German words that look like English words but mean something else. Learn what bekommen, Gift, Chef and Handy really mean before they trip you up.
bekommen
to get, to receive (not: to become)
werden
to become
das Gift
poison (not: gift)
das Geschenk
the gift, the present
der Chef
the boss (not: chef)
der Koch
the cook, the chef
das Handy
the mobile phone
praktisch
handy, practical
also
so, therefore (not: also)
auch
also
bald
soon (not: bald)
glatzköpfig
bald
fast
almost (not: fast)
schnell
fast, quick
will
want(s) (from wollen, not: will)
Ich werde kommen.
I will come.
der Rat
advice (not: rat)
die Ratte
the rat
sensibel
sensitive (not: sensible)
vernünftig
sensible
eventuell
possibly, perhaps (not: eventually)
schließlich
eventually, finally
aktuell
current, up to date (not: actual)
eigentlich
actually
die Fabrik
the factory (not: fabric)
der Stoff
the fabric, the material
das Gymnasium
the academic secondary school (not: gym)
das Fitnessstudio
the gym
die Mappe
the folder (not: map)
die Karte
the map; the card; the ticket
der Brief
the letter (not: brief)
kurz
short, brief
blank
shiny; broke, penniless (not: blank)
leer
empty, blank
spenden
to donate (not: to spend money)
ausgeben
to spend (money)
die Art
the type, the way (not: art)
die Kunst
art
der Mist
dung; rubbish, nonsense (not: mist)
der Nebel
the mist, the fog