False Friends
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Vocabulário
- aktuellcurrent (NOT actual)
- eventuellpossibly (NOT eventually)
- sympathischlikeable (NOT sympathetic)
- sensibelsensitive (NOT sensible)
- bekommento receive (NOT to become)
- Giftpoison (NOT gift)
- bravwell-behaved (NOT brave)
- Kistebox/crate (NOT chest)
- Rentepension (NOT rent)
- Ratadvice (NOT rat)
False friends (falsche Freunde) are German words that look or sound similar to English words but have completely different meanings. At C1 level, these subtle traps must be mastered.
Common false friends:
- aktuell = current/up-to-date (NOT actual → tatsächlich)
- eventuell = possibly/perhaps (NOT eventually → schließlich)
- bekommen = to receive/get (NOT to become → werden)
- Gift = poison (NOT gift → Geschenk)
- sensibel = sensitive (NOT sensible → vernünftig)
Context-dependent traps:
- Ich bekomme einen Kaffee = I am getting a coffee (NOT I am becoming a coffee)
- Das ist eine aktuelle Studie = That is a current study (NOT actual study)
Register awareness: Some false friends exist between formal and informal German too. Recognising these cross-language pitfalls prevents embarrassing miscommunications.
Expressões
- Das ist aktuell ein großes ThemaCurrently a big topic (not actually)
- Eventuell komme ich späterI might come later (not eventually)
- Er ist sehr sympathischHe is very likeable (not sympathetic)
- Sie ist sehr sensibelShe is very sensitive (not sensible)
- Ich bekomme KopfschmerzenI am getting a headache (not becoming)
- Das ist Gift für die GesundheitThat is poison for health (not a gift)
Erros frequentes
Die aktuelle Wahrheit ist...Die tatsächliche Wahrheit ist...Aktuell means current, not actual. Use tatsächlich for actual.
Eventuell wird er kommen (meaning: in the end)Schließlich wird er kommenEventuell means possibly. For eventually, use schließlich.
Ich werde einen Kaffee bekommen (meaning: I will become)Ich bekomme einen Kaffee (meaning: I will get)Bekommen means to receive. To become is werden.
Das Geschenk ist GiftDas Geschenk ist ein Geschenk / Das Gift ist gefährlichGift means poison. Gift in English = Geschenk in German.
Er ist ein braver Mann (meaning: courageous)Er ist ein mutiger MannBrav means well-behaved. Brave = mutig.
Quiz rápido
Pergunta 1 de 5
Como se diz «pension (NOT rent)» em alemão?
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