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German false friend words alert! (Your ultimate list)

By Dr Popkins Leave a Comment

As German learners, we love the hundreds of words that look similar or even identical and mean the same in both German and English. They may be words with a common Germanic root (“cognates” such as the man and der Mann), modern borrowings from one language to the other (the Rucksack, die Party…) or words taken from another language (often French, Greek or Latin like the/der Professor). But there’s the odd fly in the ointment. Meet the German “false friend” words!

A German false friend word looks like an English word but actually means something quite different. In this post, you’ll find “Dr P’s German false cognate killer”: your must-have list of the most common (and frustrating!) German false friends.

German false friend words as a wolf in sheep's clothing
Friend or German false friend?

How to use the German / English false friend word list

In the first column of the list, you’ll find that wolf in sheep’s clothing, the German false friend. For nouns, you’ll see the gender (der, die or das) and the noun plural. Then, in the second column, we rip off that fleece to reveal the true meaning of the word. In column three, you’ll find the English false friend that looks so like the German and, in the final column, a German translation of the English false friend.

“Dr P’s German false cognate killer” is pretty comprehensive. So, alert yourself to these German false friends. It’ll make your guessing safer. After all, the intelligent guess is a useful took in any pro language learner’s toolbox. If a German word with an English lookalike isn’t on this list, they probably both have the same meaning.

Without further ado, here’s your list of false friends, those German words that don’t mean what you think they do.

The ultimate list of German and English false friend words

German false friendmeaning (English)English false friendmeaning (German)
aktuellcurrent(ly), up-to-date, topicalactualtatsächlich, wirklich
alsoso, thereforealsoauch
alternto agealterverändern
die Art (-en)way, type, sort, styleartdie Kunst (die Künste)
baldsoonbaldglatzköpfig, kahl
bekommento getbecomewerden
der Box (-en)loudspeaker (in box-shaped housing)boxdie Schachtel (-n)
(sich) blamierento embarrass oneself;   make a fool of selfto blamejemanden die Schuld geben
der Brand (die Brände)fire (wild, accidental)branddie Marke (-n)
der Chef (-s)bosschefder Chefkoch (die Köche)
damitwith that, therewithdamn  itVerdammt mal!
die Direktion (-en)management, administration
(or the office where management,
admin sits)
directiondie Richtung (-en)
der Direktor (-s)school principal, headteacherdirectorder Regisseur (-e)(of film), Vorstandsmitglied (-er)(on board of company)
der Dom (-e)cathedraldomedie Kuppel (-n)
engagiertcommittedengagedbesetzt (phone, WC) verlobt (to be married) 
eventuellpossible, perhapseventuallyschließlich
die Fabrik (-en)factoryfabricder Stoff (-e)
famosmarvelous, splendidfamousberühmt
fastalmostfastschnell
die Fraktion (-en)political party
or grouping
(in parliament)
fractionder Bruchteil (-e) (part of whole), die Bruchzahl (-en) (in maths)
der Fund (-e)discovery, findfundder Fonds (-)
die Hose (-n)trousers, pantshoseder Schlauch (die Schläuche)
das Gift (-e)poisongiftdas Geschenk (-e)
die Kaution (-en)bail, depositcautiondie Vorsicht (no pl)
der Kollege (-n)colleaguecollegedie Hochschule (-n)
das Konzept (-e)draftconceptder Begriff (-e), die Idee (-n)
konsequentconsistent, persistent, single mindedconsequentdarausfolgend
der Korn (die Körner)grain (of sand, salt etc); grain spirit (pl = Korne)corndas Getreide (-), das Maiz (no pl)
die Kraft (die Kräfte)strengthcraftdas Handwerk (-e)
kuriousstrangecuriousneugierig
das Gymnasium (Gymnasien)grammar school, academic high schoolgymnasiumdie Turnhalle(-n)
der Herd (-e)(cooking) stove, cooker.herddie Herde (-n)
die Hochschule (-n)universityhigh schooldie Oberschule (-n) 
die Hose (-n)trousers / pantshose (as in garden -)der Schlauch (die Schläuche)
irritierento confuseto irritate
die Kaution (-en)deposit (e.g. for rental apartment);
bail (criminal law)
caution, care (as in “take care” re: danger)die Vorsicht (no pl)
Kissencushionto kissküssen
die Lektüre (-n)readinglectureder Vortrag (Vorträge), die Vorlesung (-en)
der Lohn (die Löhne)wagesloandas Dalehen (-)
die Mappefolderder Stadtplan, die Kartemap of town, map
das Menü (-s)set mealmenudie Speisekarte (-n)
der Mist (no pl)dung, nonsense, rubbish
(somebody says)
mistder (leichte) Nebel (-)
das Objektiv (-e)lensobjectivedas Ziel (-e)
die Pest (no pl)plaguepestder Schädling (-e) (e.g. insects); der Quälgeist (-er)(e.g. irritating child)
die Probe (-n)rehearsal,  sampleprobedie Untersuchung (-en)(e.g. medical investigation), erforschen, die Sonde (-) (instrument)]
der Prozess (-e)court caseprocessder Vorgang (-gänge) das Verfahren]
das Programm (-e) (TV)channelprogram(me)die Sendung (-en)
die Promotion (-en)doctorate, studies for doctorate. promotiondie Beförderung (-en) (in job); die Werbung (-en) (marketing)
die Provision (-en)commission
(e.g. to estate
agent, realtor)
provisiondie Versorgung (-en)(eg of food, supplies); die Vorkehrung (-en)(precautions)
das Publikum (no pl)audiencethe publicdie Öffentlichkeit (no pl)
der Rat (pl: Ratschläge)advice; council
(decision making
body)
ratdie Ratte
die Rente (-n)pensionrentdie Miete (-n)
ringento wrestle, struggleto ringanrufen (phone); klingeln (doorbell)
der Rock (die Röcke)skirtrockder Stein (-e) (lit: stone but as in “Steingarten” – rock garden);  der Felsen (-) (rock formation, cliff)
der Sekt (-e)sparkling winesectdie Konfession (-en); die Sekte (-n)]
seriösrespectable;
genuine
seriousernst
sendento broadcastto sendverschicken
der Schellfish (-e)haddockshellfishdie Schalentiere (collective noun)
der Sinn (-e)sensesindie Sünde (-n)
der Spott (no pl)mockery,
derision, satire
spotdie Flecke (-n) (blemish); der Punkt (Punkte)(point)
stillquietstillimmer noch
wandernto walk, hiketo wander
winkento waveto winkzwinkern
die Wand (Wände)wall(magic) wanddie Zauberstab (-stäbe)
weitdistantwidebreit

At which level do I need to worry about German false cognates?

When you’re a beginner in German, I wouldn’t worry too much about false friends. Few of those on the list are the type of high-frequency, essential words that you need when you’re getting started. Upper-intermediate and advanced learners will likely understand enough context around a “false friend” to realise that it probably doesn’t mean what it might seem to. It’s the intermediate learner who’ll benefit most from paying good attention to the list. Are you an intermediate learner struggling to get focussed in a steady routine as you expand your vocab, build your grammar and hone your listening skills? I might just be able to help! Check out my flagship Weekly German Workouts course for more info.

What do you think?

Any more words I should add to the list? Let me know in the comments below and we’d love to hear any war stories you have of how these German false friend words have caught you out. Remember, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger! Happy vocab buliding!

Discover how YOU can use Dr P's free Weekly Workout Routine to get ready for more confident German conversations in a matter of weeks. Click here to get the training !

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Filed Under: B1 German Tagged With: German A2 to B1, German vocabulary

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