Simpatichny (Симпатичный) (Simpatichnyy)

Meaning: Actually means 'good-looking' or 'likeable'. For sympathetic, say сочувствующий (sochuvstvuyushchiy).

Looks like: Sympathetic

Origin: The same Greek sympatheia split that caught French sympathique and Spanish simpático — everyone but English took the 'pleasant' reading.

More Russian false friends

Aktualny (Актуальный) (Aktualnyy) Actually means 'topical' or 'currently relevant'. For actual (real), say настоящий (nasto…
Artist (Артист) (Artist) Actually means 'performer' — an actor, singer or circus artiste. A painter is художник (k…
Magazin (Магазин) (Magazin) Actually means 'shop' or 'store'. A magazine (periodical) is журнал (zhurnal).
Familiya (Фамилия) (Familiya) Actually means 'surname'. A family is семья (semya).
Intelligentny (Интеллигентный) (Intelligentnyy) Actually means 'cultured' and 'well-mannered'. For clever, say умный (umny).

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

Avos' A blind, hopeful trust that things will somehow work out on their own — leaving the outco…
Poshlost' Not merely the trashy, but the falsely important, falsely beautiful and falsely clever —…
Nadryv An uncontrolled outpouring of buried feeling, often strained past anything the person tru…

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