Home > false cognates
False cognates  
False cognates are words that look or sound the same as words in the learner's first language but in fact are not so, causing the learner to make a mistake. False cognates are also known as false friends. They can be compared with cognates, which are words that are the same in different languages.

 
Example
The Spanish word 'sensible' means sensitive in English and the German word 'gift' means poison.

Go back | Read more
© British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN, UK         © BBC World Service, Bush House, Strand, London WC2B 4PH, UK