False Friends
Lerne häufige False Friends im Englischen kennen: Wörter, die beim Sprechen und Schreiben oft verwechselt werden. Verbessere dein Englisch mit Beispielen, Erklärungen und Übungen zu falschen Freunden wie 'sensible' und 'sponsorgiftig'.
Learn common false friends in English: words that are easily confused in speech and writing. Enhance your English with examples, explanations, and exercises featuring tricky pairs like 'sensible' and 'sponsorgiftig'.
False friends are pairs of words in two languages that look or sound similar but differ significantly in meaning, so relying on them can lead to amusing or embarrassing mistakes. This guide highlights common false friends between English and other languages, explaining the true meanings and giving safe alternatives.
Actual
English actual means real or true, while Spanish actual means current or present; use real for actual in Spanish.
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Library
English library is a place to borrow books, but French librairie is a bookstore; use bibliothèque in French for library.
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Assist
English assist means to help, but Spanish asistir usually means to attend; use ayudar for help and asistir a for attend.
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Eventual
English eventual means possible or depending on an event, while Spanish eventual often means temporary; use posible for eventual in Spanish.
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Resume
English resume is a summary of qualifications, but French résumé means summary and Spanish resumen means summary too; use currículum or CV in Spanish for resume.
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Fabric
English fabric is material for sewing, whereas French fabrique and Spanish fábrica mean factory; use tissu in French and tela in Spanish for fabric.
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Attend
English attend means to be present, while false friends like Spanish atender mean to assist or pay attention; use asistir a for attend in Spanish.
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Comprehensive
English comprehensive means thorough or complete, but false friends like Spanish comprensivo mean understanding; use completo or detallado for comprehensive.
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Sensible
English sensible means reasonable, while Spanish sensible means sensitive; use sensato for sensible in Spanish.
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Eventually
English eventually means in the end, but false friends like Spanish eventualmente can mean possibly; use finalmente for eventually.
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Example
- Spanish: Puede ocurrir eventualmente.
- English: It could happen possibly (not eventually).
Summary
False friends trick learners when similar-looking words differ in meaning across languages; double-check key terms like actual/actual, library/librairie, assist/asistir, and sensible/sensato to avoid slip-ups.
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