Bra
Meaning: Actually means 'good'. Det är bra = That's good.
Language: Swedish
Looks like: bra (undergarment)
Category: Feelings
Origin: From French brave — Swedish kept 'fine/good'; nothing to do with lingerie.
More false friends — Feelings
- Slim — Actually means 'clever' or 'smart'. Hij is slim = He's clever.
- Stout — Actually means 'naughty' or 'mischievous'. Een stoute jongen = a naughty boy.
- Rolig — Actually means 'calm' or 'quiet'. (Confusingly, in Swedish rolig means 'funny' — a false…
- Déception — Actually means 'disappointment'. For deception (a trick), say tromperie.
- Disgusto — Actually means 'displeasure', 'upset', or 'trouble'. For disgust (revulsion), say asco.
- Brutaal — Actually means 'cheeky' or 'impudent'. For brutal, say wreed or bruut.
More Swedish false friends
- 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.
- Barn — Actually means 'child'. A barn is en lada.
- Sex — Actually means 'six'. Klockan sex = six o'clock.
- Bord — Actually means 'table'. Ett bord för två = a table for two.
- Rar — Actually means 'sweet' or 'kind'. En rar person is a lovely person. (In Norwegian, rar me…