False friends in English and German Vocabulary
In the table below there are words which can be confusing for German speakers. In the first column you can see the English word, in the second the correct German translation and in the third the ›false friend‹. In the last column you can see the correct English translation of this word.
This list is not complete. If you know more words, send them by e-mail, please.
English Word | German Translation | False Friend | Correct English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
-- | -- | Messie | hoarder |
-- | -- | Hometrainer | exercise bikes |
-- | -- | Schwarzarbeiter | clandestine worker |
-- | -- | Showmaster | host |
abattoir | Schlachthof | Abitur | A Levels / High School Diploma (Irland: Leaving Certificate) |
actual | eigentlich, tatsächlich | aktuell | topical, current, up-to-date |
alley | Gasse, Gang | Allee | avenue |
also | auch | also | so |
ambulance | Krankenwagen | Ambulanz | BE: A & E (accident and emergency department) |
AE: ER (emergency room) | |||
ankle | Fußknöchel | Enkel | grandchild |
announcement | Ansage, Durchsage | Annonce | advertisement |
apart | auseinander, einzeln | apart | fancy |
arm | Arm | arm | poor |
art | Kunst | Art | way, sort, kind |
backside | Hinterteil | Rückseite | back |
bald | kahl (Glatze) | bald | soon |
barkeeper | Barbesitzer, Gastwirt | Barkeeper | barman, barmaid, bartender |
Beamer | BMW (Automarke) | Beamer | data projector, computer projector |
bench | Bank (zum Setzen) | Bank (Geldinstitut) | bank |
beast | Bestie (in der Umgangssprache auch Biest möglich) | Biest | (wild) animal |
billion | Milliarde | Billion | trillion |
biro | Kugelschreiber | Büro | office |
bloody steak | verdammtes Steak | blutiges Steak | rare steak |
board | Tafel | Bord | shelf |
body | Körper | Body | bodysuit |
bodybag | Leichensack | Bodybag | mono-strap backpack |
bone | Knochen | Bein | leg |
box | Schachtel | Box (Lautsprecher) | (loud)speaker |
brand | Marke | Brand | fire |
brave | mutig | brav | good, well-behaved, honest |
brief | kurz | Brief | letter |
briefcase | Aktentasche | Brieftasche | wallet |
bright | hell | breit | wide |
bureau | Schreibtisch, Kommode | Büro | office |
bureau = true friend (FBI = Federal Bureau of Investigation) | |||
by (date/time) | nicht später als | bis | until, some time before |
café | kleines Restaurant | Kaffee | coffee |
callboy | Gehilfe des Souffleurs (Theater) oder: Hotelboy | Callboy | male prostitute |
Calm down. | Beruhige dich. | Komm herunter. | Come down. |
card | (Visiten)Karte, Karton | (Land)Karte | map |
caution | Vorsicht | Kaution | bail, deposit |
chance | Zufall, Glück | Chance | opportunity |
character | Figur, Rolle (Film, Theater) | -- | -- |
chef | Küchenchef |
Chef | boss |
chief | Häuptling | ||
chips | Pommes | Chips* | crisps |
chips | |||
circle | Kreis | Zirkel | pair of compasses |
city | Großstadt | City | centre, center |
clever | klug | clever (gerissen/schlau) | crafty |
closet | Schrank (meistens für Kleidung) | Klosett | toilet |
college | Hochschule | Kollege | colleague |
concept | Begriff, Idee | Konzept | draft |
conception | Empfängins | ||
concern | Belang, Anliegen, Angelegenheit | Konzern | (corporate) group, affiliated group |
concrete | Beton | konkret | specific |
concurrence | Einverständnis, Mitwirkung | Konkurrenz | competition |
confession | Beichte, Geständnis | Konfession | denomination, religion |
consequent | daraus folgend | konsequent | consistent |
corn | Getreide, Mais | Korn | grain |
costume | Verkleidung | Kostüm (Mode) | suit |
craft | Handwerk | Kraft | strength |
critic | Kritiker | Kritik | criticism |
curious | neugierig | kurios | strange |
dates | Termine, Verabredungen | Daten (Computer) | data |
Datteln | |||
decent | anständig | dezent | discreet, modest |
defect | überlaufen (politisch), aber auch: der Defekt | defekt | defective, fault, out of order |
delicate | empfindlich | delikat | delicious; exquisite |
demented | wahnsinnig (demenzkrank) | dementiert | denied, refuted |
desert | Wüste | Dessert | dessert |
direction | Richtung | Direktion | management |
