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List of false friends
See false cognate, false friend, list of words, list of reference tables
A
Examples of false friends between English and other languages
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| a (French)
| a
| (he/she/it) has
| un, une
|
| a (Hungarian)
| a
| the
| egy
|
| abbé (French)
| abbey
| priest or abbot
|
| accuser (French)
| accuse
| can mean "to acknowledge" (accuser réception = acknowledge receipt), although it means "accuse" in most cases
|
actual (Romanian)
actual (Spanish)
actueel (Dutch)
aktuala (Esperanto)
actuel (French)
aktuell (German) and (Norwegian)
aktualny (Polish)
aktuelan (Serbian)
attuale (Italian)
atual (Portuguese)
| actual
| current
| real, verdadero/a, efectivo (Spanish)
reale, vero/a, effettivo (Italian)
virkelig, faktisk, reel (Norwegian)
|
adepte (French)
adept (Romanian)
adept (Polish)
adepto (Portuguese)
adepto (Spanish)
| adept (proficient)
| follower
| experto, hábil (Spanish)
|
| administré (French)
| administered
| citizen (as seen from an elected official; old-fashioned)
user of a public administration (old-fashioned)
may also mean "administered"
|
| ado (French)
| ado (fuss)
| short for adolescent
|
advertęncia (Portuguese)
advertencia (Spanish)
avertissement (French)
avertisment (Romanian)
avvertenza (Italian)
| advertisement
| warning
| anuncio (Spanish)
pubblicitā (Italian)
|
affluent (French)
afluent (Romanian)
afluente (Spanish)
affluente (Italian)
| affluent (wealthy)
| tributary (of a river) [effluent]
| rico, adinerado (Spanish)
ricco, abbiente, facoltoso (Italian)
|
| After (German)
| after
| anus
| nach
|
| affettare (Italian)
| affect
| slice
| fare effetto su, influenzare, influire
|
| agencé (French)
| agency
| laid out or arranged
|
agent (French)
agente (Spanish)
| agent
| officer, police officer, agent
|
| ail (French)
| ail (sicken)
| garlic
|
| aimer (French)
| to aim
| to love or to like
|
| aire (French)
| air
| area (mathematics)
|
| alas (Finnish)
| alas!
| down (direction)
| ikävä kyllä, valitettavasti
|
| ale (Finnish)
| ale (pronounced [eil])
| short for alennus "discount" in alennusmyynti "discount sale"
| ale-olut [eil olut]
|
| allegare (Italian)
| (to) allege
| enclose, attach (as in documents)
| dichiarare, affermare, asserire
|
| alerte (French)
| alert
| agile, alert
|
| also (German)
| also
| thus
| auch
|
| allure (French)
| allure (the power to attract)
| speed, bearing; allure
|
| alto (French)
| alto (singer)
| viola, alto (singer)
|
| alto (Italian, Portuguese and Spanish)
| alto (singer)
| high; in Spanish it can also mean "stop!" (imperative)
|
| ampua (Finnish)
| to amputate
| to shoot
| amputoida
|
| an (Latin)
| an, or perhaps on when read
| or
|
ananas (French, Finnish, Italian, Romanian, Hebrew, Norwegian and Serbian)
Ananas (German)
Ananás (Portuguese)
| bananas
| pineapple
| banaani (Finnish), Banane (German), banan (Norwegian)
|
| ancien (French)
| ancient
| can mean very old but often means just former, ex-
|
anciano (Spanish)
anziano (Italian)
| ancient
| very old, elderly person, can be ascribed to a person without negative connotation
| antiguo (Spanish)
antico (Italian)
|
| ankara (Finnish)
| Ankara
| strict
|
| ânon (French)
| anon (short for anonymous)
| baby donkey
|
| anser (Latin)
| answer
| goose
|
| anus (Latin)
| anus
| old woman
|
apologie (French)
apologie (Romanian)
apología (Spanish)
apologia (Italian and Portuguese)
| apology
| praise, vindication
| disculpa (Spanish)
scusa (Italian)
|
| appoint (French)
| appoint
| (extra) contribution or help
|
apontar (Portuguese)
apuntar (Spanish)
| appoint
