Faux Amis Flashcards
F: Abandon
a noun that means abandonment, desertion, neglect, or giving up. It can also mean abandon, especially with a verb: danser avec abandon - to dance with abandon. Abandonner = to abandon.
Abandon (E) = abandon
Habileté
refers to a skill, cleverness, a talent, or a skillful move.
Ability (E) is a similar but weaker term, translatable by une aptitude, une capacité, or une compétence.
Abuser / s’abuser
means to exploit, abuse, take advantage of, deceive, or mislead. S’abuser means to be mistaken or to delude oneself.
Abuse (E) can be translated by abuser, injurier, insulter, or maltraiter.
accidenté
an adjective: hilly, undulating, or damaged - or a noun: casualty, injured person. Accidenter means to injure or damage.
Accidental (E) means accidentel (bad) or fortuit (good).
Achèvement
completion/culmination of something
Achievement has the more positive sense of attaining something that was sought after: exploit réussite, accomplissement
Achever
usually means to finish, end, complete, reach. It can also be more figurative: to finish off, destroy, kill.
Achieve (E) = accomplir, réaliser, atteindre.
Acompte
refers to a deposit, down payment, or installment.
Account (E) = un compte.
F: Action
can mean action as well as act or a share of stock.
Action (E) = action or effet.
Actually (E)
en fait or à vrai dire.
Adepte
a noun: follower or enthusiast.
Adept (E) is an adjective: compétent or expert.
Adresse (F)
a mailing, email, or spoken address or to deftness, skill, or dexterity.
Address (E) = une adresse or un discours.
Affluence (F)
e.g: ‘il y avait une affluence attendant
à la porte’
A crowd of people
e.g. there were crowds waiting at the door
Agenda (F)
A datebook
Agenda (E) = l’ordre du jour or le programme
Agonie (F)
refers to death pangs or mortal agony.
Agony (E) means severe physical or mental pain, but not necessarily just this side of death: angoisse, supplice.
Agrément (F)
charm, attractiveness, or pleasantness.
Agreement (E) = accord or harmonie.
Allée (F)
a generic term for any sort of road or path: lane, path, avenue, driveway, etc.
It can also refer to an aisle.
Alley (E) = une ruelle.
Allure (F)
normally refers to speed or pace: rouler à toute allure - to drive at full speed. It can also refer to an appearance or look. Allures refers to behavior or ways.
Allure (E) indicates charm or attrait.
Altérer (F)
can mean alter, but it nearly always has a negative connotation: distort, falsify, tamper with, spoil, debase.
Alter (E) = changer, modifier, transformer,
Apologie (F)
three different meanings. The original meaning of defense or plea is related to the judiciary meaning of vindication or justification. The current and most common meaning is praise.
Apology (E) = les excuses.
Are (F)
an area of one hundred square meters.
Argument (F)
Only refers to a mathematical or philosophical argument
Assistance (F)
Primary meaning is audience
Assumer (F)
only means to assume in the sense of taking on responsibility or assuming control. It also means to hold a job or fulfill a role.
Assume (E) is a semi-false cognate. In addition to assumer, it can also mean supposer or présumer.
Audience (F)
semi-false cognate. In addition to the meaning of the English word, it can signify: Votre audience, s’il vous plaît - Your attention, please. Ce projet a une large audience - This project has a lot of attention. Donner audience à quelqu’un - To meet with / listen to someone. Une audience publique - A public meeting.
Audience (E) is a group of spectators or listeners.
Dalle (F)
A paving stone. Dale (E) = une vallée or un vallon
Décade (F)
A period of ten days (!) (E) = une décennie
Déception (F)
A disappointment or let-down. Deception (E) = une tromperie or duperie