German False Friends

Words that look similar to English but have different meanings. Avoid common mistakes!

False friends can be tricky! These words look similar between languages but have different meanings. Study them carefully to avoid common mistakes.

88 false friends found

Gift

German

poison

gift

English

a present

Example

Vorsicht, das ist Gift! | Thank you for the lovely gift.

bekommen

German

to get/receive

become

English

to turn into

Example

Ich habe ein Geschenk bekommen. | She became a doctor.

Gymnasium

German

secondary school/high school

gymnasium

English

sports hall

Example

Meine Tochter geht aufs Gymnasium. | We play basketball in the gymnasium.

Also

German

so/therefore

also

English

in addition/too

Example

Also, ich gehe jetzt. | I also want to come.

bald

German

soon

bald

English

having no hair

Example

Ich komme bald zurück. | He is going bald.

Brief

German

letter

brief

English

short/concise

Example

Ich schreibe einen Brief. | Please be brief.

Fabrik

German

factory

fabric

English

cloth/material

Example

Er arbeitet in einer Fabrik. | This fabric is soft.

Mist

German

manure/dung

mist

English

light fog

Example

Der Bauer bringt Mist auf das Feld. | There was a light mist this morning.

Roman

German

novel

Roman

English

from Rome

Example

Ich lese gern Romane. | The Roman Empire was vast.

Chef

German

boss

chef

English

cook

Example

Mein Chef ist sehr nett. | The chef prepared a delicious meal.

eventuell

German

possibly/perhaps

eventually

English

in the end/finally

Example

Eventuell komme ich morgen. | He eventually finished his homework.

Billion

German

trillion (10¹²)

billion

English

thousand million (10⁹)

Example

Eine Billion Euro sind sehr viel Geld. | The company is worth billions.

Kantine

German

cafeteria

canteen

English

water bottle

Example

Wir essen in der Kantine. | I filled my canteen with water.

genial

German

brilliant/ingenious

genial

English

friendly/pleasant

Example

Das ist eine geniale Idee! | He has a genial personality.

Mappe

German

folder/briefcase

map

English

geographical chart

Example

Ich habe meine Mappe vergessen. | Can you check the map?

Parole

German

slogan/motto

parole

English

conditional release from prison

Example

Die Parole der Demonstration war klar. | He was released on parole.

See

German

lake

see

English

to view with eyes

Example

Der See ist sehr schön. | I can see the mountains.

Boot

German

boat

boot

English

footwear

Example

Wir fahren mit dem Boot. | I need new boots.

Chips

German

potato chips/crisps

chips

English

french fries (US)

Example

Ich esse gern Chips. | I ordered fish and chips.

Handy

German

mobile phone

handy

English

convenient/useful

Example

Mein Handy ist kaputt. | This tool is very handy.

Smoking

German

tuxedo

smoking

English

inhaling tobacco

Example

Er trägt einen Smoking. | Smoking is bad for your health.

Konsequent

German

consistent/persistent

consequent

English

resulting from

Example

Sie arbeitet sehr konsequent. | The consequent damage was severe.

Sympathie

German

liking/affection

sympathy

English

compassion for suffering

Example

Ich habe viel Sympathie für sie. | I have sympathy for his loss.

aktuell

German

current/up-to-date

actual

English

real/factual

Example

Das sind die aktuellen Nachrichten. | What was the actual cost?

Art

German

type/kind/species

art

English

creative works

Example

Welche Art von Musik magst du? | I love modern art.

Rat

German

advice/council

rat

English

rodent

Example

Kannst du mir einen Rat geben? | There is a rat in the basement.

Rezept

German

prescription/recipe

receipt

English

proof of purchase

Example

Ich brauche ein Rezept vom Arzt. | Keep the receipt for your records.

List

German

cunning/trickery

list

English

enumeration

Example

Er benutzt List, um zu gewinnen. | Make a shopping list.

