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Sensible

Meaning: Actually means 'sensitive'. For sensible/level-headed, say raisonnable.

Language: French

Literally: sensible

Category: Feelings

Origin: A common Franco-English mix-up.

More false friends — Feelings

  • Bravo — Actually means 'good, skilled, well-behaved'. For brave, say coraggioso.
  • Molestar — Actually means 'to bother' or 'to annoy'. ¿Te molesta el ruido? = Does the noise bother y…
  • Simpático — Actually means 'nice' or 'likeable'. For sympathetic, say comprensivo.
  • Gracioso — Actually means 'funny' or 'amusing'. For gracious (kind and polite), say amable.
  • Sensible — Actually means 'sensitive' or 'perceptible'. For sensible (levelheaded), say sensato.
  • Chance — Actually means 'luck'. Bonne chance! = Good luck! For chance (probability), say une possi…

More French false friends

  • 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.
  • 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…

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