French false friends
French and English share thousands of words thanks to the Norman Conquest, but the meanings often slid apart. Watch out for these classic faux amis.
Quick quiz
6 questions — pick the meaning that’s actually correct.
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- actuellementAdverb/ak.tɥɛl.mɑ̃/
Looks like: actually
Means: currently, at present - librairieNoun/li.bʁɛ.ʁi/
Looks like: library
Means: bookshop - sensibleAdjective/sɑ̃.sibl/
Looks like: sensible
Means: sensitive - monnaieNoun/mɔ.nɛ/
Looks like: money
Means: change (coins) - resterVerb/ʁɛs.te/
Looks like: to rest
Means: to stay, remain - coinNoun/kwɛ̃/
Looks like: coin
Means: corner
4 more advanced false friends
Unlock the trickier French false friends, audio drills and the full quiz pool with SPEAKZY Pro.
- préservatif
- assister
- blesser
- raisin
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Frequently asked questions
What are false friends in French?+
False friends are French words that look or sound like English words but mean something completely different — a major source of beginner mistakes.
What's the most common French false friend?+
The list above shows the false friends learners trip on most often, with the real meaning, an explanation of the mistake, and example sentences.
How do I avoid false friend mistakes in French?+
Learn the real meaning alongside the trap meaning, see the word in context, and practise it out loud. SPEAKZY drills tricky vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Avoid common mistakes with SPEAKZY
Bite-sized lessons, real conversations and spaced repetition — built so false friends never trip you up again.
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