30 French False Friends That Will Embarrass You (Faux Amis)

French False Friends: 30 Words That Will Trick You

False friends — or faux amis as the French call them — are words that look or sound like English but mean something completely different in French. They exist because English and French share Latin roots and have exchanged vocabulary for centuries.

Some are mildly confusing. Others will make you say something embarrassing, offensive, or hilariously wrong. This list covers the 30 most dangerous faux amis every French learner needs to know.

The Embarrassing Ones (Be Careful!)

These false friends can cause genuinely awkward moments if you use them incorrectly.

1. Excite ≠ Excited

French: Je suis excite(e)

You think it means: I'm excited

It actually means: I'm sexually aroused

What to say instead: "J'ai hate !" (I can't wait!) or "Je suis enthousiaste !" (I'm enthusiastic!)

This is probably the most famous faux ami. Telling your French host family "je suis tres excitee" at dinner will create a very awkward silence.

2. Preservatif ≠ Preservative

French: Un preservatif

You think it means: A food preservative

It actually means: A condom

What to say instead: "Un conservateur" for food preservative.

Asking the waiter "est-ce qu'il y a des preservatifs dans ce plat ?" will be a dinner you never forget.

3. Blesser ≠ To Bless

French: Blesser

You think it means: To bless

It actually means: To injure, to wound

What to say instead: "Benir" means to bless.

Saying "je vais te blesser" to a friend does NOT mean you will bless them.

4. Baiser ≠ To Kiss (Carefully!)

French: Baiser (verb)

You think it means: To kiss

It actually means: To have sex with (vulgar)

What to say instead: "Embrasser" means to kiss. "Un baiser" (noun) is fine — it means a kiss. But the VERB "baiser" is vulgar. Never use it.

5. Sale ≠ Sale

French: Sale

You think it means: A sale (discount)

It actually means: Dirty

What to say instead: "Les soldes" for a sale/discount. "En solde" for on sale.

Telling someone their house is "tres sale" is NOT a compliment.

The Confusing Ones (Common Mix-ups)

6. Actuellement ≠ Actually

French: Actuellement

You think it means: Actually

It actually means: Currently, at the moment

What to say instead: "En fait" means actually.

"Actuellement, je travaille a Paris" means "Currently, I work in Paris" — not "Actually, I work in Paris."

7. Eventuellement ≠ Eventually

French: Eventuellement

You think it means: Eventually

It actually means: Possibly, perhaps

What to say instead: "Finalement" means eventually/finally.

"Je viendrai eventuellement" means "I might come" — not "I will eventually come."

8. Demander ≠ To Demand

French: Demander

You think it means: To demand

It actually means: To ask, to request

What to say instead: "Exiger" means to demand.

"Je vous demande de partir" is a polite request to leave. "J'exige que vous partiez" is a demand.

9. Assister ≠ To Assist

French: Assister a

You think it means: To help, to assist

It actually means: To attend, to be present at

What to say instead: "Aider" means to help/assist.

"J'ai assiste au cours" means "I attended the class" — not "I helped with the class."

10. Attendre ≠ To Attend

French: Attendre

You think it means: To attend

It actually means: To wait

What to say instead: "Assister a" means to attend (yes, they are swapped!).

"J'attends le bus" means "I'm waiting for the bus."

11. Librairie ≠ Library

French: Une librairie

You think it means: A library

It actually means: A bookshop (where you BUY books)

What to say instead: "Une bibliotheque" is a library.

This one trips up nearly every English speaker in France.

12. Deception ≠ Deception

French: Une deception

You think it means: A deception, a trick

It actually means: A disappointment

What to say instead: "Une tromperie" or "une ruse" for deception.

"C'est une grande deception" means "It's a big disappointment."

13. Coin ≠ Coin

French: Un coin

You think it means: A coin (money)

It actually means: A corner, an area

What to say instead: "Une piece" for a coin.

"Le coin de la rue" means "the street corner."

14. Location ≠ Location

French: Une location

You think it means: A location, a place

It actually means: A rental

What to say instead: "Un endroit" or "un lieu" for location/place.

"Location de voiture" means car rental, not car location.

15. Raisin ≠ Raisin

French: Un raisin

You think it means: A raisin

It actually means: A grape

What to say instead: "Un raisin sec" (literally: dry grape) is a raisin.

