French false friends English speakers get wrong (and fixes)

A French false friend looks like an English word but means something else. The ones that cause real mix-ups: librairie is a bookstore (a library is une bibliothèque), actuellement means currently (actually is en fait), sensible means sensitive, and éventuellement means possibly, not eventually. Below are the common ones, with what to say instead.

The everyday false friends

These are frequent, ordinary words, which is what makes them dangerous: you will use them in your first week, and the sentence will still sound grammatical to you.

French word	What it means	Looks like	For the English meaning, say
une librairie	bookstore	library	une bibliothèque
actuellement	currently, at the moment	actually	en fait
éventuellement	possibly, if need be	eventually	finalement, à la fin
sensible	sensitive	sensible	raisonnable, sensé
attendre	to wait (for)	attend	assister à
rester	to stay	rest	se reposer
une location	a rental	location	un endroit, un emplacement
la monnaie	change (coins), currency	money	l’argent
un car	a coach, an intercity bus	car	une voiture
un coin	a corner	coin	une pièce
large	wide	large	grand
un raisin	a grape	raisin	un raisin sec
une journée	a day (as a stretch of time)	journey	un voyage, un trajet
une lecture	a reading	lecture	un cours magistral, une conférence
sympathique	nice, likeable	sympathetic	compatissant
blesser	to injure, to hurt	bless	bénir
une déception	a disappointment	deception	une tromperie
la chair	flesh	chair	une chaise
le collège	middle school	college	l’université, la fac

Car deserves a note: as a noun it is a coach, but in writing car is also a conjunction meaning “because,” as in Il est resté à la maison, car il était malade. In conversation, people mostly say parce que.

Watch the adverbs ending in -ment

The most treacherous group is the -ment adverbs that look like English -ly adverbs. English speakers use “actually,” “eventually” and “definitely” constantly, so they reach for the look-alikes dozens of times a day.

Actuellement, je travaille à Lyon means “I currently work in Lyon,” not “Actually, I work in Lyon.” For “actually,” say En fait, je travaille à Lyon.
On pourra éventuellement changer la date means “we could possibly change the date if needed.” For “we eventually changed the date,” say Finalement, on a changé la date.
Il est parti définitivement means “he left for good.” For “definitely,” say sans aucun doute, absolument, or carrément in casual speech.

The ones that can embarrass you

A few false friends do not just confuse people, they make them laugh, or wince.

Préservatif means a condom. Food preservatives are des conservateurs, and labels say sans conservateurs.
Excité can mean worked up or hyper, and depending on context it can sound sexual. For “I’m so excited about the trip,” the safe choices are J’ai hâte de partir or Je suis trop content.
Baiser as a noun, un baiser, is a kiss, but the verb baiser is vulgar slang for having sex. To kiss someone is embrasser.
Je suis plein is not how French speakers say they are full after a meal; pleine is used for pregnant animals. Say J’ai bien mangé or Je n’ai plus faim.
Je suis chaud does not mean “I’m hot.” Colloquially it means “I’m up for it,” and it can carry innuendo. For temperature, say J’ai chaud.

Half false: the word exists, but the meaning shifts

French	Main meaning	The trap for English speakers
demander	to ask	Not “demand.” Je demande l’addition is polite. To demand is exiger.
supporter	to put up with, to tolerate	Je ne le supporte pas means “I can’t stand him.” To support someone is soutenir.
passer un examen	to take an exam	To pass is réussir un examen.
une entrée	a starter, an appetizer	In the US an entrée is the main course; in France the main course is le plat.
formidable	great, wonderful	Not intimidating. C’est formidable ! is praise.
pas terrible	not great, mediocre	Le film était pas terrible means it was disappointing, not that it was good.
réaliser	to carry out, to make (a film, a project)	Using it for “to become aware” is widespread but criticized as an anglicism. Se rendre compte is the standard choice.
avoir envie de	to feel like, to want	J’ai envie d’un café means “I feel like a coffee,” not envy.

Context can rescue a few of these. Sensible never means “sensible,” but un sujet sensible is a perfectly good way to say “a sensitive topic.” If you mean sensitive, the word is right; if you mean reasonable, it is wrong.

Correct these before you say them

Je vais à la librairie pour étudier. Correct: Je vais à la bibliothèque pour étudier.
Actuellement, je ne suis pas d’accord (meaning “actually”). Correct: En fait, je ne suis pas d’accord.
C’est une décision très sensible (meaning “wise”). Correct: C’est une décision très raisonnable.
J’ai attendu la réunion (meaning “attended”). Correct: J’ai assisté à la réunion. The original means you waited for it.
Je suis excité pour le voyage. Safer: J’ai hâte de partir en voyage.
Éventuellement, on a trouvé l’hôtel. Correct: Finalement, on a trouvé l’hôtel.

Thousands of French and English cognates are true friends, especially words ending in -tion and -ité, so keep trusting them. The false ones are a short, known list, and they stick fastest when you have used the right word in a real exchange: asking where the bibliothèque is, or telling a waiter J’ai bien mangé.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common French false friend for English speakers?

Actuellement is probably the one heard most, because English speakers say actually so often. It means currently. Librairie, which is a bookstore and not a library, is a close second.

How do you say actually in French?

En fait is the everyday choice: En fait, je préfère le thé. En réalité and à vrai dire also work, the second when you are admitting something. Actuellement only means at the moment.

Is excité always sexual in French?

No. It can mean hyper or worked up, and younger speakers do use it for enthusiasm. But it can be read sexually depending on context, so J’ai hâte or Je suis trop content is the safer way to say you are excited.

Does sensible ever mean sensible in French?

No. Sensible means sensitive, for a person, a topic or a piece of equipment. For sensible in the English sense, use raisonnable or sensé.