False friendEveryday
Russian
Artist (Артист) (Artist)
Meaning: Actually means 'performer' — an actor, singer or circus artiste. A painter is художник (khudozhnik).
Looks like: Artist
Origin: Russian follows the French artiste, reserving the word for the performing arts rather than the visual ones.
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…
- Aktualny (Актуальный) (Aktualnyy) Actually means 'topical' or 'currently relevant'. For actual (real), say настоящий (nasto…
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Пришла беда — отворяй ворота (Prishla beda — otvoryay vorota) Misfortunes never come alone; once trouble starts, more follows.
- Там хорошо, где нас нет (Tam khorosho, gde nas net) Other places always seem better than where you are.
- Тише едешь — дальше будешь (Tishe edesh' — dal'she budesh') Going steadily gets you further than rushing.
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