director | Regisseur | Direktor | headteacher, headmaster |
dome | Kuppel | Dom | cathedral |
dose | dosis | Dose | can, tin |
dumb** | stumm | dumm | foolish, silly, stupid |
eagle | Adler | Igel | hedgehog |
engaged | verlobt; besetzt (Telefon, WC) | engagiert | committed |
equal | gleich | egal | to be all the same, identical |
etiquette | Etikette | Etikett | label, price tag |
eventually | irgendwann; schließlich | eventuell | possible |
evergreen | immergrüne Pflanze | Evergreen | oldie |
fabric | Stoff | Fabrik | factory |
failure | Mißerfolg, Versagen | Fehler | mistake |
familiar | bekannt, vertraut | familiär | family |
famous | berühmt | famos | splendid |
fantasy | Vorstellung, Einbildung | Fantasie (Kreativität) | imagination |
fart | Furz | Fahrt | journey |
fast | schnell | fast | almost |
fever | Krankheit (z.B. Gelbfieber) | Fieber | temperature |
fire | Feuer | Feuer (Feuerzeug) | lighter |
flatter | jmd. schmeicheln | flattern | to flap, to flutter |
Komperativ von flat | |||
flesh | Fleisch (als Teil des Körpers) | Fleisch (zum Essen) | meat |
floor | Fußboden | Flur | hall |
for | für, denn | vor | in front of |
before | |||
for 10 years | seit 10 Jahren | seit 1996 | since 1996 |
formula | Formel | Formular | form |
foul; fowl | stinkig, Foul; Geflügel | faul | lazy |
fraction | Bruchteil, Bruchzahl | Fraktion | parliamentary party, group |
fund | Fonds | Fund | discovery |
gaffer | Vorarbeiter | Gaffer | gaper |
genial | angenehm, froh | genial | brilliant |
genie | Geist (z.B. aus einer Lampe - Aladdin) | Genie | genius |
gift | Geschenk | Gift | poison |
girdle | Hüfthalter | Gürtel | belt |
glance | Blick | Glanz | glory, shine |
gracious | gütig, liebenswürdig | graziös | graceful |
ground | (Erd)boden, gemahlen | Grund | reason |
grounds (Motiv) | |||
gut | Darm | gut | good |
guesthouse | Pension | Gasthaus | restaurant, pub |
guilty | schuldig | gültig | valid |
gymnasium (gym) | Turnhalle | Gymnasium | grammar school, high school |
handy | griffbereit, brauchbar, praktisch, nützlich | Handy | mobile , mobile phone |
cellphone , cellular phone | |||
happen | geschehen, ereignen | Happen | snack |
hardly | kaum | hart | hard |
hat | Hut | (er/sie) hat | (he/she) has |
hell | Hölle | hell | bright |
herd | Herde | Herd | cooker, stove |
heft | Gewicht | Heft | exercise book, magazine |
high-school | weiterführende Bildungseinrichtung (Sekundarstufe) | Hochschule | college, university |
hose | Schlauch | Hose | trousers |
pants | |||
housemaster | Heimleiter (Internat) | Hausmeister | caretaker, janitor |
housework | Hausarbeit | Hausaufgaben | homework |
human | menschlich (Charakterzug) | human (Eigenschaft des Menschseins) | humane |
hut | Hütte | Hut | hat |
I can | ich kann | ich kenne | I know |
iced coffee | Kaffee mit Eiswürfeln | Eiskaffee | ice cream with coffee |
idle | untätig | eitel | vain |
intriguing | faszinierend | intrigant | scheming |
irritate | jemanden verärgern | irritieren | to confuse |
isolate | isoliert (z.B. einzeln) | isoliert (z.B. Fenster) | insulate |
justice | Gerechtigkeit | Justiz | legal authorities |
kiss; peck | Kuss; Küsschen | Kissen | cushion |
kitchen | Küche | Kittchen (Gefängnis) | prison |
lager | (Lager)bier | Lager | warehouse, storehouse, depot |
lake | See | Lake | brine |
learned, learnt | gelernt | gelehrt | scholary |
lecture | Vortrag | Lektüre | reading |
lemon | Zitrone | Limone | lime |
list | Liste | List | trick |
loan | Kredit, Darlehen | Lohn | wages |
lyrics | Liedtext | Lyrik | poetry |
manager | Filialleiter, Verwalter | Manager | chief executive officer (CEO) |
map | Landkarte, Stadtplan | Mappe (Hefter) | folder |
mark | Note (Zensur) | Marke | brand |
marmalade | spezielle Marmelade (aus Zitrusfrüchten) | Marmelade | jam |
massive | riesig | massiv | solid |
meaning | Bedeutung | Meinung | opinion |
meet | treffen | Miete | rent |
menu | Speisekarte | Menü | set meal |
mess | Unordnung | Messe | fair; mass |
mice | Mäuse | Mais | corn , maize |
mist | leichter Nebel | Mist | dung (Stall), rubbish (Quatsch) |
mode | Modus | Mode | fashion |
