Language and culture experts emphasise the importance of being mindful of certain tricky words that sound similar across languages but hold entirely different meanings. These so-called ‘false friends’ can easily lead to awkward or humorous situations when learning a new language. The term ‘false friends’ originates from the French phrase ‘faux amis’ and refers to words that appear to have a straightforward translation into another language but can create confusion or embarrassment instead. These misunderstandings often arise in languages with shared linguistic roots, such as German and English, which frequently borrow terms from one another.
When learning a new language, it’s easy to stumble over these deceptive words and unintentionally say something that may sound funny or even inappropriate to native speakers. The best way to avoid such mishaps is to familiarise yourself with commonly confusing terms and their actual meanings in the language you’re learning. However, it’s worth remembering that making mistakes is part of the process and can even lead to amusing stories.
Here are some examples of false friends to watch out for:
Embarrassed or Pregnant?
Imagine an English speaker on a date with a Spanish person, trying to impress by speaking Spanish. They accidentally spill a drink and say, “Estoy embarazada,” intending to express their embarrassment. Instead, they’ve just announced they’re pregnant, much to the shock of their date.
You Are What You Eat
In German, the word ‘bekommen’ means ‘to get.’ So, when a German diner says, “I want to become a steak,” they simply mean they’d like to have one, not that they’re contemplating a transformation into meat!
Living Like Royalty
When an Italian friend describes their home as a palace, they might mean a simple building, as ‘palazzo’ in Italian translates to a building, not a royal residence. Keep that in mind when imagining their living situation!
Rare or Strange?
In English, being called rare is a compliment, but in Spanish, ‘raro/rara’ means strange. If you want to tell a Spanish-speaking friend they’re unique, use the word ‘especial’ instead.
From Compromise to Commitment
If someone says they’d like to make a compromise in Portuguese, they might accidentally say ‘compromisso,’ which actually means commitment. Such misunderstandings can lead to confusing or amusing exchanges.
Care Home or Asylum?
An Italian speaker might tell you they picked up their kids from the ‘asilo,’ which means nursery school in Italian but could be mistaken for asylum in English.
Complaining About Grandchildren
A German learner might try to lament about their painful ankle but accidentally complain about their grandchild, as ‘Enkel’ in German means grandchild, not ankle.
Learning a language involves many challenges, and false friends are one of the trickiest to navigate. By staying aware of these pitfalls, learners can avoid awkward situations and enjoy the process of mastering a new language.