| (to) aim; (to) note down; (to) button up; (to) point at
| nombrar (for "nominate" meaning) (Spanish)
|
| arc (French and Romanian)
| arc, ark
| bow (weapon), arc
|
| arm (German and Norwegian) (not used much in Norwegian)
| arm (body part)
| poor
|
arme (French)
arma (Spanish, Italian and Portuguese)
| arm (body part)
| weapon
| brazo (Spanish)
braccio (Italian)
|
| as (Spanish, Polish, Serbian and French)
| ass / as
| ace
| asno / como (adverb) (Spanish)
|
| asbestos (Greek)
| asbestos
| quicklime
|
| asia (Finnish)
| Asia
| errand, issue, matter, an abstract "thing"
| Aasia
|
| ask (Swedish)
| ask
| small box; ash (tree)
| fråga
|
| aß (German)
| ass
| ate
|
| assortie (French)
| assorted
| matched, matching
|
| assister (French)
asistir (Spanish)
assistere (Italian)
| assist
| attend (means both assist and attend in Italian and Spanish)
|
atendi (Esperanto)
attendere (Italian)
attendre (French)
| attend
| to wait for; to expect
|
| atender (Spanish)
| attend (an event)
| to attend to, to serve, to take care of
| asistir, presentarse a (Spanish)
|
| atomiki bomba (Greek)
| atomic bomb
| hand grenade
|
| aura (Finnish)
| aura
| plough
| sädekehä (a divine aura, halo)
|
B
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| Bad (German)
| bad
| bath
| schlecht (poor quality), böse (malicious)
|
| bald (German)
| bald
| soon
|
| barn (Swedish)
bairn (Scots)
| barn
| child, children
|
| beg (Manx)
| beg; big
| little
|
| bekommen (German)
| become
| obtain, receive, get (compare English "come by")
(Note: There is a joke to this in German: a German comes into a British restaurant and waits half an hour for his food. Finally, he asks the waiter: "When shall I become my steak?" "I should hope never, sir."
| werden
|
| beraten (German)
| berate
| advise, discuss
|
| big (Dutch)
| big
| piglet
|
bilion (Romanian, Serbian)
bilione (Italian)
biljon (Swedish)
Billion (German)
billion (French and Norwegian)
billón (Spanish)
| billion
| 'Trillion' (1012 or million million) - see billion.
| miljard (Swedish), milliard (Norwegian)
|
| blesser (French)
| (to) bless
| (to) injure
|
bloc (Spanish)
Block (German)
blok (Serbian)
block (Swedish)
blokk (Norwegian)
| block
| can mean note pad
|
| boleta (Spanish)
| bullet
| admission ticket
|
| bond (French)
| bond
| leap, bound
|
| brancher (French)
| branch
| (to) be plugged in, (to) be cool (colloq.)
|
brand (Swedish, Dutch)
Brand (German)
| brand
| fire (the emergency)
|
| bras (French)
| bra(ssiere)s
| arm (the body part)
|
brat (брат) (Russian, Serbian)
brat (Polish)
| brat
| brother
|
brav (German)
bravo/a (Italian)
braaf (Dutch)
| brave
| well-behaved
| mutig (German)
coraggioso (Italian)
|
| Brief (Dutch, German)
| brief
| letter (mail)
| kurz
|
| brushing (French)
| to brush
| a blow-dry (hairdresser's)
|
| brutaal (Dutch)
| brutal
| bold
|
| Bulle (German)
| bull
| cop
| Stier
|
| bulle (Swedish)
| bull
| bun (pastry)
| ox
|
C
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| calzķn / calzones (Spanish), calzone / calzoni (Italian), caleįon (French)
| calzone
| underwear (of course calzone comes from Italian, but in that language the main use of the word is for underwear)
|
| canto (Latin, Italian and Spanish)
| canto
| I sing; in Spanish, can also mean pebble, edge, or piece
|
| car (French)
| car
| bus or coach; because
|
| Car (German)
| car
| charter bus, motor coach
| Auto, Wagen
|
| car (Romanian)
| car
| I carry
|
| car (Polish)
| car
| tsar
|
carácter (Spanish)
carattere (Italian)
caractčre (French)
| character
| temperament; can also mean "character" in the typographic meaning
|
| carpeta (Spanish)
| carpet
| folder
| alfombra, alfombrilla
|
| casino (Italian)
