You may have come across the phrase “false friends” or “false cognates” (as they are more accurately known) during your language training. So what does it mean? It has nothing to do with disloyal friends, although linguistic false friends can also be treacherous. They are words that sound similar or are spelled identically but have different meanings in their respective language.

BANNER PLACEHOLDER

Here are some common German phrases with their English “false friend” below them.

Be careful what aktuell actually means:

German: aktuell – topical, current, up-to-date 

English: actually – eigentlich, tatsächlich, wirklich

Denn eigentlich stammt es aus dem aktuellen Album der Rocksängerin.

Because it actually comes from the rock singer's current album.

Caption 9, Liza - Ein Lied für Opel

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When Germans talk about the imminent future, you may think they're talking about someone's lack of hair:

German: bald – soon

English: bald – kahl

...die olympischen Winterspiele

...the Winter Olympic Games

die bald in Vancouver stattfinden werden.

that will soon take place in Vancouver.

Captions 2-3, Deutsche Sporthilfe - Ball des Sports

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Watch what you give someone on their birthday! 

German: das Gift – poison, venom

English: gift – das Geschenk 

Sein Gift ist vergleichbar mit einem Bienenstich.

His poison is comparable to a bee sting.

Caption 9, Summer Cheergirl - Fotoshooting mit Skorpionen

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If you want to make a marriage proposal to a German, pay attention to how you ask...

German: sich engagieren – to be committed, get involved 

English: to get engaged – sich verloben

Find' ich das immer gut, sich für solche Sachen zu engagieren.

I think [it's] always good to get involved in such things.

Caption 8, Luxuslärm - rockt gegen's Saufen

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The winter is dragging on and spring seems a long way off, but we all know it will come eventually. However, confusing “eventually” with the German eventuell makes spring seem far less likely:  

German: eventuell – possibly, perhaps

English: eventually – schließlich, endlich, irgendwann

Eventuell habe ich in der einen oder anderen Situation emotional überreagiert.

Possibly I overreacted emotionally in one or another situation.

Caption 28, Filmtrailer - Keinohrhasen

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You may describe a horse as being brav, but this has nothing to do with being brave! 

German: brav – well, well-behaved, dutifully

English: brave – mutig, tapfer

Die schönste Wiesnerfahrung?

The best Oktoberfest experience?

Dass immer die Pferdel [Pferdchen] brav gingen.

That the horses always went dutifully.

Caption 15, Oktoberfest München - Auf der Wiesn

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BANNER PLACEHOLDER

As you can see, using “false friends” in the wrong context can be embarrassing, but most of the time it is just a funny mistake. However, you should try to learn these deceitful words to avoid any faux pas!