At the market, "un kilo de raisins" gets you grapes, not raisins.

The Subtle Ones (Tricky but Important)

16. Figure ≠ Figure (Body)

French: La figure

You think it means: The figure (body shape)

It actually means: The face

What to say instead: "La silhouette" or "le corps" for body/figure.

17. Journee ≠ Journey

French: Une journee

You think it means: A journey

It actually means: A day (the duration of a day)

What to say instead: "Un voyage" means a journey/trip.

18. Monnaie ≠ Money

French: La monnaie

You think it means: Money

It actually means: Change (coins), or currency

What to say instead: "L'argent" means money.

"Avez-vous de la monnaie ?" means "Do you have change?" not "Do you have money?"

19. Sympathique ≠ Sympathetic

French: Sympathique (sympa)

You think it means: Sympathetic, compassionate

It actually means: Nice, friendly, likeable

What to say instead: "Compatissant" means sympathetic.

"Elle est tres sympa" means "She is very nice."

20. Formidable ≠ Formidable (Scary)

French: Formidable

You think it means: Scary, intimidating

It actually means: Wonderful, tremendous, amazing

What to say instead: "Redoutable" means formidable/scary.

In French, "formidable" is a strong compliment!

21. Entrée ≠ Main Course

French: Une entree

You think it means: The main course (American English)

It actually means: The starter, first course

What to say instead: "Le plat principal" is the main course.

This catches every American tourist in French restaurants.

22. Introduire ≠ To Introduce (a person)

French: Introduire

You think it means: To introduce someone

It actually means: To insert, to put in

What to say instead: "Presenter" means to introduce a person.

"Je vous presente mon ami" is correct. "Je vous introduis mon ami" is very wrong.

23. Résumer ≠ To Resume

French: Resumer

You think it means: To resume, to continue

It actually means: To summarize

What to say instead: "Reprendre" means to resume.

24. Travail ≠ Travel

French: Le travail

You think it means: Travel

It actually means: Work

What to say instead: "Le voyage" means travel.

"Je vais au travail" means "I'm going to work."

25. Chair ≠ Chair

French: La chair

You think it means: A chair

It actually means: Flesh, meat (on the body)

What to say instead: "Une chaise" is a chair.

26. Bras ≠ Bra

French: Le bras

You think it means: A bra

It actually means: An arm

What to say instead: "Un soutien-gorge" is a bra.

27. Caméra ≠ Camera

French: Une camera

You think it means: A camera (photo)

It actually means: A video camera, a movie camera

What to say instead: "Un appareil photo" is a photo camera.

28. Phrase ≠ Phrase

French: Une phrase

You think it means: A phrase (part of a sentence)

It actually means: A sentence (complete)

What to say instead: "Une expression" or "un syntagme" for a phrase.

29. Sensible ≠ Sensible

French: Sensible

You think it means: Sensible, practical

It actually means: Sensitive

What to say instead: "Raisonnable" means sensible.

"Elle est tres sensible" means "She is very sensitive."

30. Regarder ≠ To Regard

French: Regarder

You think it means: To regard, to consider

It actually means: To watch, to look at

What to say instead: "Considerer" means to regard.

"Je regarde la television" means "I watch TV."

How to Avoid False Friend Traps

1. When in Doubt, Look It Up

If a French word looks suspiciously similar to English, check it. There is a good chance it means something different.

2. Learn Words in Context

Do not just memorize single words — learn them in sentences. "J'assiste au cours" (I attend the class) is much harder to confuse than the word "assister" alone.

3. Keep a False Friends List

Write down every faux ami you encounter. Review it weekly. After a few months, they become second nature.

4. Practice with a Native Speaker

A teacher can catch your false friend mistakes in real time and correct them before they become habits. At French Keys, Magali specifically watches for these errors and helps students build correct reflexes.

5. Share This Post

Save this list and share it with anyone learning French. These mistakes are so common that even advanced learners fall for them.

Keep Learning

False friends are tricky, but knowing them makes you a better French speaker. Download our free flashcards at French Keys for 100 essential words and expressions — including correct translations for common faux amis. Try our "Learn French by Coloring" book on Amazon for a fun way to learn French numbers. And book a free 30-minute assessment with Magali to start speaking French with confidence.