False Friends

Aktuell means "current" or "up-to-date," not "actual." Use it for news or recent developments. For "actual" in the sense of real or precise, use tatsächlich or wirklich.

In German, Billion is a trillion (10¹²), not a billion (10⁹). A billion is Milliarde. Mixing these up can hugely distort numbers in finance or reports.

Brav means well-behaved or obedient, often used for children or animals, not "brave." For courageous use mutig. Using brav for a person who faces danger sounds odd.

Sensibel means sensitive in the sense of easily affected or perceptive, not necessarily considerate. For "sensible" as reasonable use vernünftig. Confusing these changes the tone when describing someone.

Gift in German means poison, not a present. A gift is Geschenk. Saying Gift when you mean Geschenk can cause alarm or jokes. Use Gift only for toxic substances.

Name in German usually refers to the family name or surname. The first name is Vorname. Asking for a Name at registration typically expects the last name. Use Vorname to get the given name.

Rat means advice or counsel, not a rodent. A rat (the animal) is Ratte. Asking for Rat implies you want recommendations, not an animal. Use Rat for guidance.

Event is used in German for a planned occasion or happening, often larger or commercial. For a general or small event, Veranstaltung or Ereignis might fit better. Event carries a somewhat marketing tone.

False friends sneak in when similar-looking words have different meanings in each language. Pay attention to examples like aktuell, Gift, Rat and practice using the correct German term for the intended sense.