False friendEveryday
Russian
RussianAktualny (Актуальный) (Aktualnyy)
Meaning: Actually means 'topical' or 'currently relevant'. For actual (real), say настоящий (nastoyashchiy).
Looks like: Actual
Origin: The same trap as Spanish actual and French actuel: Latin actualis froze on 'of this moment' across the continent, while English took it for emphasis.
More Russian false friends
- Magazin (Магазин) (Magazin) Actually means 'shop' or 'store'. A magazine (periodical) is журнал (zhurnal).
- Familiya (Фамилия) (Familiya) Actually means 'surname'. A family is семья (semya).
- Intelligentny (Интеллигентный) (Intelligentnyy) Actually means 'cultured' and 'well-mannered'. For clever, say умный (umny).
- Simpatichny (Симпатичный) (Simpatichnyy) Actually means 'good-looking' or 'likeable'. For sympathetic, say сочувствующий (sochuvst…
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