5 Confusing French Words and Expressions for English Speakers
Florence Harang
Approximately 60% of the English vocabulary comes from French and Latin, the result of a long shared history. As a result, there are plenty of false cognates in French. These words look similar to English words, but their meanings are very different. These false cognates, faux amis, can be tricky for learners of either language. Other frequent mistakes come from words in English that can be used in different contexs in French.
Let’s explore 5 common mistakes English speakers predictably make when using them.
1 - Supporter (F) versus to Support ( E )
In French
The verb supporter in French means to bear, to stand something « Il ne supporte pas le bruit. » He can’t stand noise.
In English
To support means to help, to give moral help.
« Il la soutient dans ce moment difficile » meaning “He supports her during this difficult moment, or for a sports team « Il soutient l’équipe de Manchester. » He supports the Manchester team.
Frequent mistake: « Je supporte le club du Real Madrid »
What you should say: « Je soutiens l’équipe l’équipe du Real Madrid »
2 - Monnaie (F) and Money (E)
In French
La monnaie means currency or coins. « Désolée, je n’ai pas de monnaie. » « Sorry, I have no loose change. » You could easily have no monnaie, but plenty of money.
In English
Money in English is translated as argent in French. « Il a beaucoup d’argent. » « He has a lot of money. »
Frequent mistake : « Il est pauvre et n’a pas beaucoup de monnaie. »
What you should say : « Il est pauvre et n’a pas beaucoup d’argent. »
3 - Eventuellement (F) versus Eventually (E)
In French
Eventuellement means possibly, potentially. It indicates a possibility with no certitude. « Je peux éventuellement vous proposer une alternative si c’est cette solution ne vous convient pas. » « I can eventually offer you an alternative if this solution is not convenient for you. »
In English
Eventually is used in the sense of : in the end, especially after a long delay, dispute, or a series of problems. « After three hours of delay, the plane eventually took off. » « Après un délai de tois heures l’avion a finalement décollé. »
Common mistake « Ils ont marché pendant 3 heures sur des rochers et ils sont éventuellement retrouvé leur chemin. »
What you should say « Ils ont marché pendant 3 heures sur les rochers et ils ont finalement retrouvé leur chemin. »
4 - Actuellement (F) versus actually (E)
In French
Actuellement in French means at the present time and should be translated as right now or currently. Actuellement is mistakenly used to mean actually.
In English
Actually means ‘in fact’ and should be translated as en fait, à vrai dire or vraiment.
If you need a memory device, keep this in mind. Actualité refers to a current event. If you can remember this, you shouldn't have trouble remembering that actuellement and actually are false cognates with different meanings.
Frequent mistake : « elle devait aller voir sa mère et actuellement elle a changé d’avis »
What you should say : « elle devait aller voir sa mère et en fait elle a changé d’avis »
5 - Tu me manques (F) versus I miss you (E)
This is not exactly a false cognate. However, the verb manquer in French is very confusing for English speakers who learn French. This is the reason why I have decided to include it in this list.
In French
In French, If you say « Je te manque », it means that you miss me. To form a correct sentence with the verb manquer, you need to inverse the subject and the personal pronoun compared to English. If you would like to say « I miss you » you should say « Tu me manques »
In English
In English, if you say, « I miss you », it implies that I am the person who is doing the missing. In other words, I am the one feeling the emotion of missing you.
Frequent mistake : « Je te manque » « je manque ma fille »
What you should say : « Tu me manques » « My daughter misses me »