Common German False Friends That Look Like English Words

In the previous article, we introduced some French words that look or sound like English but have very different meanings.
This time, we’ll explore German words that are similar to English in spelling or pronunciation but have completely different meanings.

　

1. Beamer

Meaning: projector
Common misunderstanding: “They have a beamer in every room.” → “They all drive BMWs?”

In Germany, Beamer refers to a video projector, not the BMW car brand.
While derived from the English word beam, this usage sounds unusual to native English speakers.

　

2. Handy

Meaning: mobile phone
Common misunderstanding: “Can I use your handy?” → “You mean I’m useful?”

In German, Handy is a noun that means a cellphone or smartphone.
It has nothing to do with the English adjective handy meaning “convenient” or “useful.”

　

3. Trainer (British English vs German)

British English: sneakers
German: trainer (person) or sneakers (shoe)? Mixed use

While Trainer means sneakers in British English, in German it can refer to either a person who trains or the shoe, depending on context.
You need to check the context carefully.

　

4. Rock

Meaning: skirt
Common misunderstanding: music?

Ich trage einen Rock. → “I am wearing a skirt.”
This has nothing to do with the music genre rock.
The Italian word rocca has a completely different meaning.

　

5. Gift

Meaning: poison
Common misunderstanding: gift (present)?

While gift means a present in English, in German Gift means poison.
Saying Ich habe ein Gift für dich (“I have a gift for you”) can lead to serious confusion.
The correct German word for a present is Geschenk.

　

6. Fabric (English) vs Fabrik

Meaning: factory (German) / fabric (English)
Common misunderstanding: easy to confuse

The English word fabric means cloth or textile.
The German word Fabrik means factory.
Although they sound and look similar, their meanings are completely different.

　

7. Eventuell

Meaning: possibly, maybe
Common misunderstanding: confused with eventually (“finally”)

The English eventually means “in the end” or “finally.”
German eventuell means “possibly” or “maybe,” a very different meaning.

Example:
Wir kommen eventuell morgen. → “We might come tomorrow.”
Not “We will definitely come tomorrow.”

　

8. Sympathisch

Meaning: likeable, pleasant
Common misunderstanding: confused with sympathetic (“showing sympathy”)

Example:
Sie ist sympathisch. → “She is likeable.”
It does not mean “She feels sympathy for me.”

　

9. Kaution

Meaning: deposit, security deposit
Common misunderstanding: confused with caution (“care” or “warning”)

Example:
Kaution für die Wohnung → “apartment deposit”
It does NOT mean “warning” or “care.”
It corresponds to the English word deposit.

　

10. Bekommen

Meaning: to receive, to get
Common misunderstanding: confused with become

German bekommen means “to get” or “to receive.”
For example, Ich bekomme ein Geschenk means “I get a gift.”
It does NOT mean “to become.”
(The German equivalent for “become” is werden.)

　

In this article, we examined German words that look or sound like English but have very different meanings.
In the next article, we will explore Italian words that are similar to English but have completely different meanings.

　

　

Langlobe #GermanFalseFriends #FalseFriends #LanguageLearning #GermanVocabulary #EnglishVsGerman #LanguageTips