| casino
| brothel
| casinō
|
| casualmente (Spanish, Italian and Portuguese)
| casually
| fortuitously
| despreocupadamente, con aire de indiferencia (Spanish)
con nonchalance, in modo disinvolto (Italian)
|
casualidad (Spanish)
casualitā (Italian)
| casualty
| fortuituousness, chance
| víctima, muerto, herido, baja, pérdida (Spanish)
vittima, morto, ferito, infortunato, perdita (Italian)
|
caution (French)
cauzione (Italian)
| caution
| deposit, bail
| attenzione, cautela (Italian)
|
| chair (French)
| chair
| flesh
|
| champignon (French), champiņķn (Spanish)
| champion
| mushroom or champignon
|
| chance (French)
| chance
| luck
|
| chat (French)
| chat (conversation)
| cat
|
chef (French)
Chef (German)
szef (Polish)
šef (Serbian)
sjef (Norwegian)
| chef
| boss (in French, occasionally means "cook" or "head cook")
| kokk (Norwegian)
|
| cognato (Italian)
| cognate
| brother-in-law
|
| coin (French)
| coin
| corner
|
| come (Spanish)
| come
| eat
|
| compromiso (Spanish)
| compromise
| commitment
|
| constipado (Spanish)
| constipated
| someone who has a cold
| estreņido
|
| contesto (Italian)
| contest
| context
| gara, concorso, competizione (as a noun)
|
corne (French)
corno (Italian)
cuerno (Spanish)
| corn
| horn
| mais, granturco (grain) (Italian)
maíz (grain) (Spanish)
|
crayon (French)
creion (Romanian)
| crayon
| pencil (a wax crayon is crayon de cire in French)
|
culte (French)
kult (Polish)
culto (Spanish)
| cult
| worship (as in lieu de culte = house of worship). In Spanish it can also mean "educated".
|
| culo (Spanish and Italian)
| cool
| arse
| fresco (Spanish and Italian)
|
D
E
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| egg (Swedish and Norwegian)
| egg
| edge of a cutting tool, such as knife edge
| ägg
(egg also means egg in Norwegian)
|
| ego (Latin)
| ego
| I
|
| eleven (Spanish)
| eleven
| elevate! (imperative tense)
| once
|
| eleven (Hungarian)
| eleven
| the living
| tizenegy
|
| elev, eleven (Norwegian)
| eleven
| student
| elleve
|
| empirer (French)
| empire
| to become worse
|
| europé (Swedish)
| Europe
| European person
| Europa
|
angajat (Romanian)
engagerad (Swedish)
| engaged
| considered or involved in something in Swedish; involved or employed in Romanian
|
| embarazada (Spanish)
| embarrassed
| pregnant
| avergonzado/a
|
| intitolare (Italian)
| entitle
| (to) title, call, give a name
| dare diritto a
|
| entrée (French)
| entrée, main dish
| entrance, entry, or appetizer
|
| equanimitā (Italian)
| equanimity
| impartiality
| equilibrio, serenitā
|
| equivocare (Italian)
| equivocate
| misunderstand
| raggirare (verbalmente)
|
| estate(Italian)
| estate
| summer
| patrimonio
|
etichetă (Romanian)
etichetta (Italian)
etiket (Dutch)
Etiketa (Serbian)
Etikett (German)
etikett (Norwegian)
etiqueta (Spanish)
étiquette (French)
etiketti (Finnish)
| etiquette
| label (can also mean etiquette in Finnish, French, Spanish or Serbian, but is mostly used as label)
| etikette, skikk og bruk (Norwegian)
|
eventual (Romanian)
eventualmente (Spanish and Italian)
eventueel (Dutch)
eventuell (German, Norwegian and Swedish)
éventuellement (French)
| eventually
| maybe, perhaps, possibly
|
| esile (Italian)
| exile
| slender, thin; weak
| esilio (the state); esule, esiliato (the person)
|
| éxito (Spanish)
| exit
| success
|
F
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
fabbrica (Italian)
fabrică (Romanian)
fábrica (Spanish)
fabriek (Dutch)
Fabrik (German)
fabrik (Swedish)
fabrikk (Norwegian)
fabrika (Serbian)
fabryka (Polish)
fabrique (French)
| fabric
| factory (compare 'fabricate') Possible origin due to large Victorian factories producing woven fabric.