Taste

German

button/key

taste

English

flavor/sense

Example

Drück die Taste! | This has a sweet taste.

fast

German

almost/nearly

fast

English

quick

Example

Ich bin fast fertig. | She runs very fast.

Präservativ

German

condom

preservative

English

food additive

Example

Präservative schützen vor Krankheiten. | This jam has no preservatives.

Konkurs

German

bankruptcy

concourse

English

public space/gathering

Example

Die Firma ging Konkurs. | Meet me at the station concourse.

Kiosk

German

newsstand/small shop

kiosk

English

information booth

Example

Ich kaufe Zeitungen am Kiosk. | Use the kiosk to check in.

Ton

German

sound/tone/clay

ton

English

weight measure (2000 lbs)

Example

Der Ton ist zu laut. | The truck weighs two tons.

Kontrolle

German

inspection/check

control

English

power/command

Example

Es gibt eine Passkontrolle. | He lost control of the car.

Pension

German

guesthouse/B&B

pension

English

retirement income

Example

Wir übernachten in einer Pension. | He receives a pension.

Provision

German

commission (sales)

provision

English

supply/clause

Example

Er bekommt eine hohe Provision. | Make provision for emergencies.

Wagon

German

railway car/carriage

wagon

English

horse-drawn cart

Example

Ich sitze im ersten Wagon. | The pioneers traveled by wagon.

Dose

German

can/tin

dose

English

measured amount of medicine

Example

Ich öffne eine Dose Tomaten. | Take the correct dose.

Plakat

German

poster

placard

English

protest sign

Example

Das Plakat hängt an der Wand. | Protesters carried placards.

Lokal

German

pub/restaurant

local

English

nearby/regional

Example

Wir treffen uns im Lokal. | Buy local produce.

Slip

German

underwear/briefs

slip

English

to slide/error

Example

Ich brauche einen neuen Slip. | Be careful not to slip.

Meinung

German

opinion

meaning

English

definition/sense

Example

Das ist meine Meinung. | What is the meaning of this word?

Komfort

German

luxury/convenience

comfort

English

consolation/ease

Example

Das Hotel bietet viel Komfort. | She needs comfort after the loss.

Firma

German

company

firm

English

solid/steady

Example

Ich arbeite bei einer großen Firma. | The ground is firm.

Fotograf

German

photographer

photograph

English

picture/image

Example

Der Fotograf macht tolle Bilder. | This is a beautiful photograph.

Pathos

German

bombast/pomposity

pathos

English

emotional appeal/pity

Example

Seine Rede war voll von Pathos. | The story is full of pathos.

spenden

German

to donate

spend

English

to use money/time

Example

Ich spende Geld für wohltätige Zwecke. | I spend too much money.

Klang

German

sound (pleasant)

clang

English

loud metallic sound

Example

Der Klang der Musik ist schön. | The clang of the bell was loud.

Kompromiss

German

agreement/settlement

compromise

English

weakening of principles

Example

Wir haben einen Kompromiss gefunden. | Never compromise your values.

Vase

German

flower container

vase

English

decorative container

Example

Die Blumen stehen in der Vase. | Put the flowers in the vase.

Patron

German

cartridge/ammunition

patron

English

customer/supporter

Example

Die Patronen sind leer. | Thank you for being a patron.

Artist

German

circus performer/acrobat

artist

English

creative person

Example

Der Artist macht gefährliche Tricks. | She is a talented artist.

Hose

German

pants/trousers

hose

English

flexible tube for water

Example

Ich brauche eine neue Hose. | Use the hose to water the garden.

Realisieren

German

to implement/carry out

realize

English

to understand/become aware

Example

Wir müssen das Projekt realisieren. | I realize my mistake now.

Autor

German

writer (general)

author

English

writer of books

Example

Der Autor schreibt einen Artikel. | My favorite author wrote this novel.

