What are false friends in language learning?
A “false friend” is a concept in foreign language learning wherein a word in one language resembles or sounds like a word in another language but carries a different meaning; in linguistics, these are known as bilingual homophones or homographs. Homophones or homographs can lull the learner into a false sense of security when translating directly between two languages; failing to recognise this “friend” can trap the unwary learner by misleading them with a different meaning.
The term “false friends” was first introduced in a French book published in 1928, titled “Les faux amis, ou Les trahisons du vocabulaire anglais” (False friends, or the betrayals of English vocabulary).
Like many others, the German language contains several traps for its unsuspecting learners. Your German teacher may have identified these traps as “false friends”; you might have encountered other pitfalls yourself by committing an embarrassing faux pas. “False friends” often possess an etymological connection, but frequently they do not.
Common German-English false friends
Let us examine common “false friends” between German and English, while also providing some lexical and etymological context.
‘Aktuell’ means current or up to date, whereas ‘actual’ refers to something real or true.
Die Nachrichten sind aktuell. The news is up to date.
Angst refers to a general feeling of anxiety, dread, or trepidation. However, in German, die Angst signifies existential fear, a fear of something specific. This word was borrowed from German by the English.
“Bald” signifies “soon”; however, in English, it refers to a head of hair or its absence.
Loan words and etymological connections
Chef in English is the cook, whereas in German, der Chef is the boss or manager. This word is a loan word from French in both English and German that has not retained its meaning in English.
A gift can be a real clanger, as it means a present or souvenir in English. Das Gift in German means poison. The word gift has an etymological link to the verb to give, which we use when administering poison to dispatch our foe. We also use the verbs to bring joy to our friends with a little present.
The term ‘gymnasium’ in English refers to a place for physical exercise. Historically, it was a venue where the Greeks educated their youth in public by engaging them in physical activities. The German language has retained this term, which originally described a collegiate school focusing on Greek and Latin studies. The curriculum has certainly evolved, and today, a Gymnasium is a type of school in Germany that offers A-levels.
Miscellaneous false friends
A mobile phone is rather handy. The Germans pragmatically borrowed that very word, capitalised it, added an article, and thus, das Handy now refers to a mobile phone.
A rat is a quite unpleasant rodent that no one wants in or near their house. In German, however, the word “Rat” means council, counsel, or advice.
Der Rock is the skirt; the rock is a type of stone. It is difficult to work out the etymology of the German word, let alone if there is a link to its English homograph.
Die Wand, from Old Nordic, describes an internal wall in a building that used to be built using wattled twigs that were then covered with clay. In English, the wand describes a magical stick.
Other examples of “false friends” are fabric – die Fabrik, caution – die Kaution, Roman – der Roman, see – die See, stock – der Stock, tombola = die Tombola.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are false friends?
False friends are words in different languages that look or sound similar but have different meanings. For example, “Gift” means “poison” in German, not a present!
How can I avoid false friends when learning German?
To avoid mistakes, familiarise yourself with common false friends at your level of German, practice them in sentences and learn German with a native-speaking tutor.
Why do German and English have false friends?
Many false friends exist because German and English share historical linguistic roots but have evolved separately over time. One language has borrowed a word from another and given it a different meaning.
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