Difference between revisions of "False friend"
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| − | + | '''False friend''' is a term used by learners (and their teachers) of foreign languages, mostly applied to [[cognate]] (related) languages. It is used to label terms in the language being learnt which <u>look</u> like a term in the learner's mother tongue (sometimes a third language), but do not mean the same. | |
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| + | Some examples are: | ||
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| + | In '''Italian''' | ||
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| + | *the [[adjective]] ''geniale'' does not mean the same as the English ‘genial’: it means ‘clever, ingenious, talented’. The English 'genial' could be translated into Italian as ''cordiale'', ''socievole'', ''amabile'', or ''benigno''. | ||
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| + | *the [[noun]] ''delusione'' does not mean the same as the English ‘delusion’: it means ‘disappointment’. The English 'delusion' could be translated into Italian as ''illusione'' or ''inganno''. | ||
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| + | *the [[noun]] ''pavimento'' does not mean the same as the English ‘pavement’: it means ‘floor’. The Italian for 'pavement' is ''marciapiede''. | ||
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| + | In '''French''' | ||
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| + | *the [[adjective]] ''blessé'' does not mean ‘blessed’: it means ‘wounded’. The English ‘blessed’ might be translated into French as ''béni'', ''saint'', or ''bien-heureux''. | ||
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| + | *the [[noun]] ''journée'' does not mean ‘journey’: it means ‘day’. The French for ‘journey’ is ''voyage''. | ||
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| + | *the [[verb]] ''attendre'' does not mean ‘to attend’: it means ‘to wait for’. The French for ‘to attend’ is ''assister à''. | ||
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| + | In German | ||
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| + | *the [[verb]] ''bekommen'' does not mean ‘to become’: it means ‘to get, receive, obtain’. The German for ‘to become’ is ''werden''. | ||
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| + | *the word ''hell'' does not mean the same as the English ‘hell’ (i.e., a place of eternal damnation): it means ‘clear, bright, shining’. The German word for the English ‘hell’ is ''Hölle''. | ||
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| + | *the [[verb]]al phrase ''sich blamieren'' does not mean ‘to blame oneself’ but ‘to disgrace oneself’ or ‘to make a fool of oneself’. ‘To blame oneself’ might be translated into German as ''sich tadeln''. | ||
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| + | In '''Spanish''' | ||
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| + | *the (feminine) [[adjective]] ''embarazada'' means 'pregnant', and may also be used as a [[noun]] to mean 'pregnant woman'. It does not mean 'embarrassed', for which the Spanish could be ''azorado'' or ''turbado''. | ||
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| + | *the [[verb]] ''pretender'' does not mean ‘to pretend’: it means ‘to try’ or ‘to endeavour’ (to do something). The Spanish for 'to pretend’ is ''fingir''. | ||
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| + | *the [[noun]] ''ropa'' does not mean ‘rope’: it means ‘clothes’. The Spanish for ‘rope’ is ''cuerda''. | ||
[[Category:false friends]] | [[Category:false friends]] | ||
| + | [[Category:language]] | ||
| + | [[Category:linguistic terms]] | ||
| + | [[Category:technical terms]] | ||
| + | [[Category:French words]] | ||
| + | [[Category:German words]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Italian words]] | ||
| + | [[Category:foreign words]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:42, 28 April 2018
False friend is a term used by learners (and their teachers) of foreign languages, mostly applied to cognate (related) languages. It is used to label terms in the language being learnt which look like a term in the learner's mother tongue (sometimes a third language), but do not mean the same.
Some examples are:
In Italian
- the adjective geniale does not mean the same as the English ‘genial’: it means ‘clever, ingenious, talented’. The English 'genial' could be translated into Italian as cordiale, socievole, amabile, or benigno.
- the noun delusione does not mean the same as the English ‘delusion’: it means ‘disappointment’. The English 'delusion' could be translated into Italian as illusione or inganno.
- the noun pavimento does not mean the same as the English ‘pavement’: it means ‘floor’. The Italian for 'pavement' is marciapiede.
In French
- the adjective blessé does not mean ‘blessed’: it means ‘wounded’. The English ‘blessed’ might be translated into French as béni, saint, or bien-heureux.
- the noun journée does not mean ‘journey’: it means ‘day’. The French for ‘journey’ is voyage.
- the verb attendre does not mean ‘to attend’: it means ‘to wait for’. The French for ‘to attend’ is assister à.
In German
- the verb bekommen does not mean ‘to become’: it means ‘to get, receive, obtain’. The German for ‘to become’ is werden.
- the word hell does not mean the same as the English ‘hell’ (i.e., a place of eternal damnation): it means ‘clear, bright, shining’. The German word for the English ‘hell’ is Hölle.
- the verbal phrase sich blamieren does not mean ‘to blame oneself’ but ‘to disgrace oneself’ or ‘to make a fool of oneself’. ‘To blame oneself’ might be translated into German as sich tadeln.
In Spanish
- the (feminine) adjective embarazada means 'pregnant', and may also be used as a noun to mean 'pregnant woman'. It does not mean 'embarrassed', for which the Spanish could be azorado or turbado.
- the verb pretender does not mean ‘to pretend’: it means ‘to try’ or ‘to endeavour’ (to do something). The Spanish for 'to pretend’ is fingir.
- the noun ropa does not mean ‘rope’: it means ‘clothes’. The Spanish for ‘rope’ is cuerda.
