False friends (English and German)
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.
Have a look at True friends as well. There you can see the words which are the same in German and in English.
This list is not complete. If you know more words, send them by e-mail.
| English word | German translation | false friend | correct English translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | Barkeeper | bartender |
| -- | -- | Hometrainer | exercise bikes  |
| -- | -- | Schwarzarbeiter | clandestine worker |
| -- | -- | Showmaster | host |
| -- | -- | USB Stick | USB drive |
| actual | wirklich, tatsächlich | aktuell | topical, current, |
| 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 |
| Beamer | BMW (Automarke) | Beamer | data projector computer projector |
| bench | Bank (zum Setzen) | bank | Bank (Geldinstitut) |
| billion | Milliarde | Billion | trillion billion  = true friend |
| 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 |
| bureau | Schreibtisch, Kommode |
Büro | office bureau = true friend(FBI = Federal Bureau of Investigation) |
| 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 |
| chef chief |
Küchenchef Häuptling |
Chef | boss |
| chips |
Pommes | Chips* | crisps chips |
| circle | Kreis | Zirkel | pair of compasses |
| city | Großstadt | City | centre, center |
| clever | klug | clever (gerissen/ schlau) |
crafty |
| college | Hochschule | Kollege | colleague |
| concept | Begriff, Idee | Konzept | draft |
| 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; Datteln |
Daten (Computer) | data |
| 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 |
| flatter | jmd. schmeicheln Komperativ von flat |
flattern | to flap, to flutter |
| 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 |
| fraction | Bruchteil, Bruchzahl | Fraktion | parliamentary party, group |
| fund | Fonds | Fund | discovery |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| herd | Herde | Herd | cooker, stove |
| 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 |
| idle | untätig | eitel | vain |
| irritate | jemanden verärgern | irritieren | to confuse |
| isolate | isoliert (z.B. einzeln) | isoliert (z.B. Fenster) | insulate |
| justice | Gerechtigkeit | Justiz | legal authorities |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| rabbit | Hase | Rabatt | discount |
| rat | Ratte | Rat | advice |
| rate | Maß, Menge, Rendite | Rate | instalment |
| receipt recipe |
Quittung Kochrezept |
Rezept (Arzt) | prescription |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| spices | Gewürze | Speisen | dishes |
| spot | Fleck, Punkt | Spott (Werbe)spot |
ridicule, mockery commercial, advert |
| stadium | Stadion | Stadium | stage |
| staple | Heftklammer, Krampe; hauptprodukt |
Stapel | stack, pile, mount |
| still | (immer) noch | still | quiet |
| stock | Vorrat, Bestand | Stock (Etage) | floor |
| Stock (Holz) | stick | ||
| stool | Hocker, | Stuhl | chair |
| stream | Bach, Flüsschen | Strom (Energie) Strom (Fluss) |
electricity 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 |
| theme | Motto | Thema | subject, topic |
| 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 lock | zuschließen | locken | to lure, to entice |
| to mince | etwas hacken, wie ein Homo***ueller laufen | 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 to realize |
einsehen, begreifen | realisieren | to implement, to liquidate |
| to resign | zurücktreten | resignieren | to give up |
| to ring | klingeln, anrufen | ringen | to wrestle, to struggle |
| to see; sea | sehen; Meer | See | lake |
| to send | verschicken | senden (TV) | to broadcast |
| to spare | übrig haben, jmd. verschonen | sparen | to save |
| to spend | ausgeben (Geld) verbringen (Zeit) |
spenden | to donate |
| 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 |
| undertaker | Leichenbestatter | Unternehmer | entrepreneur, employer |
| vest | Unterhemd | Weste | waistcoat, cardigan |
| vital | lebensnotwendig | vital | full of life |
| wall | Mauer, Wand | Wall | embankment, rampart |
| wand | Zauberstab | Wand | wall |
| warehouse | Lagerhaus | Warenhaus | department store |
| wellness | Wohlbefinden | Wellness hotel Wellness holiday |
spa health farm 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 are "Kartoffelchips" 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 | false friend | correct English translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| missed mist |
Daneben! Nebel, Dunst |
Mist! | Damn! |
| fee | Gebühr Grundbesitz |
Vieh | livestock |
Thanks to Achim, Alexej, Annika, Anita, Barbara, Bernhard, Brigitte, Carmen, Christiane, Daniel, Derya, Dierk, Erwin, Felix, Frederik, George, Glenn & Helga, Haid, Heidrun, Jean, Joachim, Joseph, Juergen, Kitty, Klaus, Manfred, Marianne, Marion, Michael, Mina, Mirko, Nina, Oliver, Paul, Pete, Prof. Dr. Braun, Robert, Susan, Susanne, Sylvia, Tom & Silke, Tilly, Torsten, Vanessa, Winfried, Wolf-Dietrich, Wolfgang for the words.
