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Ignorer

Meaning: Actually means 'to be unaware of' or 'not to know'. J'ignore la réponse = I don't know the answer — not 'I'm ignoring the answer'.

Language: French

Literally: ignore

Category: Everyday

Origin: From Latin ignorare, 'to not know' — French stayed closer to the Latin; English shifted to deliberate overlooking.

More false friends — Everyday

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  • Smoking — Actually means 'tuxedo' or 'dinner jacket'. The verb (smoking cigarettes) is rauchen.
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More French false friends

  • Déception — Actually means 'disappointment'. For deception (a trick), say tromperie.
  • Monnaie — Actually means 'change' or 'coins'. Money in general is l'argent.
  • Sensible — Actually means 'sensitive'. For sensible/level-headed, say raisonnable.
  • Librairie — Actually means 'bookshop'. A library is une bibliothèque.
  • Pain — Actually means 'bread'. The hurting kind of pain is la douleur.
  • Coin — Actually means 'corner'. A coin you spend is une pièce.

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