Librairie

Meaning: Actually means 'bookshop'. A library is une bibliothèque.

Looks like: Library

Origin: Both come from Latin liber, 'book' — but only one lends for free.

More French false friends

Pain Actually means 'bread'. The hurting kind of pain is la douleur.
Chance Actually means 'luck'. Bonne chance! = Good luck! For chance (probability), say une possi…
Sympathique Actually means 'nice' or 'pleasant'. Il est très sympathique = He's very nice — not 'He's…
Rester Actually means 'to stay' or 'to remain'. Je reste ici = I'm staying here — not taking a n…
Attendre Actually means 'to wait for'. J'attends le bus = I'm waiting for the bus. For attend an e…
Actuel Actually means 'current' or 'present-day'. Actuellement = currently — not 'actually'.

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

Seize chaises sèches sur seize arches sèches. A relentless collision of 'sei', 'sèch', and 's' — the tongue can't find traction.
Un beau ver vert dans un verre vert verra un ver vert. Ver (worm), vert (green), and verre (glass) are near-homophones — distinguishing them at…
Didon dîna, dit-on, du dos d'un dodu dindon dont le dodu dos dodine. A 'd' / 'din' / 'dod' avalanche that seems designed to jam the tongue in third gear.

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