false friend

American  

[fawls frend] / ˈfɔls ˈfrɛnd /

noun

Linguistics.

1. a word in one language that is similar in form or sound to a word in another language but has a different meaning and may or may not be etymologically related: for example, English gift “present” and German Gift “poison” are false friends.

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false friend British  

noun

1. a word or expression in one language that, because it resembles one in another language, is often wrongly taken to have the same meaning, for example, the French agenda which means diary , not agenda

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Commonly Confused

See false cognate.

Etymology

Origin of false friend

First recorded in 1930–35; patterned after French faux ami in same sense

Example Sentences

The French word “propre” is an example of a false friend, “faux ami” in French, a word whose English translation appears obvious but for which the obvious choice is incorrect.

From Washington Post • Jan. 7, 2022

At times an unyielding ally, at times a false friend, concrete can resist nature for decades and then suddenly amplify its impact.

From The Guardian • Feb. 25, 2019

She caused a sensation two years ago at her last Met appearance, her first performances as another false friend, Adalgisa in Bellini’s “Norma.”

From New York Times • Sep. 24, 2015

A profile writer, especially in the company of another writer, is a false friend who dreams of being a secret sharer.

From New York Times • Jul. 30, 2015

We have, therefore, to discover the real meaning of attributing falsity to things, as when we speak of a false friend, false gold, false teeth, a false musical note, a false measure in poetry, etc.

From Ontology or the Theory of Being by Coffey, Peter