{"id":362,"date":"2026-10-12T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/?p=362"},"modified":"2026-10-31T09:10:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T09:10:07","slug":"german-false-friends-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/german-false-friends-english\/","title":{"rendered":"German False Friends: 40 Words That Look English but Mean Something Else"},"content":{"rendered":"

German false friends are words that look or sound like English words but mean something different: Gift<\/em> is poison, bekommen<\/em> means “to get”, Chef<\/em> is your boss and bald<\/em> means “soon”. Below are 40 real pairs with the correct meaning, the German word you actually want, and an example sentence for each.<\/p>\n\n\n

Shared Germanic roots make Haus<\/em> and Wasser<\/em> easy, but some related words drifted apart. Gift<\/em> once meant “a gift” in German too; that sense survives only in Mitgift<\/em> (dowry). Traps like these are part of why the hardest part of learning German<\/a> is often trusting your instincts too much.<\/p>\n\n\n

The 40 most important German false friends<\/h2>\n\n\n
German word<\/th>What it really means<\/th>English look-alike in German<\/th>Example<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
also<\/em><\/td>so, therefore<\/td>also = auch<\/em><\/td>Es regnet, also bleiben wir zu Hause.<\/em> (It’s raining, so we’re staying home.)<\/td><\/tr>
aktuell<\/em><\/td>current, up to date<\/td>actual = tats\u00e4chlich<\/em><\/td>Das ist die aktuelle Version.<\/em> (That is the current version.)<\/td><\/tr>
die Art<\/em><\/td>kind, type, way<\/td>art = die Kunst<\/em><\/td>Welche Art von Musik magst du?<\/em> (What kind of music do you like?)<\/td><\/tr>
bald<\/em><\/td>soon<\/td>bald = glatzk\u00f6pfig<\/em><\/td>Bis bald!<\/em> (See you soon!)<\/td><\/tr>
bekommen<\/em><\/td>to get, to receive<\/td>to become = werden<\/em><\/td>Ich bekomme morgen mein Gehalt.<\/em> (I get my salary tomorrow.)<\/td><\/tr>
blank<\/em><\/td>shiny; bare; (colloquial) broke<\/td>blank = leer<\/em><\/td>Ende des Monats bin ich immer blank.<\/em> (At the end of the month I’m always broke.)<\/td><\/tr>
brav<\/em><\/td>well-behaved, good<\/td>brave = mutig<\/em><\/td>Die Kinder waren heute sehr brav.<\/em> (The children were very good today.)<\/td><\/tr>
der Chef \/ die Chefin<\/em><\/td>boss, manager<\/td>chef = der Koch \/ die K\u00f6chin<\/em><\/td>Meine Chefin ist heute im Homeoffice.<\/em> (My boss is working from home today.)<\/td><\/tr>
eventuell<\/em><\/td>possibly, maybe<\/td>eventually = schlie\u00dflich, irgendwann<\/em><\/td>Ich komme eventuell sp\u00e4ter.<\/em> (I might come later.)<\/td><\/tr>
fast<\/em><\/td>almost<\/td>fast = schnell<\/em><\/td>Ich bin fast fertig.<\/em> (I’m almost done.)<\/td><\/tr>
die Fabrik<\/em><\/td>factory<\/td>fabric = der Stoff<\/em><\/td>Er arbeitet in einer Fabrik.<\/em> (He works in a factory.)<\/td><\/tr>
das Gift<\/em><\/td>poison<\/td>gift = das Geschenk<\/em><\/td>Das Gift ist gef\u00e4hrlich.<\/em> (The poison is dangerous.)<\/td><\/tr>
das Gymnasium<\/em><\/td>academic secondary school<\/td>gym = das Fitnessstudio, die Turnhalle<\/em><\/td>Meine Tochter geht aufs Gymnasium.<\/em> (My daughter goes to an academic secondary school.)<\/td><\/tr>
die Hochschule<\/em><\/td>university, college of higher education<\/td>high school = die weiterf\u00fchrende Schule<\/em><\/td>Sie studiert an einer Hochschule in K\u00f6ln.<\/em> (She studies at a university in Cologne.)<\/td><\/tr>
die Kaution<\/em><\/td>deposit (rent), bail<\/td>caution = die Vorsicht<\/em><\/td>Die Kaution betr\u00e4gt drei Monatsmieten.<\/em> (The deposit is three months’ rent.)<\/td><\/tr>
der Mist<\/em><\/td>manure; rubbish, nonsense<\/td>mist = der Nebel, der Dunst<\/em><\/td>Mist, ich habe den Schl\u00fcssel vergessen!<\/em> (Oh no, I forgot the key!)<\/td><\/tr>
ordin\u00e4r<\/em><\/td>vulgar, crude, cheap-looking<\/td>ordinary = gew\u00f6hnlich, normal<\/em><\/td>Der Witz war ziemlich ordin\u00e4r.<\/em> (The joke was pretty crude.)<\/td><\/tr>
