Top 10 'Faux Amis' That Cost You Points (And How to Avoid Them)

Published: January 9, 2026 | Category: Vocabulary | Read Time: 12 Mins

"Faux Amis" (False Friends) are the silent assassins of the TEF/TCF exam. Because French and English share 30-40% of their vocabulary history, it is tempting to just guess. "Actually" must be "Actuellement", right? Wrong.

When you misuse a False Friend in an exam:

1. You confuse the examiner. (Semantic Error).
2. You look like a beginner who translates directly from English rather than thinking in French.
3. You lose "Mastery" points.

Here are the Top 10 worst offenders that appear in immigration contexts, and what to use instead.

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1. Actuellement vs Actually

2. Assister vs Assist

3. Attendre vs Attend

4. Journée vs Journey

5. Location vs Location

6. Monnaie vs Money

7. Passer vs Pass (a test)

8. Rester vs Rest

9. Supporter vs Support

10. Visiter vs Visit

Conclusion

Memorize this list. If you use "En fait" instead of "Actuellement" during your Speaking Exam, you instantly sound 50% more fluent.

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