French · Rung 14 of 26

False friends

French and English share so much Latin that the resemblance becomes a trap. The ones that cost most: actuellement is “currently”, not “actually” (that is en fait); éventuellement is “possibly”, not “eventually” (finalement); sensible means “sensitive”, not “sensible” (raisonnable); large means “wide”, not “large” (grand); assister à is to attend, not to assist; attendre is to wait, not to attend; demander is to ask, not to demand; rester is to stay, not to rest; a librairie is a bookshop, not a library (bibliothèque); and a journée is a whole day, not a journey. The practical rule: when a word looks too familiar and fits too neatly, check it.

Where this sits

Comes after
A1 vocabulary

Exercises from this rung

Generated by the app, from easiest to hardest

  1. Je reste à la maison.

    • I'm staying at home
    • The rest of the bill
    • I'm resting at home
    • I'm going back home

    Why rester is to stay, not to rest. To rest is se reposer. The resemblance to “rest” catches nearly everyone.

    easier

  2. Elle est embarrassée.

    • She is packed up
    • She is pregnant
    • She is angry
    • She is in a fix

    Why être embarrassée is to be awkward or in a fix — close to English “embarrassed”, but with more of “encumbered” in it. Pregnant is enceinte.

    in between

  3. J'ai assisté à la réunion.

    • I attended the meeting
    • I chaired the meeting
    • I helped at the meeting
    • I insisted at the meeting

    Why assister à is to attend, to be present. To assist is aider. English readers fall for this one constantly.

    harder