| tela, tejido (Spanish)
stoffa, tessuto (Italian)
stoff, tøy (Norwegian)
|
facilidad (Spanish)
facilité (French)
facilitā (Italian)
| facility
| ease
|
| fack (Swedish)
| fuck
| deposit box
| knulla (verb), fan (swear word)
|
fagotto (Italian)
fagot (Spanish)
Fagott (German)
fagotti (Finnish)
| faggot
| bassoon
|
Fahrt (German)
vaart (Dutch)
| fart
| German: journey; speed; trip, excursion, voyage
Dutch: similar, but only used for ships, also canal
| German: Furz, furzen
|
| fakkiutua (Finnish)
| fuck [fak]
| "overspecialize" (from Swedish infack, a cognate to archaic English fac "trade, profession")
| vittu (swear word), naida (literal)
|
| Falle (German)
| fall
| trap
|
| familiär (German)
| familiar
| familial
|
| familiares (Spanish)
| familiar
| relatives, kin
| (adj.) conocido, familiar
|
| familiya (фамилия) (Russian)
| family
| surname
|
fan (Swedish)
faen (Norwegian)
| fan
| fuck (swear word)
| vifte (e.g. electric fan) (Norwegian)
|
| far (French)
| far
| a kind of dessert from Brittany
|
| far (Romanian)
| far
| lighthouse
|
| far (Swedish and Norwegian)
| far
| father
|
| fart (Swedish and Norwegian)
| fart
| speed
| fjert, fis (Norwegian)
|
| fart (Polish)
| fart
| luck
|
| fast (German)
| fast
| nearly, almost
| schnell
|
| fast (Swedish and Norwegian)
| fast
| firm, steady (compare "steadfast")
| snabb (Swedish)
hurtig, rask, kvikk (Norwegian)
|
| fat (Swedish and Norwegian)
| fat
| (dinner) plate
| fet (Norwegian)
|
| fat (發) (Cantonese)
| fat
| to exhibit; to distribute; prosperity (used in conjunction with 財, as in gong hei fat choi)
|
| fattoria (Italian)
| factory
| farm
| fabbrica
|
| file (French)
| file
| line; queue (in computing)
|
| fin (Spanish)
| fin
| end
| aleta
|
| final (Romanian)
| finally (as in "at last")
| at the end (as in "finish")
|
| flint (Swedish)
| flint
| bald head
|
| four (French)
| four
| oven
| quatre
|
| for (Esperanto)
| for
| away
|
| foresto (Esperanto)
| forest
| absence
|
fort (French)
forte (Italian)
| fort
| strong (but can also mean fort)
|
| full (Swedish and Norwegian)
| full
| drunk, pissed, wasted
| fylld (Swedish)
oppfylt (Norwegian)
|
G
H
I
J
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| juntta (Finnish)
| junta [hunta]
| pile driver, ramming machine
| sotilasjuntta
|
| juu (Finnish)
| you [juu]
| yeah
| sinä (singular), te (plural or polite)
|
K
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| kau (German)
| cow (phonetic false cognate)
| chew
| Kuh
|
| Kaution (German)
| caution
| deposit, bail
| Vorsicht
|
| kabinet (кабинет) (Russian)
| cabinet
| office
|
| kamppi (Finnish)
| camp
| tripping up
Kamppi (district in Helsinki)
| leiri
|
| kanto (Finnish)
| canto
| treestump
|
| kedr (Кедр) (Russian)
| cedar
| Siberian Pine
|
| ken (Finnish)
| ken (Scottish dialect)
| who (archaic)
| tietää, tuntea
|
| kid (Swedish)
| kid (baby goat, child)
| fawn
|
killa (Swedish)
kile (Norwegian)
| kill, killer
| tickle, scratch
| döda, dödare (Swedish)
drepe, drapsmann (Norwegian)
|
| killinki (Finnish)
| killing
| farthing, coin (cf. "shilling")
| tappo, tappaminen
|
| Kind (German)
| kind
| child
|
| kind (Swedish)
| kind
| cheek
|
| king (Estonian)
| king
| shoe
|
| Kinn (German)
| kin
| chin
|
| kinn (Norwegian)
| kin
| cheek
|
| kis (Hungarian)
| kiss
| small
|
| kissa (Finnish)
| kiss
| cat
| suudella (verb), suudelma (noun)
|
| kissa (Swedish)
| kiss
| urinate
| kyssa
|
| kit (Hungarian)
| kit
| whom
|
| koi (Finnish)
| coy /koi/
| moth; dawn
| kaino
|
kontroll (Swedish and Norwegian)
kontrollieren (German)
| control
| check, examine
|
| korn (Swedish)
| corn
| barley
|
Kraft (German)
kraft (Swedish and Norwegian)
| craft
| power, strength
|
| kreatur (Swedish)
| creature
| cattle
|
| Kritik (German)
| critic
| criticism, review
| Kritiker
|
| kropp (Swedish and Norwegian)
| crop
| body, mathematical field
|
| kut (Dutch)
| cut
| cunt (vulgar)
|
| kult (Norwegian)
| cult
| (to be) cool
| sekt (kult also means cult in Norwegian)
|
| kuula, koolaus (Finnish)
| cool [kuul], cooling
| kuula: bullet; (of granules) pellet, ball
koolaus: studwork (in construction)
|
| känni (Finnish)
| canny /käni/
| (the experience of) drunkenness
| kiero, taitava
|
L
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| lack (Swedish), lakka (Finnish), lakk (Norwegian)
| lack
| lacquer
|
| lakki (Finnish)
| lack
| hat, cap (the clothing accessory)
| puute, -ttomuus/-ttömyys
|
| lammas (Finnish)
| Lammas
| sheep
|
lappu (Finnish)
Lapp (numerous languages)
| lap
| slip, tag, label, patch
("Lapp" or Finnish "lappalainen" is also a politically incorrect xenonym for the Sámi, suggesting they are bums in patched clothes.)
