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Fart

Meaning: Actually means 'speed' or 'momentum'. Full fart = full speed ahead.

Language: Swedish

Literally: fart

Category: Everyday

Origin: From Old Norse ferð, 'journey/movement' — a perfectly respectable word in Scandinavia.

More false friends — Everyday

  • Semester — Actually means 'holiday' or 'vacation'. A school semester is en termin.
  • Full — Actually means 'drunk'. Jeg er full = I'm drunk — not full after a meal.
  • Jornal — Actually means 'newspaper'. For a personal journal (diary), say diário.
  • Bekommen — Actually means 'to receive' or 'to get'. To become is werden.
  • Rat — Actually means 'advice' or 'counsel'. A rat (the rodent) is eine Ratte.
  • Ropa — Actually means 'clothes'. A rope is una cuerda.

More Swedish false friends

  • 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.

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