False Friends in German
German-English falsche Freunde - False Cognates
German Words That Aren’t What They Seem
An annotated German-English Glossary of
Common False Cognates and Misleading Expressions
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Introduction > False Cognates > Confusing Words
A "false cognate" is a word in one language that is identical or similar to a word in another language, but does not mean the same thing. For instance, both German and English have the word fast, but the German word means "almost." This is a glossary of the many German-English "false friends" and other words that can be confusing. But don't forget that there are also many genuine cognates shared by German and English. (Note: Technically and linguistically, cognate words have the same root or "ancestor," but for our purposes we mean any "false friend" that can confuse people learning a second language because of its close resemblance to a word in their own language.)
Introduction | A-F | G-L | M-Q | R-Z | Quiz
Denglisch: When Languages Collide
Noun genders indicated by: r (der, masc.), e (die, fem.), s (das, neu.)
A
absolvieren to complete a course or exam | absolve = lossprechen
e Achsel shoulder | axle = e Achse
r Advokat attorney, lawyer | advocate = r Befürworter
r After rectum | after = nach, nachher
r Akt nude (artwork); act (theater) | act (deed) = e Tat
e Aktion campaign, drive (fundraising, etc.); operation (military)
action = s Handeln; e Action (movie)
ein Mann der Tat = a man of action
aktuell current, (the) latest, up-to-date | actual(ly) = eigentlich, wirklich
alle Tage every day | all day = den ganzen Tag
e Allee boulevard, avenue | alley = e Gasse, r Durchgang
e Allüren (pl.) affectation, airs; behavior | allure(s) = e Verlockung, e Charme
r Almanach publisher's annual book catalog | almanac = historisches Jahrbuch
also thus, therefore | also = auch
e Ambulanz outpatient department | ambulance = r Rettungswagen/r Ambulanzwagen
e Angina sore throat, tonsillitis | angina (pectoris) = e Angina Pectoris
apart distinctive, unusual | apart = auseinander; abseits; getrennt
s Argument point, reasoned argument | argument, quarrel = r Streit
e Art kind, manner, type | art = e Kunst
r Artist circus or theatrical performer only | artist = r Künstler
False-Friend Flashcards
Vocabulary practice!
Denglisch: When Languages Collide
Deutsch + Englisch = Denglisch
B
s Bad bath, spa; bathroom (not toilet!) | bad adj. = schlecht
bald soon | bald = kahl, glatzköpfig
Er hat eine Glatze. = He's bald.
bang adj. freightened; uneasy | bang n. = r Knall
bangen to be afraid/concerned | bang = knallen, r Knall
bannen v. to bewitch, captivate; excommunicate | ban = verbieten, s Verbot
r Beamer LCD projector, digital projector
Note: This German Anglizismus has a completely different meaning than the American term referring to a German BMW car!
bekommen to get, receive | to become = werden
e Billion trillion | (US) billion = e Milliarde
s/r Biskuit sponge (cake/dough) | biscuit (cookie) = r Keks, (Amer.) (weiches) Brötchen
(sich) blamieren to disgrace, embarrass; make a fool of oneself | blame = e Schuld, jm. die Schuld geben
blenden to dazzle; fade (cinema); blind, hoodwink | blend = mischen
r Body Bag sling (one-shoulder) backpack | body bag = r Leichensack
Note: Body Bag is one of the more unfortunate Denglisch Body terms. Most of these faux English words in German are just funny: Body-Shop (drug store), Bodywear (underwear).
e Box speaker (stereo system), electrical junction box | box = r Kasten
r Brand fire, blaze | brand = e Marke
brav good, well-behaved | brave = tapfer, mutig
Also see
False Cognates: Introduction
and
False-Friend Flashcards
Vocabulary practice!
(Note: Technically and linguistically, cognate words have the same root or "ancestor," but for our purposes we mean any "false friend" that can confuse people learning a second language because of its close resemblance to a word in their own language.)
C
r Catcher (pro) wrestler | catcher (baseball, etc.) = r Fänger
r Chef boss, head of the department | chef = r Chefkoch, Küchenchef, Koch
e City downtown, city center | city, town = e Stadt
D
delikat difficult, tricky; careful(ly); exquisite, subtle | delicate = empfindlich, fein, zart
Note: German delikat can mean many things, but is almost never used in the sense of "delicate" (breakable, sensitive, fine) in English - with the possible exception of a "delicate (subtle) aroma" or a "delicate (tricky) situation." It is related to Delikatessen.
s Desinteresse lack of interest | disinterest (impartiality) = e Unvoreingenommenheit, e Unparteilichkeit
desinteressiert uninterested, bored (look) | disinterested (impartial) = unvoreingenommen, unparteiisch, uneigennützig
devot (adj., literary) obsequious; humble (obs.) | devoted = treu, liebend; gewidmet
dezent discreet(ly), subdued, unobtrusive | decent = anständig, ordentlich
e Diäten pl. per diem, parliamentary allowance | diet = e Diät (-en)
e Direktion administration (office), management (office) | direction = e Richtung
e Distanz aloofness, coldness; distance (social, sport) | distance = e Entfernung
r Dom cathedral | dome = e Kuppel
e Dose can, tin | dose = e Dosis
E
s Etikett label | etiquette = e Etikette
eventuell possibly, maybe | eventually = endlich, schließlich
r Evergreen old musical standard, classic song | evergreen = immergrün (adj.), r Nadelbaum (tree)
e Expertise report (by experts) | expertise = r Sachverstand
s Exposé outline, draft, plan (film, literature, dissertation); book/film proposal; plot plan, property description (architecture, real estate) | exposé = e Aufdeckung
extravagant flamboyant, stylish, sophisticated (tastes) | extravagant = verschwenderisch, übertrieben
e Extravaganz flamboyance, high style
False Friends Quiz 1
and
Confusing Words and Expressions
in German
F
e Fabrik factory | fabric = r Stoff, s Gewebe
fade boring, insipid, dull | to fade = verblassen
familiär family-related; informal | familiar (well-known) = bekannt, vertraut
Er hat familiäre Probleme. = He has family problems.
e Fantasie/Phantasie imagination | fantasy = r Tagtraum
fast almost | fast = schnell; fasten (go without food)
s Formular form (to fill out) | formula = e Formel
r Fotograf photographer | photograph = s Foto, e Fotografie
e Fraktion faction, political party/group | fraction = r Bruchteil
NEXT > G-L - More falsche Freunde!
QUIZ 1 > False Friends Quiz 1
QUIZ 2 > False Friends Quiz 2
MORE > Denglisch: When Languages Collide + Denglisch Dictionary
Also see: English-German Cognates (genuine cognates)
Introduction | A-F | G-L | M-Q | R-Z | Quiz
Denglisch: When Languages Collide
(Note: Technically and linguistically, cognate words have the same root or "ancestor," but for our purposes we mean any "false friend" that can confuse people learning a second language because of its close resemblance to a word in their own language.)
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