False Friends in German: R-Z
Falsche Freunde / False Cognates
An annotated German-English Glossary of
Common False Cognates and Misleading Expressions
Also see > True Cognates and Confusing Words & Expressions
A-F | G-L | M-Q | R-Z | Quiz
True English-German Cognates
Noun genders: r (der, masc.), e (die, fem.), s (das, neu.)
R
raffiniert clever, ingenious; sophisticated; refined | refined = fein, gebildet
r Rat advice, counsel | rat = e Ratte
realisieren carry out, implement; produce (TV, film), finalize | realize = erkennen, begreifen
s Reformhaus health food store | reform house/school = e Besserunganstalt
rentabel profitable | rentable = mietbar
e Rente annuity, pension | rent = e Miete (Also see Pension above.)
in Rente/Pension gehen = to retire (from work)
e Residenz strictly limited to the home of nobility | residence = r Wohnsitz, Wohnort, s Haus
s Rezept recipe; prescription | receipt = e Quittung, r Beleg
e Robe evening/formal gown; robe(s) (official) | (house) robe = r Morgenrock, Hausrock
r Roman novel | Roman = r Römer
r Rumpf trunk, body, torso; carcass; fuselage | rump = s Hinterteil
S
e See / r See sea, ocean / lake | The gender is important!
r Sekt sparkling wine | (religious) sect = e Sekte
r Sender broadcaster, station (radio/TV) | sender = r Absender
sensibel sensitive | sensible = vernünftig
seriös trustworthy, reliable; respectable, honest | serious = ernst, ernsthaft
skurril droll, comical | scurrile/scurrilous = verleumderisch; grob, zotig
r Slip briefs, panties, underwear | slip = s Unterkleid, r Fehltritt (misstep)
r Slipper loafer, shoe without laces | slipper = r Pantoffel, r Hausschuh
r Smoking dinner jacket, tuxedo | smoking = s Rauchen
spenden to donate | to spend = ausgeben (money); verbringen (time)
spendieren to spend money on someone, to treat (someone to something)
r Spot TV ad; spotlight | spot = r Fleck, e Stelle, r Ort
e Spur trace, clue | spurs = e Sporen
s Stadium stage, level | stadium = s Stadion
r Stapler (Gabelstapler) forklift | stapler = e Heftmaschine
r Star film star; starling; cataract | star = r Stern
starten to take off (plane), launch (rocket); start (computer, race, motor, etc.)
start = beginnen, anfangen, starten
r Stern star; stern (ship) | stern n. = s Achterschiff, s Heck, stern adj. = streng, hart
e Sympathie (an instant) liking; solidarity (with); good will | sympathy = s Mitleid
sympathisch likable, nice, pleasant (person) | sympathetic = mitfühlend, wohlgesinnt (favorably inclined)
synchronisieren dub (a film) | synchronize = abstimmen, gleichstellen
das Synchronschwimmen = synchronized swimming
Uhrenvergleich! = Synchronize your watches!
Word of the Day
A new German word or expression each
day - advanced or beginners.
T
r Tachometer speedometer | tachometer = r Drehzahlmesser
See > Auto & Driving Glossary
tasten to touch | to taste = kosten, schmecken
r Tipp hint; tip (advice); bet, tip (lottery)
tippen to guess; bet / play the lottery / numbers | to tip = Trinkgeld geben
(Note: The German verb tippen can also mean "to type.")
s Transparent banner, placard | transparent adj. = durchsichtig
r Tripper gonorrhea
U
übersehen to overlook, miss (something) | to oversee = überwachen, beaufsichtigen
unsympathisch disagreeable, not likable / nice | unsympathetic = ablehnend; mit wenig Mitgefühl
r Unternehmer business person, employer | undertaker = r Leichenbestatter
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False Friends Quiz!
False-Friend Flashcards
Vocabulary practice!
V
e Visite house call, round | visit = r Besuch
Note: Eine Visite can also be a formal state visit. Eine Visitenkarte is a business card or calling card.
W
r Wall embankment, rampart | wall = e Wand (interior), e Mauer (outside)
e Wand wall | (magic) wand = r Zauberstab
war v. was | war n. = r Krieg
s Warenhaus department store (also Kaufhaus) | warehouse = s Lagerhaus
winken to wave | to wink = blinzern, zwinkern
Z
e Zensur grade, mark (school); censorship | censor = r Zensor
r Zylinder top hat, silk hat (can also mean "cylinder")
False Friends Quiz
A self-scoring quiz on German false cognates.
A-F | G-L | M-Q | R-Z | Quiz
True English-German Cognates
Related Pages
Genuine English-German Cognates
These are the real thing. Learn German through true cognates.
Confusing Words and Expressions
in German - plus Confusing Word Pairs in German.
When the Plural is Singular
German and English nouns don't always follow the same rules when it comes to singular and plural forms.
False-Friend Flashcards
Vocabulary practice for the German false cognates.
False Friends/falsche Freunde
An article about these tricky little devils.
Glossary A-to-Z Index
Find more annotated English-German glossaries by keyword.
Word of the Day
A new German word or expression each day - advanced or beginners.
Online Dictionaries
Links and info for dictionaries and glossaries.
Web Links
German and English Cognate Spelling Patterns
This cognates page from Robert Shea is an exercise comparing German and English patterns.
Übersetzungsfallen
Eine deutsche Liste von gesammelten Übersetzungsfallen und Anglizismen - zusammengestellt von Stefan Winterstein.
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