False friendEveryday
Swedish
SwedishStol
Meaning: Actually means 'chair' — any chair, backrest included. A stool is en pall.
Looks like: Stool
Origin: From Old Norse stóll, 'seat' — the same Germanic word as English 'stool' and German Stuhl; only English narrowed it to the backless kind.
More Swedish false friends
- Fart Actually means 'speed' or 'momentum'. Full fart = full speed ahead.
- Bra Actually means 'good'. Det är bra = That's good.
- Glass Actually means 'ice cream'. En glass = an ice cream. For a glass (vessel), say ett glas.
- Semester Actually means 'holiday' or 'vacation'. A school semester is en termin.
- Barn Actually means 'child'. A barn is en lada.
- Sex Actually means 'six'. Klockan sex = six o'clock.
Explore another collection: Idioms
Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.
- Noyer le poisson To confuse the issue deliberately; to dodge a question.
- Chercher midi à quatorze heures To overcomplicate a simple matter.
- Appeler un chat un chat To call things by their proper name; to speak bluntly.
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