Vocabulary: cognates and false friends

Many French words look like English words and mean the same: these are cognates. Some look the same but mean something else: these are false friends.

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Cognates: same meaning

Most nouns ending in -tion, -ité or -ence are cognates. Check the gender: words in -tion and -ité are feminine.
FrenchEnglish
l'activité (f)activity
l'attention (f)attention
la décisiondecision
la différencedifference
la difficultédifficulty
l'énergie (f)energy
l'événement (m)event
l'importance (f)importance
l'indépendance (f)independence
l'influence (f)influence
la majoritémajority
la passionpassion
la personnalitépersonality
la possibilitépossibility
la situationsituation

Cognate adjectives

Many adjectives are also cognates: -el / -elle = -al, -if / -ive = -ive.
FrenchEnglish
culturel(le)cultural
électriqueelectric
essentiel(le)essential
européen(ne)European
historiquehistoric, historical
médical(e)medical
négatif, négativenegative
positif, positivepositive
ordinaireordinary
original(e)original
parfait(e)perfect
populairepopular
régulier, régulièreregular
responsableresponsible
spécial(e)special

False friends

These look like English words but mean something different.
FrenchEnglish
la librairiebookshop (not library)
le carcoach (not car)
la journéeday (not journey)
passer un examento sit an exam (not to pass)
actuellementat the moment (not actually)
resterto stay (not to rest)
sensiblesensitive (not sensible)
la monnaiechange, coins (not money)
le collègesecondary school (not college)
assister àto attend (not to assist)
la vestejacket (not vest)
le crayonpencil (not crayon)
blesser (H)to injure (not to bless)
la locationhire, rental (not location)
Worked example

Work out the meaning: "Je reste à la maison pendant la journée."

  1. rester = to stay (false friend)
  2. la journée = the day (false friend)

Answer: I stay at home during the day.

Key idea

Cognates: -tion, -ité, -ence nouns (la décision, l'activité, la différence), -el / -if adjectives (culturel, positif). False friends: la librairie (bookshop), le car (coach), la journée (day), rester (to stay), sensible (sensitive), assister à (to attend), la veste (jacket).

Common mistakes
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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. What does l'influence (f) mean?

    1. event
    2. personality
    3. influence
    4. activity
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    Answer: influence

    L'influence = influence.

  2. Which is the French for "difference"?

    1. la différence
    2. l'activité (f)
    3. la personnalité
    4. l'événement (m)
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    Answer: la différence

    Difference = la différence.

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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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