false friend



Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!

false friend

A phrase, word, or letter that sounds or looks similar to one in another language or dialect but has a significantly different meaning. I used the word "embarazada" to tell my Spanish friend I was embarrassed, not knowing that it was a false friend and actually means "pregnant"—now I'm even more embarrassed!
See also: false, friend

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
BolekBAW-lekPolish
Fulvius-Ancient Roman
MatĚJ-Czech
Mahine-Persian
Mikhayhu-Biblical Hebrew
Charna-Yiddish