French False Friends

Actually means: currently/now

en fait = actually

Actually means: injured

béni = blessed

Tip: Bless-ED in French = wound-ED. Think 'battle blessing → battle wound'

Actually means: corner

pièce = coin

Tip: Think 'coin' as in corner/nook — 'my little corner of Paris'

Actually means: starter/appetizer

plat principal = main

Tip: In France, the entrée enters first — it's the starter, not main course

Actually means: bookshop

bibliothèque = library

Tip: Libre = free → librairie sells free books (bookshop). Library = bibliothèque.

Actually means: condom

conservateur = preservative

Tip: Very different from food preservatives! Context matters hugely here.

Actually means: arm

Soutien-gorge = bra

Tip: Think 'bracelet' — it wraps around your arm, not your chest!

Actually means: to attend

Aider = to assist

Tip: In French, you 'assist' at an event by attending it

Actually means: to wait

Assister = to attend

Tip: AT-TEND in French = wait. Think 'tender attention while waiting'

Actually means: to stay/remain

Se reposer = to rest

Tip: REST-er = to STAY put. You rest by staying where you are.

Actually means: day

Voyage = journey

Tip: JOUR = day → journée = the whole day. Journey = voyage.

Actually means: change/currency

Argent = money

Tip: MONEY in French = CHANGE (coins). Full money = argent.

Actually means: luck

Occasion = chance/opportunity

Tip: CHANCE in French = LUCK. 'Bonne chance!' = Good luck!

Actually means: face

Chiffre = figure/number

Tip: In French, your figure is your face/facial expression

Actually means: shop/store

Revue/magazine = magazine

Tip: MAGAZINE in French = a SHOP. Think 'a store of goods'

Actually means: sensitive

Raisonnable = sensible

Tip: SENSIBLE = sensitive, not sensible (sensato/razonable)