| syli
|
Last (German)
last (Swedish, Norwegian and Dutch)
lasti (Finnish)
| last
| load, burden
| letzer /-e /-es (German)
sist (Swedish and Norwegian)
viimeinen, viimeise- (Finnish)
|
| leg (Swedish and Norwegian)
| leg
| ID, identification papers (short for "legitimation")
| ben
|
librería (Spanish)
libreria (Italian)
| library
| bookstore
| biblioteca (Spanish) and (Italian)
|
| lime (French)
| lime
| file (the tool)
|
| Limo (German)
| limo
| soft drink, lemonade
|
| limpa (Swedish)
| limp
| loaf (bread), carton of cigarette packages
|
| limppa (Finnish)
| limp
| short for "limonadi", lemonade
| rampa
|
| limppi (Finnish)
| limp
| lump
| rampa
|
List (German)
list (Swedish, Norwegian and Dutch)
| list
| cunning, artfulness, ruse
| Liste (German), lista (Swedish), liste (Norwegian)
|
| list (лист) (Russian)
| list
| leaf
|
| listiä (Finnish)
| to list
| bump off, (of insects) kill
| listata
|
| lokki (Finnish)
| lock
| seagull
| lukko
|
| lukki (Finnish)
| luck
| spider
| onni
|
| lul (Dutch)
| lull
| penis (vulgar)
|
| lump (Swedish language)
| lump
| discarded fabric, slang for mandatory military service
| klump
|
lujuria (Spanish)
lussuria (Italian)
luxure (French)
| luxury
| lust
|
Lust (German)
lust (Swedish)
| lust
| wish, intent
|
M
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| ma (מה) (Hebrew)
| ma (mother)
| what?
|
| ma (Italian)
| ma (mother)
| but
|
| maa (Finnish)
| ma (mother)
| earth, ground
| äiti
|
| made (Finnish)
| made
| burbot
| teki, tehnyt (subject); tehtiin, tehty (object)
|
magasin (French)
magazzino (Italian)
magazin (магазин) (Russian)
| magazine
| store, shop; also warehouse in Italian
| rivista (Italian)
|
| mai (مّي) (Arabic)
| my (/mai/)
| water
|
| main (French)
| main
| hand
|
| maine (Finnish)
| Maine
| reputation
|
| male (Italian)
| male
| evil (n.), bad, wicked, evil (adj.) (false cognate)
| maschio (n.); maschile (adj.)
|
| mama (Georgian)
| mother
| father
|
| manner (Finnish)
| manner
| continent
| tapa (noun)
|
| mansione (Italian)
| mansion
| task
| magione, casa signorile, palazzo
|
| mare (Italian)
| mare
| sea (false cognate)
| giumenta, cavalla
|
| Marmelade (German)
| marmalade
| jam
|
| mayim (מים) (Hebrew)
| mime
| water
|
| me (Finnish and Estonian)
| me /mii/
| we
| minua, minut (Finnish)
|
| me (麼) (Mandarin)
| me (phonetic false cognate: may)
| interrogative marker
|
| me (Sumerian)
| me (phonetic false cognate: may)
| (divine) aura
|
| mena (Swedish), meinen (German), mene (Norwegian)
| mean
| have an opinion
| betyda (Swedish), bedeuten (German), bety, mene (Norwegian)
|
| meni (Finnish)
| many (phonetic false cognate)
| went
| monta
|
| merci (French)
| mercy
| thank you
|
| meri (Finnish and Estonian)
| merry
| sea
|
| mi (מי) (Hebrew)
| me
| who?
|
| mi (Hungarian)
| me
| what?
