Barn

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

Language: Swedish

Literally: barn (the building)

Category: Everyday

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) — 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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