French Accentby Maxime
Learning French can feel like discovering a world full of familiar faces. Many French words resemble English words you already know—which is great... until one of these false friends turns out to mean something completely different! These tricky linguistic twins are called false friends, and they have tripped up more than a few learners, even the most attentive ones. So, when it happens to you, don’t hesitate to laugh—it will help you remember the mistake for next time.
Imagine this: you’re in a Parisian café, chatting with a French friend. Wanting to impress them with your new language skills, you confidently say: "Je suis actuellement très excité pour le week-end." Suddenly, your friend laughs, and you realize that you just said something very different from "Actually, I’m very excited for the weekend. " Oops! You’ve just encountered a classic French-English false friend.
Again, don’t worry—making mistakes like these is part of the learning process (and they often make for funny stories later!). As a French teacher, I’ve seen many students stumble over these false friends, and as an English learner myself, I’ve made my fair share of these mistakes too. The good news is that once you’re aware of them, you can avoid confusion—and even have fun with them.
In this short guide, we’ll go over 8 common false friends that you need to know so that your French conversations don’t take an unexpectedly funny turn. Why 8? Let’s just say it’s a good starting point, and these eight false friends cause the most confusion for English speakers learning French. (By the way, these are exactly the kinds of things we can discuss in my French conversation lessons and because I’m nice, the first half-hour is free 😉.) To book your lesson, click here.
Ready to turn these "faux amis " into true learning allies? Let’s go!
In French, "actuellement" does not mean "actually" (that would be "en fait"). Instead, it means "currently" or "at the moment".
For example, saying "Actuellement, je travaille" may look like "Actually, I’m working", but a French speaker understands it as "Currently, I’m working."
If you want to say "actually" to correct or emphasize something, use expressions like "en fait" or "en réalité".
This one is tricky because "attendre" looks a lot like "attend". But in French, "attendre" means "to wait", not "to attend" (which means going to an event or class).
If you say "J’attends un cours de français" thinking it means "I’m attending a French class", you are actually saying "I’m waiting for a French class."
To say "to attend" in French, use "assister à"
or simply "aller à":
✔J’assiste à un cours de français.
(I’m attending a French class.)
✔ Je vais à un cours de français.
(I’m going to a French class.)
As mentioned above, "assister" means "to attend, "but in some cases, it can also mean "to provide assistance in a task."
For example:
✔ Il assiste la directrice dans son travail. (He assists the director in her work.) → Here, it’s not just occasional help, but an active support role.
This nuance is important because, in practice, it is quite different from "to assist, "which is often better translated as "aider" since it is a more general verb. "Assister" often implies more formal or professional support.
✔ Peux-tu m’aider ? (Can you assist/help me?) → In a casual context, "aider" is the more natural choice.
This false friend can really trick you! "Éventuellement" in French means "possibly" or "maybe, if necessary", not "eventually" as in "sooner or later."
If you say "Je vais éventuellement apprendre le piano" ,it means "I might learn piano (possibly, at some point). ", not "I’ll eventually learn piano."
To say "eventually" in French (meaning "at some point in the future"), use "finalement" or expressions like "un jour" (one day).
Going into a librairie thinking you can borrow books is a common mistake. In French, "une librairie" is a bookstore, not a library!
If you say "Je cherche la librairie", you will be directed to the nearest bookstore (where you buy books), not a place to borrow them.
The French word for library is "bibliothèque".
✔ Je vais à la bibliothèque pour emprunter un livre. (I’m going to the library to borrow a book.)
This one is a real "evil twin" because "sensible" is spelled the same way in both languages, but its meaning changes!
In French, "sensible" means "sensitive" (emotional, easily affected). It does not mean "logical". In English, "sensible" conveys the idea of common sense or rationality.
✔ Mon ami est très sensible.
(My friend is very sensitive.)
✔ Mon ami est très raisonnable.
(My friend is very sensible.)
Be careful with this one—it can lead to embarrassing misunderstandings!
In French, saying "Je suis excité(e)" does not generally mean "I’m excited" in the innocent sense. It often implies "sexually aroused" or an excessive level of agitation.
✔ J’ai hâte de te voir ! (I’m excited to see you!)
✔ Je suis impatient(e) de... (I can’t wait to...)
✔ Je suis très enthousiaste à l’idée de...
(I’m very enthusiastic about...)
This one has caused many awkward moments at the supermarket!
👉 In French, "un préservatif" means "a condom," not "a preservative."
If you say, "Je mange bio, sans préservatifs," you are actually announcing that you eat organic without... condoms. 😅
The correct word for "preservative" in French is "conservateur."
Congratulations! You’ve now discovered these eight tricky false friends. Now, you’re better equipped to avoid misunderstandings.
If you want to take your learning further and stop falling into these traps, why not try a one-on-one French lesson with me? The first half-hour is free —a great way to improve quickly and confidently.
See you soon in class! 😊