|
mille (Italian and French)
Mille (German (slang))
mil (Spanish)
| million, mile
| thousand; also "mile" in French
|
| mille (Finnish)
| mill
| to what, to which
| mylly
|
| mis (Finnish)
| miss
| colloquial form of "where?"
| neiti (young woman); kaivata (wish to come back); mennä ohi (not hit)
|
miséricorde (French)
misericordia (Italian and Spanish)
| misery
| mercy, forgiveness
| desdicha, aflicciķn, sufrimiento, pena; estrechez, pobreza (Spanish)
infelicitā, tormento, sofferenza, pena; indigenza, povertā (Italian
|
| Mist (German)
| mist
| manure, droppings
|
| miting (Serbian)
| meeting
| political demonstration
|
Mode (German)
mode (Swedish, Dutch)
moda (Spanish and Italian)
| mode
| fashion, haute couture
|
moneda (Spanish)
moneta (Italian)
monnaie (French)
| money
| currency; also "coin" in Spanish and Italian, and "change" (returned from a purchase) in French
| dinero (Spanish)
soldi, denaro (Italian)
argent (French)
|
| morbido (Italian)
| morbid
| soft, delicate
| morboso, malsano
|
moroso (Spanish)
moroso (Italian)
| morose
| in arrears; (noun, fam., N. Italy) boyfriend, fiancé
| cupo, imbronciato, scontroso (Italian)
hosco, taciturno, intratable (Spanish)
|
| Mörder (German)
| murder
| murderer
| Mord
|
| mut (Finnish)
| mutt
| colloquial for "me" (telic)
| mopsi (polite); rakki, piski (rude)
|
| Mut (German)
| mutt
| courage
|
N
O
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
on (Polish)
on (Serbian)
| on
| he
|
| on (Finnish)
| on
| is
| -lla, -llä
|
| on (French)
| on
| nondescript subject (cf. passive "one")
| sur
|
| once (Spanish)
| once
| eleven
| una vez
|
| open (Finnish)
| open
| colloquial form of "of the teacher"
| auki (adverb), avoin (adjective), avata (verb)
|
| or (French)
| or
| gold, now (introducing second proposition of a syllogism)
| ou
|
| ostrica (Italian)
| ostrich
| oyster
| struzzo
|
| ours (French)
| ours
| a bear
|
P
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| paa (Finnish)
| pa (father)
| Colloquial for "put" (literal) or "have sex" (slang)
| isä (literal) or isi (childish)
|
| pain (French)
| pain
| bread
|
| paine; paini; paino (Finnish)
| pain
| pressure; wrestling; weight
| kipu
|
| pan (Spanish, Japanese)
| pan
| bread
| sartén (kitchen cookware)
|
| pan (Polish)
| pan
| sir, mister
|
| papa (Spanish)
| papa (slang) (father)
| potato (in American Spanish)
|
| parente (Italian)
| parent
| relative, member of kin
| genitore
|
| pateettinen (Finnish)
| pathetic
| high-flown (i.e. full of pathos)
| säälittävä
|
patetic (Romanian)
pathétique (French)
| pathetic
| emotional (in French, can also mean pathetic)
|
| pathetisch (German)
| pathetic
| solemn, lofty
|
| pavimento (Italian)
| pavement
| floor
|
| pennen (German)
| pen
| slang for "to sleep"
|
| perse (Finnish)
| per se (Latinism)
| arse, ass
| sinänsä
|
| pétulant (French)
| petulant
| playful
|
| pie (Spanish)
| pie
| foot
|
| pii (Finnish)
| π
| silicon the element, also archaic "tooth"
|
| pilli (Finnish)
| pill
| drinking straw
| pilleri
|
| pimppi (Finnish)
| pimp
| childish world for "female genitalia"
| parittaja, sutenööri
|
| pingouin (French)
| penguin
| auk
|
| poke (Finnish)
| poke /pouk/
| slang for "bouncer, doorman"
also, a contraction of "pornografia"
| tökätä, tökkiä
|
polizia (Italian)
policía (Spanish)
| policy
| police
| polizza (Italian)
pķliza (Spanish)
|
| pom (Romanian)
| Pommie, Pom
| Fruit bearing tree
|
pomm (Estonian)
pommi (Finnish)
| Pommie, Pom
| bomb
|
| pomme (French)
| Pommie, Pom (see Alternate words for British)
| apple
|
pregnant (Romanian, Swedish)
prägnant (German)
| pregnant
| short but informative; remarkable, prominent
|
preservativo (Spanish and Italian)
prezervativ (Romanian)
Präservativ (German)