der Pickel<\/em><\/td>pimple, spot<\/td>pickle = die Essiggurke<\/em><\/td>Ich habe einen Pickel auf der Nase.<\/em> (I have a spot on my nose.)<\/td><\/tr>
der Rat<\/em><\/td>advice; also council<\/td>rat = die Ratte<\/em><\/td>Kannst du mir einen Rat geben?<\/em> (Can you give me some advice?)<\/td><\/tr>
die Rente<\/em><\/td>pension<\/td>rent = die Miete<\/em><\/td>Mein Vater geht n\u00e4chstes Jahr in Rente.<\/em> (My father retires next year.)<\/td><\/tr>
sensibel<\/em><\/td>sensitive<\/td>sensible = vern\u00fcnftig<\/em><\/td>Er ist ein sehr sensibler Mensch.<\/em> (He is a very sensitive person.)<\/td><\/tr>
sympathisch<\/em><\/td>likeable, nice<\/td>sympathetic = mitf\u00fchlend, verst\u00e4ndnisvoll<\/em><\/td>Die neue Kollegin ist sehr sympathisch.<\/em> (The new colleague is very likeable.)<\/td><\/tr>
die Wand<\/em><\/td>wall (of a room or building)<\/td>wand = der Zauberstab<\/em><\/td>Das Bild h\u00e4ngt an der Wand.<\/em> (The picture is hanging on the wall.)<\/td><\/tr>
wer<\/em><\/td>who<\/td>where = wo<\/em><\/td>Wer ist das? Und wo wohnt er?<\/em> (Who is that? And where does he live?)<\/td><\/tr>
die Billion<\/em><\/td>trillion (10^12)<\/td>billion = die Milliarde<\/em><\/td>Die Schulden liegen bei \u00fcber einer Billion Euro.<\/em> (The debt is over a trillion euros.)<\/td><\/tr>
der Brief<\/em><\/td>letter<\/td>brief = kurz<\/em><\/td>Ich habe einen Brief vom Finanzamt bekommen.<\/em> (I got a letter from the tax office.)<\/td><\/tr>
die Note<\/em><\/td>grade, mark; musical note<\/td>note = die Notiz<\/em><\/td>Ich habe im Test eine gute Note bekommen.<\/em> (I got a good grade in the test.)<\/td><\/tr>
die Dose<\/em><\/td>can, tin<\/td>dose = die Dosis<\/em><\/td>Eine Dose Tomaten, bitte.<\/em> (A tin of tomatoes, please.)<\/td><\/tr>
das Men\u00fc<\/em><\/td>set meal; menu on a screen<\/td>menu (card) = die Speisekarte<\/em><\/td>Ich nehme das Men\u00fc mit Suppe und Dessert.<\/em> (I’ll have the set meal with soup and dessert.)<\/td><\/tr>
die Promotion<\/em><\/td>doctorate (earning a PhD)<\/td>promotion at work = die Bef\u00f6rderung<\/em><\/td>Nach ihrer Promotion hat sie in der Forschung gearbeitet.<\/em> (After her doctorate she worked in research.)<\/td><\/tr>
spenden<\/em><\/td>to donate<\/td>to spend = ausgeben<\/em> (money), verbringen<\/em> (time)<\/td>Wir spenden jedes Jahr f\u00fcr das Tierheim.<\/em> (We donate to the animal shelter every year.)<\/td><\/tr>
ich will<\/em><\/td>I want<\/td>I will = ich werde<\/em><\/td>Ich will nach Berlin ziehen.<\/em> (I want to move to Berlin.)<\/td><\/tr>
die Taste<\/em><\/td>key, button<\/td>taste = der Geschmack<\/em><\/td>Dr\u00fccken Sie die gr\u00fcne Taste.<\/em> (Press the green button.)<\/td><\/tr>
der Termin<\/em><\/td>appointment; deadline<\/td>term = das Semester, der Begriff<\/em><\/td>Ich habe morgen einen Termin beim Arzt.<\/em> (I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.)<\/td><\/tr>
das Personal<\/em><\/td>staff, personnel<\/td>personal = pers\u00f6nlich<\/em><\/td>Das Personal im Hotel war sehr freundlich.<\/em> (The hotel staff were very friendly.)<\/td><\/tr>
der Unternehmer \/ die Unternehmerin<\/em><\/td>entrepreneur, business owner<\/td>undertaker = der Bestatter \/ die Bestatterin<\/em><\/td>Sie ist Unternehmerin und hat zw\u00f6lf Angestellte.<\/em> (She runs her own business and has twelve employees.)<\/td><\/tr>
das Pr\u00e4servativ<\/em><\/td>condom<\/td>preservative = der Konservierungsstoff<\/em><\/td>Food labels say ohne Konservierungsstoffe<\/em> (without preservatives), never Pr\u00e4servativ<\/em>.<\/td><\/tr>
genial<\/em><\/td>brilliant, ingenious<\/td>genial = freundlich, herzlich<\/em><\/td>Das ist eine geniale Idee!<\/em> (That’s a brilliant idea!)<\/td><\/tr>
die Hochzeit<\/em><\/td>wedding<\/td>high time = h\u00f6chste Zeit<\/em><\/td>Die Hochzeit ist im Mai.<\/em> (The wedding is in May.)<\/td><\/tr>
selbstbewusst<\/em><\/td>self-confident<\/td>self-conscious = unsicher, gehemmt<\/em><\/td>Sie wirkt sehr selbstbewusst.<\/em> (She seems very self-confident.)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n

