False friendEverydaySwedish

Barn

Meaning: Actually means 'child'. A barn is en lada.

Looks like: Barn (the building)

Origin: From Old Norse barn, 'child' — the same word that survives in Scots as 'bairn'.

More false friends — Everyday

  • Sex Actually means 'six'. Klockan sex = six o'clock.
  • Bord Actually means 'table'. Ett bord för två = a table for two.
  • Stol Actually means 'chair' — any chair, backrest included. A stool is en pall.
  • Time Actually means 'hour'. En halv time = half an hour. Time in the general sense is tid.
  • Sky Actually means 'cloud'. The sky overhead is himmelen.
  • Familiya (Фамилия) (Familiya) Actually means 'surname'. A family is семья (semya).

More Swedish false friends

  • Rar Actually means 'sweet' or 'kind'. En rar person is a lovely person. (In Norwegian, rar me…
  • Grind Actually means 'gate' — the garden or field kind. To grind is mala.
  • Fart Actually means 'speed' or 'momentum'. Full fart = full speed ahead.
  • Bra Actually means 'good'. Det är bra = That's good.
  • Glass Actually means 'ice cream'. En glass = an ice cream. For a glass (vessel), say ett glas.
  • Semester Actually means 'holiday' or 'vacation'. A school semester is en termin.

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