B1B2 For French speakers

15 false friends that make French professionals sound wrong in English interviews

By Philip Simon ·

In a French speaker's English interview, the most damaging mistakes usually aren't grammar, they're false friends: English words that look identical to French ones but mean something different. Say "I assisted the meeting" and a recruiter hears that you ran it, not that you attended. Here are the 15 that come up most in professional English, and exactly what to say instead.

1. Actuellement ≠ actually

French actuellement means currently / right now. English actually means en fait / en réalité. ✗ "Actually, I work at BNP." ✓ "Currently, I work at BNP." The slip is harmless but instantly marks you as a French speaker translating word-for-word.

2. Assister à ≠ assist

Assister à means to attend; English assist means aider / participer activement. ✗ "I assisted three board meetings." ✓ "I attended three board meetings." This one is costly in interviews, assist overstates your role and can read as exaggeration.

3. Sensible ≠ sensible

French sensible means sensitive; English sensible means raisonnable / sensé. ✗ "I'm a sensible manager" (meaning emotionally attuned). ✓ "I'm a perceptive / emotionally aware manager." It's a trap in both directions, so name the quality you actually mean.

4. Librairie ≠ library

Librairie is a bookshop; a library is a bibliothèque. ✗ "I worked in a library, selling books." ✓ "I worked in a bookshop." Low stakes, but a classic giveaway.

5. Éventuellement ≠ eventually

Éventuellement means possibly / if needed; eventually means finalement / à terme. ✗ "Eventually, I could relocate" (meaning if necessary). ✓ "If needed, I could relocate." The mix-up can promise the opposite of what you mean about timing or commitment.

6. Formation ≠ formation

French formation means training / education; English formation means constitution / mise en place. ✗ "I have a strong formation in finance." ✓ "I have strong training / a strong background in finance."

7. Location ≠ location

Location in French means renting / a rental; in English it means emplacement / lieu. ✗ "I managed the location of company cars." ✓ "I managed the rental / leasing of company cars."

8. Demander ≠ demand

Demander means to ask; English demand means exiger, far stronger. ✗ "I demanded feedback from my manager." ✓ "I asked for feedback from my manager." In an interview, demand can make you sound aggressive.

9. Attendre ≠ attend

Attendre means to wait (for); English attend means assister à (see #2). ✗ "I attended the results for two weeks." ✓ "I waited for the results for two weeks."

10. Prétendre ≠ pretend

Prétendre means to claim; English pretend means faire semblant. ✗ "I pretend to be the best candidate." ✓ "I'd claim to be a strong candidate", or simply state your case. Pretend accidentally admits you're faking it.

11. Déception ≠ deception

Déception means disappointment; English deception means tromperie. ✗ "The project was a deception." ✓ "The project was a disappointment." Calling a result a deception implies someone lied.

12. Sympathique ≠ sympathetic

Sympathique means nice / likeable; English sympathetic means compatissant. ✗ "My team is very sympathetic." ✓ "My team is very friendly / easy to work with."

13. Large ≠ large

French large means wide; English large means grand / important. ✗ "We have a large range of products" is fine, but "a large street" (meaning wide) is not. ✓ "a wide street", "a broad range". Watch it with measurements.

14. Proposer ≠ propose

Proposer usually means to suggest / to offer; English propose leans formal (proposer officiellement, or marriage). ✗ "I propose you a solution." ✓ "I'd suggest a solution" or "Let me offer a solution." (Also note: propose never takes an indirect object, not "propose you".)

15. Rester ≠ rest

Rester means to stay / remain; English rest means se reposer. ✗ "I rested in that role for five years." ✓ "I stayed / remained in that role for five years."

Common questions

Does 'actuellement' mean 'actually' in English?

No. French actuellement means 'currently' or 'right now'. English 'actually' means en fait / en réalité. Use 'currently' when you mean actuellement.

What's the most common false friend French speakers use in interviews?

'Assister à' translated as 'assist'. It actually means 'attend', so saying 'I assisted the meeting' tells the interviewer you ran it, which reads as overstating your role.

Is 'sensible' the same in French and English?

No, and it's a false friend in both directions. French sensible means 'sensitive'; English 'sensible' means 'reasonable / level-headed'. Say exactly which quality you mean.

Keep practising

Sources

  1. Learner English: A Teacher's Guide to Interference and other Problems, Swan, M. & Smith, B. (eds.), Cambridge University Press. French speakers transfer French word meanings onto identical-looking English words (faux amis), a well-documented L1-interference pattern.
  2. The story of French in English (overview), Oxford English Dictionary / etymology references. A large share of English vocabulary entered via French, which is why faux amis between the two languages are so dense.

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