Die Note<\/em> also means a musical note, and die Promotion<\/em> can mean a marketing promotion in business German, but at school and university they mean the grade and the doctorate. Some words on other lists of German false friends are only partial traps, so we left them out: der See<\/em> is a lake, but die See<\/em> is the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n

Denglisch: English-looking words that English speakers don’t use<\/h2>\n\n\n

Pseudo-anglicisms look English but were created or reshaped in German, so English never had that meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n

German “English”<\/th>Meaning in German<\/th>What you say in English<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
das Handy<\/em><\/td>mobile phone<\/td>mobile, cell phone<\/td><\/tr>
der Beamer<\/em><\/td>projector<\/td>projector<\/td><\/tr>
der Oldtimer<\/em><\/td>classic or vintage car<\/td>classic car<\/td><\/tr>
das Public Viewing<\/em><\/td>watching a match on big screens in a public place<\/td>outdoor screening<\/td><\/tr>
der Smoking<\/em><\/td>tuxedo, dinner jacket<\/td>tuxedo<\/td><\/tr>
das Mobbing<\/em><\/td>bullying, especially at work or school<\/td>bullying<\/td><\/tr>
das Homeoffice<\/em><\/td>working from home<\/td>working from home<\/td><\/tr>
das Shooting<\/em><\/td>photo shoot<\/td>photo shoot<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n

You will hear Mein Handy ist leer<\/em> (my phone battery is dead) and Morgen bin ich im Homeoffice<\/em> (I’m working from home tomorrow) constantly. During football tournaments Germans gather for Public Viewing<\/em> in squares and beer gardens; in American English the phrase can refer to viewing a deceased person before a funeral.<\/p>\n\n\n

Embarrassing mistakes learners make<\/h2>\n\n\n
  1. “Ich habe ein Gift f\u00fcr dich.”<\/strong> You just told someone you have poison for them. Say Ich habe ein Geschenk f\u00fcr dich.<\/em><\/li>\n\n
  2. “Ich bekomme Arzt.”<\/strong> Meant as “I’m becoming a doctor”. Say Ich werde Arzt<\/em> or Ich werde \u00c4rztin<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n
  3. “Ich gehe heute ins Gymnasium.”<\/strong> Meant as “I’m going to the gym”. You said you are going to an academic secondary school. Say Ich gehe heute ins Fitnessstudio.<\/em><\/li>\n\n
  4. “Mein Chef kocht sehr gut.”<\/strong> Correct German, but it means your boss is a good cook. The restaurant cook is der Koch<\/em> or die K\u00f6chin<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n
  5. “Ich will einen Kaffee.”<\/strong> Grammatically fine, but ich will<\/em> is direct and can sound demanding when ordering. Ich h\u00e4tte gern einen Kaffee<\/em> or Ich m\u00f6chte einen Kaffee<\/em> is the polite version; the difference is explained in m\u00f6chte vs mochte vs will<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n
  6. “Das ist sehr sensibel von dir.”<\/strong> You meant “sensible” and said “sensitive”. Say Das ist sehr vern\u00fcnftig von dir.<\/em><\/li>\n\n
  7. “Ich bin eventuell da.”<\/strong> You said “I might be there”, not “I’ll get there eventually”. For “eventually”, use schlie\u00dflich<\/em> or irgendwann<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n