prezerwatywa (Polish)
préservatif (French) (1)
| preservative
| condom; also "preservative" in Spanish
| conservante (Spanish and Italian)
|
pretendere (Italian)
pretender (Spanish)
| pretend
| aspire to, expect; (to) court (Spanish) / demand, require, claim (Italian)
| fingir, aparentar (Spanish)
fingere di essere, far finta di (Italian)
|
prick (Swedish)
prikk (Norwegian)
| prick
| dot, period
|
propaganda (Spanish)
| propaganda
| advertising
|
prospecto (Spanish)
prospetto (Italian)
prospect (Romanian)
Prospekt (German)
| prospect
| brochure, leaflet, prospectus
|
| prospekt (Swedish and Norwegian)
| prospect
| prospectus, document or brochure detailing an offer (usually from a travel agent)
|
| prospekt (проспект) (Russian)
| prospect
| avenue
|
proces (Romanian)
proces (Polish)
process (Swedish)
prosess (Norwegian)
Prozess (German)
| process
| trial (at court)/(in Swedish, Norwegian and German mainly used to denote process but also means trial)
|
| prune (French)
| prune
| plum
|
| pus (Finnish)
| pus
| onomatopoeia for a kiss
| visva
|
| pussi (Finnish)
| pussy
| bag
| for the genitals: emätin (biological), vittu (derogatory); for pussy cats: (kissi)mirri
|
| puu (Finnish)
| poo (phonetic false cognate)
| tree, wood
| kakka (childish), paska (rude)
|
Q
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| queue (French)
| queue
| tail
|
R
S
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| saikou (Japanese)
| psycho
| the best
|
| sake (Japanese)
| sake
| Japanese rice wine
|
| sale (French)
| sale
| dirty
|
| sale (Italian)
| sale
| salt
| vendita
|
| sale (Estonian)
| sale
| slender
|
| sale (Spanish)
| sale
| goes out
| venta
|
| Sale (Finnish)
| sale
| nickname for Sauli
| alennusmyynti, ale
|
| sale (Polish)
| sale
| rooms
|
| salivit (Latin)
| salivate
| he/she/it jumped
|
| salvaje (Spanish)
| salvage
| savage
| recuperar, salvar (v.)
|
| sanoma (Finnish)
| son of a... (phonetic false cognate)
| message
| ...n penikka
|
| scannare (Italian)
| scan
| to skin
| fare scansione, scannerizzare / esaminare attentamente (as in examine minutely)
|
| scope (Italian)
| scope
| brooms
| scopo, obiettivo (aim); gamma, raggio, estensione (range)
|
sechs (German)
sex (Swedish)
seks (Norwegian)
| sex
| six
|
| see (Estonian)
| see
| this, that
|
| -seksi, as a suffix (Finnish)
| sexy
| The suffix -nen in translative, e.g. Räikkönen -> Räikköseksi
| seksikäs
|
secte (French)
Sekte (German)
secta (Spanish)
sekta (Serbian)
| sect
| cult, sect
|
| See (German)
| see
| See (m.): lake; See (f): sea
| sehen (v.)
|
| Seite (German)
| site
| page
|
| Sekt (German)
| sect
| champagne, sparkling wine
|
| Sensation (German)
| sensation
| blowoff, scorcher
|
sensibel (German)
sensibile (Italian)
sensible (French and Spanish)
| sensible
| sensitive
|
| she (舌) (Mandarin)
| she
| tongue
|
| side (Finnish)
| side [said]
| bandage, bond, tie, blindfold
| puoli
|
| Sie (German)
| see
| you (formal), she, they
| sehen (v.)
|
siin (spoken Finnish)
siin (Estonian)
| seen
| there (also means "here" in Estonian)
| Finnish: nähnyt (subject), nähty (object)
|
| Sinn (German)
| sin
| sense, mind, meaning, acceptance, aesthesia, signification, tenor, appreciation
| Sünde
|
| sin (Serbian)
| sin
| son
|
| sin (Spanish)
| sin
| without
| pecado
|
| sin (Swedish and Norwegian)
| sin
| "one's own", genitive reflexive pronoun
| synd (both languages)
|
| sin (spoken Finnish)
| sin
| short for sinne, "into there"
| synti
|
| sissi (Finnish)
| sissy
| soldier on a special mission; guerrilla
| raukkis
|
| sit (spoken Finnish)
| sit
| then
| istua
|
| slang (Swedish)
| slang
| hose
| slang(språk), slang(ord)
|
Slip (German)
slip (Italian)
| slip (clothing)
| knickers, panties (It's a pseudo-anglicism.)