Engagement

German

commitment/involvement

engagement

English

marriage agreement

Example

Sein Engagement für die Umwelt ist groß. | They announced their engagement.

links

German

left/on the left

links

English

connections/hyperlinks

Example

Biegen Sie links ab. | Click on the links.

gift

English

present

Gift

German

poison

Example

She gave me a gift. | Das Gift ist gefährlich.

become

English

to turn into

bekommen

German

to receive, to get

Example

She became a doctor. | Ich habe ein Geschenk bekommen.

also

English

too, as well

also

German

therefore, so

Example

I also like pizza. | Also, ich gehe jetzt.

bald

English

having no hair

bald

German

soon

Example

He is going bald. | Ich komme bald zurück.

chef

English

professional cook

Chef

German

boss

Example

The chef prepared a great meal. | Mein Chef ist sehr streng.

fabric

English

cloth material

Fabrik

German

factory

Example

This fabric is soft. | Er arbeitet in einer Fabrik.

fast

English

quick, rapid

fast

German

almost, nearly

Example

He runs very fast. | Ich bin fast fertig.

brave

English

courageous

brav

German

well-behaved, good

Example

She was very brave. | Das Kind ist sehr brav.

actual

English

real, true

aktuell

German

current, up-to-date

Example

What is the actual cost? | Das ist die aktuelle Situation.

gymnasium

English

place for sports and exercise

Gymnasium

German

academic high school

Example

I work out at the gymnasium. | Sie geht aufs Gymnasium.

kind

English

type, sort OR friendly

Kind

German

child

Example

She is a kind person. | Das Kind spielt im Garten.

million

English

1,000,000

Mille

German

one thousand (in some contexts)

Example

He won a million dollars. | Eintausend ist auf Französisch mille.

mist

English

light fog

Mist

German

manure, dung OR rubbish (slang)

Example

There is mist in the morning. | Das ist totaler Mist!

note

English

written message

Note

German

grade, mark (in school)

Example

I left you a note. | Ich habe eine gute Note bekommen.

menu

English

list of food

Menü

German

set meal (fixed menu)

Example

Can I see the menu? | Ich nehme das Tagesmenü.

sensitive

English

easily affected emotionally

sensibel

German

sensitive (same meaning, but beware...)

Example

He is very sensitive. | Sie ist sehr sensibel.

undertaker

English

funeral director

Unternehmer

German

entrepreneur

Example

The undertaker organized the funeral. | Er ist ein erfolgreicher Unternehmer.

rat

English

rodent

Rat

German

advice, council

Example

There is a rat in the basement. | Ich brauche deinen Rat.

hall

English

corridor or large room

Halle

German

large indoor space, arena

Example

Wait in the hall. | Das Konzert ist in der Halle.

handy

English

useful, convenient

Handy

German

mobile phone

Example

This tool is very handy. | Mein Handy ist kaputt.

prospect

English

possibility, potential

Prospekt

German

brochure, leaflet

Example

The job has good prospects. | Ich habe einen Prospekt vom Hotel.

box

English

container

Box

German

speaker (audio), boxing (sport)

Example

Put it in the box. | Die Box ist sehr laut.

smoking

English

act of using tobacco

Smoking

German

tuxedo

Example

No smoking allowed here. | Er trägt einen Smoking.

blank

English

empty, not written on

blank

German

shiny, polished

Example

Leave the page blank. | Die Schuhe sind blank poliert.

artist

English

creative person (painter, etc.)

Artist

German

circus performer, acrobat

Example

She is a talented artist. | Der Artist macht gefährliche Tricks.

after

English

following in time

After

German

anus (vulgar slang)

Example

I will call you after work. | Das ist ein vulgäres Wort.

angel

English

heavenly being

Angel

German

fishing rod

Example

She looks like an angel. | Ich brauche eine neue Angel.

brief

English

short, concise

Brief

German

letter

Example

Please be brief. | Ich habe einen Brief geschrieben.

see

English

to perceive with eyes

See

German

lake OR sea (depending on gender)

Example

I can see the mountain. | Der See ist sehr schön.

camera

English

device for taking photos

Kamera

German

video camera (primarily)

Example

I bought a new camera. | Die Kamera zeichnet alles auf.