most | am meisten | Most | Obstsaft. Traubensaft (süddt. Obstwein) |
mundane | alltäglich, profan | mondän | fashionable, chic |
murder | Mord | Mörder | murderer |
musical box | Spieldose | Musikbox | juke-box |
must not | etwas nicht dürfen | nicht müssen | not to have to |
note | Notiz | Note (Zensur) | mark |
notice | Schild, Beachtung, Benachrichtigung | Notiz | note |
novel | Roman | Novelle | novella |
objective | Ziel | Objektiv | lens |
old-timer | Veteran | Oldtimer | classic car , old car, vintage car , veteran car (before 1916) |
ordinary | gewöhnlich | ordinär | vulgar |
packet | Packung, Schachtel | Paket | parcel |
pathetic | lächerlich, albern, jämmerlich | pathetisch | emotional, dramatic, emotive |
patron | Schirmherr, Stammkunde | Patrone | cartridge |
payback | Rache, heimzahlen | Payback (Rabattsystem) | - |
personal | persönlich | Personal | personnel, staff |
pest | Schädling; Quälgeist | Pest | plague |
petroleum | Erdöl | Petroleum | paraffin, kerosene |
photograph | Foto, Bild | Fotograf | photographer |
physician | Arzt | Physiker | physicist |
pickle | Essiggurke | Pickel | pimple, spot, zit |
plate | Teller | Platte | slab, platter, record |
pole | Stange | Pole | Polish |
poor | arm | pur | pure |
pregnant | schwanger | prägnant | concise |
preservative | Konservierungsmittel | Präservativ | condom |
principal | hauptsächlich | prinzipiell | fundamental |
probe | untersuchen, erforschen, Sonde (Medizin) | Probe | rehearsal, sample |
process | Verfahren, Methode | Prozess (Gericht) | trial, legal proceedings |
procurer | Zuhälter | Prokurist | attorney |
programme (TV) | Sendung | Programm (TV) | channel |
promotion | Beförderung, Werbung | Promotion | doctorate, PhD |
prospect | Aussicht | Prospekt | brochure, leaflet |
protocol | Verhandlungsordnung, Protokoll (bei Hofe) | Protokoll (bei einer Besprechung) | minutes (of a meeting) |
Protokoll (EDV) | log | ||
provision | Versorgung, Vorkehrung | Provision | commission |
psychic | übernatürlich, aber auch: psychisch | psychisch | psychological |
public | Öffentlichkeit | Publikum | audience |
public viewing | öffentliche Aufbahrung (eines Leichnams) | public viewing | public presentation/performance/show |
rabbit | Hase | Rabatt | discount |
rat | Ratte | Rat | advice |
rate | Maß, Menge, Rendite | Rate | instalment |
receipt | Quittung | Rezept (Arzt) | prescription |
recipe | Kochrezept | ||
reclamation | Rückforderung, Wiedergewinnung | Reklamation | complaint |
rent | mieten | Rente | pension |
rentable | mietbar | rentabel | profitable |
rock | Stein, Fels | Rock | skirt |
roman | römisch | Roman | novel |
schmuck | Depp, Schwachkopf | Schmuck | jewelry |
jewellery | |||
scrupulous | gewissenhaft, penibel, pingelig | skrupellos | ruthless, merciless, unscrupulous |
sea | das Meer (die See) | der See | lake |
searcher | Suchender, Suchtrupp | Sucher (Kamera) | (view)finder |
sect | Sekte, Konfession | Sekt | sparkling wine |
self-conscious | verlegen | selbstbewusst | self-confident |
sense | Sinn | Sense | scythe |
sensible | vernünftig | sensibel | sensitive |
serious | ernst | seriös | respectable |
shellfish (crustacean) | Schalentier | Schellfisch | haddock |
silicon | Silizium (chemisches Element, Hableiter) | Silikon (Polymerverbindung, Dichtungsmasse, Implantatmaterial) | silicone |
sin | Sünde | Sinn | sense |
slip | Unterkleid/Unterrock | Slip, Schlüpfer | knickers , panties , briefs |
slipper | Pantoffel | ||
smoking | Rauchen | Smoking | tuxedo, dinner jacket |
snake | Schlange | Schnecke | snail, slug |
spanner | Schraubenschlüssel | Spanner | peeping Tom |
spices | Gewürze | Speisen | dishes |
spinner | Kreisel | Spinner | idiot, nutcase |
spot | Fleck, Punkt | Spott | ridicule, mockery |
(Werbe)spot | commercial, advert | ||
stadium | Stadion | Stadium | stage |
staple | Heftklammer, Krampe; Hauptprodukt | Stapel | stack, pile, mount |
stark | schlicht, einfach | stark | strong, powerful, heavy |
still | (immer) noch | still | quiet |
stock | Vorrat, Bestand | Stock (Etage) | floor |
Stock (Holz) | stick | ||
stool | Hocker, | Stuhl | chair |
