French False Cognates: The 25 Most Dangerous Words to Avoid
PrepMyFrench Editorial Automation
16 min read
You're in the middle of your TEF Canada writing section, crafting a strong argument about workplace diversity. You write: "Actuellement, les entreprises doivent embaucher plus de femmes." You think you've just said "Actually, companies must hire more women." But what you actually wrote is "Currently, companies must hire more women." That's a completely different meaning — and it could cost you points. This blog post covers the 25 most dangerous French false cognates (faux amis) that sound like English but mean something else entirely. After reading, you'll be able to spot these traps in reading and listening tasks, avoid them in your own writing and speaking, and boost your score on any French exam — TEF, TCF, DELF, or DALF.
1. Actuellement vs Actually
This is the #1 false cognate that TEF and TCF candidates misuse. "Actuellement" means "currently" or "at the present time," not "actually."
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❌ Wrong: "Actuellement, je suis d'accord avec vous." (Intended: Actually, I agree with you.)
✅ Correct: "En fait, je suis d'accord avec vous." (Actually, I agree with you.)
✅ Correct use of actuellement: "Actuellement, je prépare le TEF Canada." (Currently, I'm preparing for the TEF Canada.)
Exam tip: In writing tasks, if you want to express contrast or correction, use "en fait" or "en réalité." Save "actuellement" for describing the present situation.
2. Sensible vs Sensitive
"Sensible" in French means "sensitive" — the opposite of what it means in English. The French word for "sensible" is "raisonnable" or "sensé."
❌ Wrong: "C'est une personne très sensible." (Intended: She's a very sensible person.)
✅ Correct: "C'est une personne très raisonnable." (She's a very sensible person.)
✅ Correct use of sensible: "Elle est très sensible aux critiques." (She's very sensitive to criticism.)
Exam tip: In speaking tasks, using "sensible" to mean "sensitive" is a common error that examiners flag. Practice the distinction in your speaking practice sessions.
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"Location" in French means "rental" (as in renting a car or apartment), not "location" (place). The French word for "location" is "emplacement" or "lieu."
❌ Wrong: "Quelle est la location de la réunion ?" (Intended: What's the location of the meeting?)
✅ Correct: "Quel est le lieu de la réunion ?" (What's the location of the meeting?)
✅ Correct use of location: "Je cherche une location de voiture." (I'm looking for a car rental.)
10. Monnaie vs Money
"Monnaie" means "change" (coins) or "currency," not "money" in general. The French word for "money" is "argent."
❌ Wrong: "J'ai besoin de monnaie pour payer." (Intended: I need money to pay.)
✅ Correct: "J'ai besoin d'argent pour payer." (I need money to pay.)
✅ Correct use of monnaie: "Avez-vous de la monnaie ?" (Do you have change?)
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"Habit" in French means "outfit" or "suit," not "habit" (routine). The French word for "habit" is "habitude."
❌ Wrong: "C'est un mauvais habit." (Intended: It's a bad habit.)
✅ Correct: "C'est une mauvaise habitude." (It's a bad habit.)
✅ Correct use of habit: "Il porte un habit élégant." (He's wearing an elegant suit.)
16. Ignorer vs To Ignore
"Ignorer" means "to not know" or "to be unaware of," not "to ignore" (deliberately pay no attention). The French verb for "to ignore" is "faire semblant de ne pas voir/entendre."
❌ Wrong: "Il m'ignore." (Intended: He's ignoring me.)
✅ Correct: "Il fait semblant de ne pas me voir." (He's pretending not to see me.)
✅ Correct use of ignorer: "J'ignore la réponse." (I don't know the answer.)
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"Journée" means "day" (as in the duration of a day), not "journey" (trip). The French word for "journey" is "voyage."
❌ Wrong: "J'ai fait une longue journée." (Intended: I took a long journey.)
✅ Correct: "J'ai fait un long voyage." (I took a long journey.)
✅ Correct use of journée: "J'ai passé une bonne journée." (I had a good day.)
18. Lettre vs Letter
"Lettre" means "letter" (of the alphabet or a written message), but also "literature" in some contexts. However, the English word "letter" can also mean "letter" as in a written message — this one is actually a true friend in that sense. But be careful: "lettre" does NOT mean "letter" as in "letter of the law" (that's "lettre" too, but the expression is different). The trap is that "lettre" is not used for "letter" in the sense of "letter of credit" (that's "lettre de crédit").
✅ Correct: "J'ai écrit une lettre." (I wrote a letter.)
✅ Correct: "La lettre 'A' est la première." (The letter 'A' is the first.)
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"Médecin" means "doctor," not "medicine." The French word for "medicine" is "médicament" or "médecine" (the field).
❌ Wrong: "Je dois prendre mon médecin." (Intended: I need to take my medicine.)
✅ Correct: "Je dois prendre mon médicament." (I need to take my medicine.)
✅ Correct use of médecin: "Je vais chez le médecin." (I'm going to the doctor.)
20. Parent vs Parent
"Parent" in French means "relative" (including parents, but also other relatives), not just "parent" (mother/father). The French word for "parent" (mother/father) is also "parent," but be careful: "mes parents" means "my parents" (mother and father), while "mes proches" means "my close relatives."
✅ Correct: "Mes parents habitent à Paris." (My parents live in Paris.)
✅ Correct: "C'est un parent éloigné." (He's a distant relative.)
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Use a French-English dictionary that flags false friends (e.g., WordReference often notes them).
In reading tasks, when you see a word that looks like English, double-check its meaning in context before answering.
Write sample sentences for each false cognate and have a tutor or language partner review them.
For TEF/TCF writing, keep a list of these words near your practice desk.
How to Practice False Cognates for Your Exam
The best way to master these words is through active practice. Use our vocabulary tools to create custom flashcard sets focusing on false cognates. For writing tasks, try composing short paragraphs that deliberately use these words correctly — then check against the list above. For speaking, record yourself using each word in a sentence and listen for errors. You can also work with a French tutor who can give you real-time feedback on your usage.
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Q: How many false cognates are there in French?
A: There are hundreds, but the 25 listed here are the most common and most dangerous for exam contexts. Focus on mastering these first before moving on to less frequent ones.
Q: Will using a false cognate automatically fail me in TEF/TCF?
A: No, but it can lower your score in vocabulary and coherence categories. In writing and speaking, one or two errors might not fail you, but repeated mistakes signal weak vocabulary control.
Q: How can I remember which words are false friends?
A: Create mental associations. For example, "actuellement" sounds like "actual" but think of "actuel" meaning "current" (like "actualité" = news). Or use mnemonics: "sensible" = "sensitive" (both start with 's').
Q: Are there false cognates in listening tasks too?
A: Yes. In TCF Canada listening, you might hear "actuellement" in a news report and think it means "actually" — but the context will be about current events. Train your ear with our listening practice exercises that include false cognates.
Now that you know the 25 most dangerous false cognates, it's time to practice. Try writing a 150-word paragraph about your daily routine using at least five of these words correctly. Then, use our writing practice tool to get feedback on your usage. For speaking, record yourself explaining a recent news event and check if you used any false cognates incorrectly. Consistent practice will turn these traps into strengths.
