Артист Художник

 (actor/actress) Turner is my favourite British artist.

Auditorium Аудитория Зал

(audience) The university students packed into
the auditorium for the lecture.

Balloon Баллон Воздушный шарик

(cylinder, container) Little Lucy loved her big red balloon!

Band Банда Муз. Группа, лента

(gang, mob) Do you know any good Russian
rock bands?

Biscuit Бисквит Печенье

(sponge cake) I usually have a chocolate biscuit with my
tea.

Bog Бог Болота

(God) Our walk will take us through a bog so
you’ll need good boots.

Brilliant Бриллиант Отличный, блестящий

(diamond) John is a brilliant footballer!

Cabinet Кабинет 1. Шкафчик

(study, office) One of our kitchen cabinets is falling off
the wall so we need to fix it.

2. кабинет министров, правительство

 As president he holds the reins of power,
including the power of appointing the
Cabinet.

Camera Камера Фотоаппарат

(cell, chamber) Remember to take your best camera on
holiday!

Carton Картон Картонная упаковка

(cardboard) If you’re going to the shop, can you get me
a carton of milk?

Check (BrEn.) Чек Проверить, проверка

(BrEn. receipt, We need to check your ID before you can
AmEn. check) enter the building.

Chef Шеф Шеф-повар

(boss, manager) The new restaurant in town has a world-
class chef.

Clay Клей Глина

(glue) My daughter made some clay models at
school today.

Concourse Конкурс Общий зал, стечение народа

(competition, There are plans to build a
contest) large concourse at the train station.
Data Дата Данные
(date) How do you protect your
personal data online?

Decade Декада Десятилетие

(10 days) My Russian uncle (Vanya!) has lived in
America for almost a decade.

Decoration Декорация Украшение

(set design, decor) Do we need to buy more decorations for
the Xmas tree this year?

Fabric Фабрика Ткань

(factory, plant) I need some more pieces of fabric to
finish the quilt I’m making.

Family Фамилия Семья

(surname) My wife and I would like to start a family,
but we need to buy a house first.

Fart Фарт Пукать

(luck) That guy is as popular as a fart in a lift!

Focus Фокус Сконцентрировать, центр внимания,

(magic trick) уклон
What’s the main focus of your university
dissertation.

Gym(nasium) Гимназия Спортзал

(grammar school) I’m off to the gym tonight. You fancy
 coming?

Insult Инсульт Оскорбление

(stroke) The boss calls everyone an idiot so I
wouldn’t take it as an insult.

Intelligence Интеллигенция 1. Ум, интеллект

(intelligentsia) What do you like best in a man
– intelligence or good looks?

2. развед информация, сведения

секретного характера

They received intelligence (reports) that

the factory was a target for the bombing.

3. разведывательная служба

CIA - Central Intelligence Agency

Intelligent Интеллигентный Умный

(cultured) John’s a nice guy, but he’s not
very intelligent.

List Лист Список

(leaf, sheet, piece) We keep a shopping list on our fridge so
we don’t forget anything.

Lunatic Лунатик Сумасшедший, безумец

(sleepwalker) My ex girlfriend’s a lunatic! She keeps a
pet tortoise in her bed!
Magazine Магазин Журнал
(shop) I buy a computing magazine once a
month via an online subscription.

Marmalade Мармелад Апельсиновый джем

(fruit jellies) Thick-cut English marmalade is delicious
on buttered toast!

Mark Марка Метка, пятно, оценка

(stamp) Did you get a good mark on your
geography test at school today?

Multiplication Мультипликация Размножение, умножение

(animation) We had to learn basic multiplication in
our primary school maths lessons.

Obligation Облигация Гарантия, обязательство

(bond) Every parent has an obligation to take
good care of their child.

Operator Оператор Механик, радист, телефонист

(cameraman) The ship’s captain told the
radio operator to send out an SOS
message.

Physique Физик Телосложение

(physicist) The boxer had a muscular physique and
quick feet.

Prospect Проспект Перспектива

 (avenue) The boss loves Mary’s work so her
career prospects look good.

Pretend Претендовать Делать вид, притворяться

(try to get) You don’t have to pretend to like my cake!
I can’t even eat it myself!

Realise Реализовать Понимать, осознавать

(implement) I know you’ve been with Ben a long time,
but I didn’t realise you two were married!

Recipe Рецепт Кулинарный рецепт

(prescription) I found a fantastic cake recipe on the BBC
Food website.

Resin Резина Смола

(rubber) Amber is fossilised tree resin that is used
to make jewellery.

Smoking Смокинг Курение

(dinner jacket, Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the
tuxedo) building.

Stool Стул Табуретка

(chair) The tables were all taken so I sat on
a stool at the bar and waited.

Sympathy Симпатия Сочувствие, сострадание

(a liking for) I have no sympathy for murderers. They
 deserve the harshest punishment.

Talon Талон Коготь

(coupon) The Golden Eagle caught the fish in
its talons.

Trap Трап Капкан, ловушка

(gangway, ladder) I set a trap for my dad with a water pistol
and a piece of string!

Troop Труп Отряд, pl. войска

(corpse) The US is tracking troop movements on
the border.

Velvet Вельвет Бархат

(corduroy) She wore a black velvet dress to the
evening party.

Virtuous Виртуозный Целомудренный

(masterly) A priest should be both wise and virtuous.