ALSO SEE > Confusing Words and Expressions

A-F | G-L | M-Q | R-Z

Noun genders indicated by: r (der, masc.), e (die, fem.), s (das, neu.)

s Gas   (natural) gas | gasoline/petrol = s Benzin
   Note: German Gas can infer "gasoline" in expressions such as Gas geben (to step on the gas, accelerate).

e Garage   garage (of a house) | garage (repairs) = e Autowerkstatt

genial   brilliant, inspired, ingenious | genial = herzlich, gesellig, leutselig

s Gift   poison | gift, present = s Geschenk

groß   big, large, great | gross = ek(e)lig, ekelhaft (disgusting); grob (grossly), brutto, Brutto- (gross/net)

s Gymnasium   secondary school, high school | gym = e Turnhalle, Sporthalle

s Handy n. cell/wireless phone | handy adj. = praktisch, nützlich, handlich

   Culture Link: Will Your US Cell Phone Work in Germany? - From The German Way and More

r Hamburger a resident of Hamburg (can also mean the food item)

r Hang slope; tendency, inclination

herb adj. dry (wine), tart; bitter, harsh | herb n. = s Kraut

r Herd range, stove (cooking) | herd = e Herde

hissen v. hoist, raise (flag) | hiss v. = zischen

e Hochschule   college, university | high school = e Gesamtschule, s Gymnasium, e Oberschule

irritieren   to confuse, distract, put off | to irritate, annoy = ärgern, auf die Nerven gehen (get on s.o.'s nerves), reizen (skin), irritieren (bother)

e Kanne   (tea, coffee) pot, kettle | can = e Dose
   Note: German Kanne can mean "can" in the sense of "milk can," "oil can" or "watering can" in English.

e Kantine   cafeteria, canteen | canteen = e Feldflasche (for water)
   Note: German Kantine is limited to "canteen" in the sense of "cafeteria" or "officer's mess."

e Kaution   deposit, bail, guarantee | caution = e Vorsicht

s Kolleg   lecture, series of lectures; college | college = e Hochschule, e Universität

r Kollege   colleague, fellow worker | college = e Hochschule, e Universität

komfortabel   luxurious | comfortable = bequem, gemütlich
   ein komfortables Hotel/Auto = a luxury/luxurious hotel/car

komisch   strange, odd | comic(al) = lustig

komprimieren   compress, compact | compromise = zu einem Kompromiss kommen, kompromittieren

e Konfession   religious denomination | confession = s Geständnis (criminal); e Beichte (religious)

r Kongress   trade or business convention; (US) Congress

konkurrieren   compete | concur = übereinstimmen
   | conquer = erobern

konsequent   consistent, logical | consequently = folglich, folgend, als Folge

e Kritik   criticism | critic = r Kritiker/e Kritikerin

kurios   odd, queer | curious = neugierig

s Labor laboratory | labor n. = e Arbeit

r Lack paint(work), lacquer, varnish; nail polish | lack (of) = r Mangel

lila purple | lilac (color) = fliederfarben, zartlila

e List   cunning | list = e Liste, s Verzeichnis

live   only in the sense of a "live" performance | live, alive = lebendig, am Leben
   Note: German-speakers often confuse the words life and live when using them in German, pronouncing both words the same way (LYFE) and using "life" as an adverb/adjective instead of a noun.

s Lokal   pub, inn | local = örtlich, einheimisch, lokal (small 'L')

NEXT > M-Q

BACK > A-F

Got a new word? Email me to add new false friend words or ask a question.

German for Beginners
Our free online German course.

German Chat

OUR GERMAN FORUMS