Fame

Meaning: Actually means 'hunger'. Ho fame = I'm hungry. For fame (renown), say fama.

Language: Italian

Literally: fame

Category: Food & Body

Origin: From Latin fames, 'hunger' — one letter from fama, 'renown', the real cognate of English 'fame'.

More false friends — Food & Body

• Vaso — Actually means 'a drinking glass'. A vase (for flowers) is un jarrón or florero.
• Constipado — Actually means 'having a head cold'. Estoy constipado = I have a cold.
• Pain — Actually means 'bread'. The hurting kind of pain is la douleur.
• Caldo — Actually means 'hot' (or a hot broth). Cold is freddo.
• Blesser — Actually means 'to wound' or 'to injure'. Je suis blessé = I am injured — not blessed.
• Glass — Actually means 'ice cream'. En glass = an ice cream. For a glass (vessel), say ett glas.

More Italian false friends

• Bravo — Actually means 'good, skilled, well-behaved'. For brave, say coraggioso.
• Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
• Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.
• Parente — Actually means 'relative'. A parent (mother or father) is un genitore.
• Annoiare — Actually means 'to bore'. Mi annoi = You're boring me — gentler than 'you're annoying me'.
• Firma — Actually means 'signature'. Metti la tua firma = Put your signature here.

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