| sottoveste (clothing) (Italian)
|
slut (Swedish)
slutt (Norwegian)
| slut
| end, finish
| slampa (Swedish)
|
Smoking (German)
smoking (Swedish, Norwegian and Italian)
esmoquín (Spanish)
| smoking
| dinner jacket (Br.), tuxedo (U.S.); but not smoking jacket (another case of pseudo-anglicism)
|
| son (Spanish)
| son
| (they) are; song
| hijo
|
| son (French)
| son
| sound; bran; his/her (masculine thing possessed)
| fils
|
| soy (Spanish)
| soya soybean
| (I) am
| soja
|
| stark (German and Swedish)
| stark
| strong
|
| step (Chumash)
| step
| flea
|
| stor (Swedish, and Norwegian)
| store
| big, large
| affär, butik (Swedish)
forretning, butikk (norwegian)
|
| stout (Dutch)
| stout
| naughty
|
| strafen (German)
| strafe
| punish
|
| sum (Latin)
| sum
| I am
| summa
|
| sun (spoken Finnish)
| sun /san/
| your
| aurinko
|
Sveti, Sweti
(several Slavic languages, e.g.:)
Święty (Polish)
Sveti (Свети) (Bulgarian)
| sweaty
| Saint
|
simpatic (Romanian)
simpatico (Italian)
simpático (Spanish and Portuguese)
sympathique (French)
sympathisch (German)
sympatyczny (Polish)
sympatisk (Swedish and Norwegian)
| sympathetic
| likeable, friendly
| medfølende (Norwegian) (also means sympathetic in Norwegian)
|
T
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
Tag (German)
tag (Swedish)
| tag
| German: day
Swedish: take!
|
| tikki, täkki, takki, tukki (Finnish)
| tick [tik], tack [täk], tuck [tak]
| stitch, quilt, jacket, log, respectively
|
| talon (Finnish)
| talon
| of the house
| (raatelu)kynsi
|
| talli (Finnish)
| tally (n.)
| garage, stable
| luku (n.)
|
| tanner (Finnish)
| tanner
| ground
|
| tarra (Finnish)
| tar
| sticker
| terva
|
| tekniikka (Finnish)
| technique ([tek'niik])
| technology (as a discipline)
|
| teknologi (Swedish)
| technology
| technology as a discipline
| teknik
|
| teli (Finnish)
| telly /teli/
| floe, bogie
| telkkari
|
| ten (Spanish)
| ten
| take! (imperative tense)
| diez
|
| ten (Polish)
| ten
| this
|
| tie, tai (Finnish)
| tie [tai]
| tie "road", tai "or"
| sitoa, solmia (verb); solmio (noun)
|
| Tier (German)
| tier
| animal
|
to (Polish)
to (Serbian)
| to (in writing)
| that
|
| travel Norwegian
| travel
| busy
| reise
|
| trombone (French)
| trombone
| trombone, or paperclip
|
| true (Norwegian)
| true
| threaten, menace
| sann, ekte, rett
|
tu (Polish)
tu (Serbian)
| to (in pronunciation)
| there
|
| toi (spoken Finnish; "tuo" in standard language)
| toy [toi]
| that
| leikkikalu, lelu
|
| t'oi (台) (Hakka)
| toy
| tower
|
U
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| Unterstand (German)
| (to) understand
| shelter; dugout; bunker
| verstehen
|
V
W
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| wanken (German)
| (to) wank
| to sway; to succumb; to stagger (esp. drunkenly)
| wichsen
|
wanna (Polish)
Wanne (German)
| contraction of "want to"
| bath (tub)
|
| war (German)
| war
| was
| Krieg
|
| was (German)
| was
| what
| war
|
| Webseite (German)
| web site
| web page
|
| wer (German)
| where
| who
| wo
|
| Wett (German)
| wet
| bet
| naß
|
will (German)
vill (Swedish and Norwegian)
wil (Dutch)
| will (law), will (vb.)
| I/he/she/it wants
|
| winken (German)
| wink
| to wave
|
| wo (German)
| who, woe
| where
| wer; Sorg
|
Y
| Non-English word
| Which resembles English
| But actually means
| For an equivalent of the English word use
|
| you (有) (Mandarin)
| you
| to have
|
Last updated: 08-21-2005 22:28:25
Last updated: 01-04-2007 01:18:57
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