French words that look like English words but mean something quite different. Learn the traps so you never say "pain" when you mean bread.
librairie
bookshop, bookstore; not "library". A library is "bibliothèque".
actuellement
currently, at the moment; not "actually". "Actually" is "en fait" or "en réalité".
Ă©ventuellement
possibly, if need be; not "eventually". "Eventually" is "finalement" or "Ă la fin".
sensible
sensitive; not "sensible". "Sensible" is "raisonnable" or "sensé".
assister
to attend, be present at (assister Ă ); not "to assist". "To assist" is "aider".
demander
to ask, ask for; not "to demand". "To demand" is "exiger" or "réclamer".
passer un examen
to take an exam, sit an exam; not "to pass". "To pass" an exam is "réussir".
prétendre
to claim, maintain; not "to pretend". "To pretend" is "faire semblant".
rester
to stay, remain; not "to rest". "To rest" is "se reposer".
attendre
to wait (for); not "to attend". "To attend" is "assister Ă ".
pain
bread; not "pain". "Pain" is "douleur".
coin
corner; not "coin". A coin is "une pièce de monnaie".
location
rental, renting; not "location". A location is "un endroit" or "un emplacement".
caution
deposit, guarantee; not "caution". "Caution" (carefulness) is "prudence".
ancien
old, ancient; before a noun often "former" (mon ancien patron = my former boss).
préservatif
condom; not a food "preservative". A preservative is "un conservateur".
embarrassé
awkward, uneasy, at a loss; also encumbered. Close to "embarrassed", but "gêné" is the usual word for that.
exciter
to arouse, stir up, work up (often sexual connotation); for "excite" in the sense of enthusiasm use "enthousiasmer" or "passionner".
large
wide, broad; not "large". "Large" (big) is "grand" or "gros".
sympathique
nice, friendly, likeable; not "sympathetic". "Sympathetic" is "compréhensif".
gentil
kind, nice, sweet; not "gentle". "Gentle" is "doux".
compréhensif
understanding, sympathetic; not "comprehensive". "Comprehensive" is "complet" or "exhaustif".
ignorant
unaware, uninformed (about a subject); milder than the English "ignorant".
eventually (English) vs. Ă©ventuellement (French)
English: "in the end" vs. French: "possibly". A big difference in timing and certainty!
library (English) vs. librairie (French)
English: "public library" vs. French: "bookshop". Different places entirely!
actually (English) vs. actuellement (French)
English: "in fact" vs. French: "currently, at present". A critical difference!
sensible (English) vs. sensible (French)
English: "reasonable, level-headed" vs. French: "sensitive". Different meanings!
to pass (English) vs. passer (French)
English: "to succeed (in an exam)" vs. French: "to take (an exam); to pass by, spend (time)".
to pretend (English) vs. prétendre (French)
English: "to make believe" vs. French: "to claim, assert". Different intent!
to rest (English) vs. rester (French)
English: "to relax, take a break" vs. French: "to stay, remain". Completely different!
to attend (English) vs. attendre (French)
English: "to be present at" vs. French: "to wait for". A critical difference!
pain (English-pain) vs. pain (French)
English: "suffering, ache" vs. French: "bread". Completely different!
coin (English) vs. coin (French)
English: "piece of money" vs. French: "corner". Different meanings!
location (English) vs. location (French)
English: "place, position" vs. French: "rental". A real estate trap!
caution (English) vs. caution (French)
English: "carefulness" vs. French: "deposit, guarantee". A legal and financial trap!
ancient (English) vs. ancien (French)
English: "very old, antique" vs. French: "old" or "former". Watch the word order!
embarrassed (English) vs. embarrassé (French)
English: "ashamed, self-conscious" vs. French: "awkward, at a loss" (gêné is closer to embarrassed).
lecture (English) vs. lecture (French)
English: "a talk, a class" vs. French: "reading". Completely different!
soutenir (French) vs. 'to sustain' (English)
French: "to support, back up; to defend (a thesis)" vs. English "to sustain": to maintain, keep going.
commenter (French) vs. 'to comment' (English)
French: "to explain, analyze (a text)" as well as to remark on vs. English "to comment": to make a remark.