False Friends - similar sounds, different meanings

False Friends

Sometimes words in English and other languages sound the same and have the same meaning, very useful!

Unfortunately sometimes they sound the same or similar and have completely different meanings! These tricksters are called 'false friends'.

You may find the questions below very easy, or you may struggle depending on what your first language is. For each question, choose the sentence that matches the meaning of the word. Good luck!

Notes:
Sensible in Spanish means sensitive.
Magazine sounds like a word that means warehouse or depot in many languages.
Embarrassed sounds like a word that means 'pregnant' in Spanish
Bald sounds like a word that means courageous in Italian
Versatile in French means changeable or fickle.
Gift means poison in German.
Library sounds like a place where you buy books in Spanish and Italian.

Lesson by Caroline Devane

Which sentence uses the word in the correct way:

• 1. Sensible:
  
  She cries very easily, she's very sensible.
  She is the most sensible of my friends. She always does her work and pays her bills on time.
  
  
• 2. Magazine:
  
  I buy the same magazine every week. It's got lots of real life stories.
  I need to go to the magazine to look at some sofas.
  
  
• 3. Embarrassed:
  
  I am so embarrassed, I fell over in front of everyone!
  She is four months embarrassed, the baby will arrive soon.
  
  
• 4. Bald:
  
  He is very bald, he ran straight back into the house to rescue his friends.
  He has no hair anymore, completely bald.
  
  
• 5. Versatile:
  
  She is a very versatile performer and can dance in a variety of styles.
  She is really versatile, always changing her mind.
  
  
• 6. Gift:
  
  I need to buy a gift for my cousin, she's ten tomorrow.
  The police say he put a gift into her drink.
  
  
• 7. Library:
  
  Books at the library are so expensive.
  You can borrow up to ten books at a time from the local library.