False friends
False friends (also known as “false cognates”) are words in the two languages that may look similar but have a different meaning.
| German word |
False friend in English |
Fals friend means in German |
German word in English |
| (Sitz-)Bank |
bank |
Geldinstitut |
bench |
| brav |
brave |
mutig |
well-behaved |
| Büro |
biro / bureau |
Kugelschreiber |
office |
| Chef |
chef |
Koch |
boss |
| Daten |
dates |
Verabredung (privat) |
data |
| dementiert |
demented |
wahnsinnig, dement |
denied |
| Direktion |
direction |
Richtung |
management |
| engagiert |
engaged |
verlobt |
committed |
| Fabrik |
fabric |
Stoff |
factory |
| fast |
fast |
schnell |
almost |
| Gift |
gift |
Geschenk |
poison |
| Grund |
ground |
Boden |
reason |
| Hausmeister |
housemaster |
Heimleiter |
caretaker |
| Hut |
hut |
Hütte |
hat |
| Justiz |
justice |
Gerechtigkeit |
legal authorities |
| Kaffee |
café |
kleines Restaurant, Café |
coffee |
| Konkurrenz |
concurrence |
Einverständnis |
competition |
| konsequent |
consequent |
infolgedessen |
consistent |
| kontrollieren |
to control |
beherrschen |
to check, to monitor |
| Konzept |
concept |
Idee |
draft |
| Konzern |
concern |
Angelegenheit, Anliegen |
(corporate) group |
| Marke |
mark |
(Zeugnis)note |
brand |
| mobben |
to mob |
umringen, umlagern |
to bully, bullying |
| Notiz |
notice |
Benachrichtigung |
note |
| prägnant |
pregnant |
schwanger |
concise |
| Prokurist |
procurer |
Zuhälter |
attorney |
| Prospekt |
prospect |
Aussicht |
brochure |
| Promotion |
promotion |
Beförderung |
doctorate |
| etwas realisieren |
realise |
einsehen |
to implement |
| selbstbewusst |
self-conscious |
verlegen |
self-confident |
| Studium |
study |
Arbeitszimmer |
studies |
| Unternehmer |
undertaker |
Bestatter |
entrepreneur, employer |
| Warenhaus |
warehouse |
Lagerhaus |
departement store |
| Werbespot |
spot |
Pickel, Punkt |
commercial |
FURTHER INFORMATION