stream | Bach, Flüsschen | Strom (Energie) | electricity |
Strom (Fluss) | river | ||
strong | stark | streng | strict |
study | Arbeitszimmer | Studium | studies |
stuff | Zeug, Sachen | Stoff | material |
suit | Anzug | Suite | suite |
sympathetic | mitfühlend, verständnisvoll | sympathisch | nice, pleasant, likable |
tablet | Tablette | Tablett | tray |
tachometer | Drehzahlmesser | Tachometer, Tacho | speedometer, speedo |
theme | Motto | Thema | subject, topic |
tier | Reihe | Tier | animal |
to be thick | dumm, blöd sein | dicke Freunde sein | to be close friends |
to become | werden | bekommen | to get |
to blame | jemandem die Schuld geben | (sich) blamieren | to make a fool of oneself |
to conserve | einsparen | konservieren | to preserve |
to control | regulieren, beherrschen, steuern | kontrollieren (überprüfen) | to check, to monitor |
to fabricate | erfinden, ausdenken | fabrizieren | to manufacture, to produce |
to fasten | befestigen; etwas schließen | fasten | to fast |
to grab | nach etwas greifen | graben | to dig |
to irritate | jemanden verärgern | irritieren | to confuse |
to leave for good | für immer weggehen | im Guten gehen | to end up on the best of terms |
to lock | zuschließen | locken | to lure, to entice |
to mince | etwas hacken | Minze | mint |
to mob | umringen, umlagern | mobben | to bully |
to overhear | etwas zufällig mitbekommen | überhören | not to hear s.th. |
to oversee | beaufsichtigen | übersehen | to overlook |
to overtake | überholen | übernehmen | to take over |
to prove | beweisen | prüfen | to check |
to realise | einsehen, begreifen | realisieren | to implement, to liquidate |
to realize | |||
to resign | zurücktreten | resignieren | to give up |
to ring | klingeln, anrufen | ringen | to wrestle, to struggle |
to see | sehen | der See | lake |
to send | verschicken | senden (TV) | to broadcast |
to spare | übrig haben, jmd. verschonen | sparen | to save |
to spend | ausgeben (Geld) | spenden | to donate |
verbringen (Zeit) | |||
to spot | entdecken | spotten | to mock |
to wander | ziellos umherstreifen | wandern | to walk |
to wink | zwinkern | winken | to wave |
to wonder | sich fragen | sich wundern | to be surprised |
toll | Maut | toll | great |
traffic | Verkehr | Trafik (Österreich) | tobacco shop |
undertaker | Leichenbestatter | Unternehmer | entrepreneur, employer |
vest | Unterhemd | Weste | waistcoat, cardigan vest |
vital | lebensnotwendig | vital | full of life |
wall | Mauer, Wand | Wall | embankment, rampart |
wand | Zauberstab | Wand | wall |
war | Krieg | (ich) war | (I) was |
warehouse | Lagerhaus | Warenhaus | department store |
wellness | Wohlbefinden | Wellness hotel | spa |
health farm | |||
Wellness holiday | pampering weekend | ||
when | wann | wenn | if (condition) |
when (time) | |||
where | wo | wer | who |
while | während | weil | because, as |
to whimper | winseln | Wimper | eyelash |
who | wer | wo | where |
wide | breit | weit (entfernt) | far |
I will | ich werde | ich will | I want (I would like) |
* The German Chips are crisps in British English, in American English the German word for Chips is a true friend. Here Kartoffelchips are potato chips.
** dumb can mean dumm in informal English – to play dumb
There are also false friends in spoken language, e.g.
English Word | German Translation | FalseFriend | Correct English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
missed | Daneben! | Mist! | Damn! |
mist | Nebel, Dunst | ||
fee | Gebühr | Vieh | livestock |
Grundbesitz |
Thanks to Achim, Alexej, Aline, Anna, Annika, Anita, Barbara, Bernhard, Brigitte, Carmen, Christian, Christiane, Christoph, Claudia, Daniel, Derya, Dierk, Don, Erwin, Eva, Felix, Frederik, George, Glenn & Helga, Grzegorz, Haid, Hans-Hermann, Heidrun, Jack, Jean, Joachim, Joe, Joseph, Juergen, Kat, Ken, Kitty, Klaus, Manfred, Marianne, Marion, Martin, Matt, Michael, Mike, Mina, Mirko, Nina, Oliver, Otto, Paul, Pete, Peter, Prof. Dr. Braun, Robert, Simon, Simone, Stefan, Stuart, Susan, Susanne, Sylvia, Tom & Silke, Tilly, Torsten, Uli, Vanessa, Winfried, Wolf-Dietrich, Wolfgang for the words.