False friendFood & BodyFrench

Pain

Meaning: Actually means 'bread'. The hurting kind of pain is la douleur.

Origin: From Latin panis, 'bread'.

More false friends — Food & Body

  • Caldo Actually means 'hot' (or a hot broth). Cold is freddo.
  • Blesser Actually means 'to wound' or 'to injure'. Je suis blessé = I am injured — not blessed.
  • Glass Actually means 'ice cream'. En glass = an ice cream. For a glass (vessel), say ett glas.
  • Polvo Actually means 'octopus'. For powder, say pó.
  • Sopa Actually means 'soup'. Soap is jabón.
  • Fame Actually means 'hunger'. Ho fame = I'm hungry. For fame (renown), say fama.

More French false friends

  • Coin Actually means 'corner'. A coin you spend is une pièce.
  • 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'.

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

  • Épanouissement The full flourishing of a person — blooming into your most complete, radiant self. More t…
  • Ressourcement The act of returning to one's roots or origins to find renewal — going back to a place, t…
  • Dépaysement The disorienting yet often pleasant feeling of being far from home, immersed in the unfam…

Browse all untranslatable words →

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