Gymnasium

Meaning: Actually means 'grammar school' or 'academic high school'. A sports hall is eine Turnhalle.

Looks like: Gymnasium / gym

Origin: From Greek gymnasion; in Germany (and much of Europe), it means an elite secondary school.

More German false friends

Smoking Actually means 'tuxedo' or 'dinner jacket'. The verb (smoking cigarettes) is rauchen.
Eventuell Actually means 'possibly' or 'perhaps'. Eventuell komme ich = Maybe I'll come — not 'I'll…
Mist Actually means 'manure' or 'dung'. Foggy mist is Nebel or Dunst.
Oldtimer Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
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.

Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.

Wenn Fliegen hinter Fliegen fliegen, fliegen Fliegen Fliegen nach. Fliegen means 'flies' (insects), 'to fly', and 'flying' — all at once, relentlessly.
Der Cottbuser Postkutscher putzt den Cottbuser Postkutschkasten. A jaw-breaking compound-noun 'ts/tsch/sch' marathon — the German love of compound words w…
Hinter Hermann Hannes Haus hängen hundert Hemden raus. A relentless 'h' aspirate drill — every word opens with the same breathy attack.

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