    How to learn German false friends without mixing them up<\/h2>\n\n\n

    Learn sentences, not word pairs.<\/strong> “Gift = poison” is easy to forget; Achtung, Gift!<\/em> (Warning, poison!) gives you a picture. The card setup in Anki for German vocabulary<\/a> works well: German sentence on the front, meaning and look-alike on the back.<\/p>\n\n\n

    Put the trap and the right word on one card.<\/strong> Ich bekomme ein Paket. \/ Ich werde Lehrerin.<\/em> Seeing bekommen<\/em> and werden<\/em> together trains the contrast.<\/p>\n\n\n

    Do 5 a day for 8 days.<\/strong> About 10 minutes a day with a quick review covers all 40 in just over a week.<\/p>\n\n\n

    Say them out loud.<\/strong> False friends slip out when you speak fast. Reading helps you recognise them; speaking helps you stop producing them, the same idea behind how to sound more German<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

    False friends are mostly a speaking problem: in conversation you have half a second to pick a word. SipLingo lets you practise everyday situations by voice, and when you use the wrong word, the correction explains it in your own language with the correct sentence and an example. Practise German conversations with instant corrections<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \"Download<\/a>\"Get<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n

    False friends inside compound words<\/h2>\n\n\n

    The traps continue inside longer words: Giftschlange<\/em> (venomous snake), Rentenversicherung<\/em> (pension insurance), Briefkasten<\/em> (letterbox). How these are built is in German compound words<\/a>. Several words above, like also<\/em>, fast<\/em> and bekommen<\/em>, are also among the most common German words<\/a>, so learn those first.<\/p>\n\n\n

    Quick quiz: 10 German false friends<\/h2>\n\n\n

    Choose the correct meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n

    1. Ich bin fast fertig.<\/em> (a) I’m quickly done (b) I’m almost done<\/li>\n\n
    2. Er hat einen guten Rat bekommen.<\/em> (a) He got good advice (b) He got a good rat<\/li>\n\n
    3. Das ist mein Chef.<\/em> (a) That is my cook (b) That is my boss<\/li>\n\n
    4. Die Miete ist hoch, die Kaution auch.<\/em> What is Kaution<\/em>? (a) a warning (b) a deposit<\/li>\n\n
    5. Sie ist sehr sympathisch.<\/em> (a) She is likeable (b) She feels sorry for you<\/li>\n\n
    6. Wir sehen uns bald.<\/em> (a) We’ll see each other soon (b) We’ll see the bald man<\/li>\n\n
    7. Ich gehe in Rente.<\/em> (a) I’m renting a flat (b) I’m retiring<\/li>\n\n
    8. Kannst du die Dose \u00f6ffnen?<\/em> (a) Can you open the can? (b) Can you take the dose?<\/li>\n\n
    9. Er ist Unternehmer.<\/em> (a) He runs a business (b) He organises funerals<\/li>\n\n
    10. Das Men\u00fc kostet 15 Euro.<\/em> (a) The menu card costs 15 euros (b) The set meal costs 15 euros<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n

      Answers<\/h3>\n\n\n
      1. (b) fast<\/em> = almost<\/li>\n\n
      2. (a) der Rat<\/em> = advice<\/li>\n\n
      3. (b) der Chef<\/em> = boss<\/li>\n\n
      4. (b) die Kaution<\/em> = deposit<\/li>\n\n
      5. (a) sympathisch<\/em> = likeable<\/li>\n\n
      6. (a) bald<\/em> = soon<\/li>\n\n
      7. (b) in Rente gehen<\/em> = to retire<\/li>\n\n
      8. (a) die Dose<\/em> = can, tin<\/li>\n\n
      9. (a) der Unternehmer<\/em> = business owner, entrepreneur<\/li>\n\n
      10. (b) das Men\u00fc<\/em> = set meal<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n

        Meanings checked in October 2026 against the Duden and DWDS dictionaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Official sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        For the official details and the latest updates, see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n