False friendEverydayFrench

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'.

Looks like: Ignore

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

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More French false friends

  • Déception Actually means 'disappointment'. For deception (a trick), say tromperie.
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