5 Confusing French Words & Expressions for English Speakers ( part one)
By Florence Harang | French à La Carte
Approximately 60% of the English vocabulary comes from French and Latin, the result of a long shared history. As a result, there are plenty of false cognates in French. These words look similar to English words, but their meanings are much different. These false cognates, faux amis, can be tricky for learners of either language. Other frequent mistakes come from words in English that can be used in different contexs in French.
Let’s explore 5 common mistakes English speakers predictably make when using them.
1 - Fréquenté(e), occupé(e), chargé e) in French versus busy (day, schedule, place..) in English
In French
The adjective busy occupé(e) is used to describe a person occupied with or concentrating on a particular activity or object of attention.
« Marc est très occupé cette semaine » « Marc is very busy this week »
In English
In English the adjective busy is used in wider contexts than in French. In adition of describing a person just as in French, busy can be used to describe a place ( road, street) and a time (period, schedule)
Frequent mistakes : « C’est occupé au bureau cette semaine » « C’est un quartier très occupé »
What you should say : « La semaine est très chargée au bureau cette semaine » « C’est un quartier très animé »
Chargé in French can be used for a schedule, period.
Animé in French should be used to describe a lively place or an animated neighbourhood.
2 - Confus (F) / Confused ( E)
In French
The adjective confus is used for something unclear, confused or vague. « Ses explications sont confuses. » « Her explanations are unclear. »
When it is used relating to a person, it is a very formal and old-fashioned way to say that someone is embarrassed. « Je suis confus d’être arrivé très en retard » which means in English «I am terribly sorry to be so late.»
In English
To confuse means to mix up someone’s mind or ideas, or to make something difficult to understand. We frequently hear « I am confused » which is commonly literally translated into French by « Je suis confus(e) ». Unfortunately it is wrong. It could be translated into French in two different ways. « Je suis embrouillé(e ) » or more common « Ce n’est pas clair pour moi ». And regarding the expression « It’s confusing » it could be translated into French by « Ca porte à confusion » or « Ce n’est pas très clair ».
Common mistake : « La réunion est finalement prévue à 3h ou à 5h ? je suis confus( e). »
What you should say « La réunion est finalement prévue à 3h ou à 5h ? ce n’est pas clair pour moi. »
3 - Sensible (F) versus Sensitive (E)
In French
Sensible is used in French in the sense of being sensitive to something. « Mes yeux sont sensibles à la lumière » meaning «My eyes are very sensitive to the light.» Or it’s employed to describe being emotionally sensitive. « C’est une personne très sensible. » « She is someone who’s very sensitive ». Information can also be sensible in French. « Les données sensibles sont protégées » which means in English « Sensitive data is protected. »
In English
Sensitive means sensible in French. Just like in French, the word can be used to describe a person, a body part, or information. In addition, it can also be used for someone who is touchy, over sensitive. In that case, in French the word is susceptible. « Claire est une personne très susceptible. » « Claire is an over sensitive person. »
Frequent mistake: « Jane est très sensible, elle déteste être critiquée. »
What you should say: « Jane est très susceptible, elle déteste être critiquée. »
4 - A l’aise et confortable in French versus confortable in English
In French
The adjective confortable is mainly used to describe a thing affording physical comfort, support, or ease. In French confortable means confortable, comfy, cosy, snug in English. It can be used to describe a seat, a clothe, a bed.
« Ce fauteuil est très confortable » « This armshair is very comfy »
In English
En English confortable, in addition of been used to describe an object just like in French, can be used in the expression « to be or to feel confortable » that expresses being in a state of physical or mental comfort; contented and undisturbed. In French to feel confortable will be translated by être à l’aise.
« Je me sens à l’aise avec mon nouveau professeur de français » « I feel confortable with my new French tutor »
Frequent mistake in French : « Je suis confortable dans ma nouvelle vie »
What you should say : « Je me sens à l’aise dans ma nouvelle vie » (se sentir is a reflexive verb)
5 – Rapide, rapidement, vite in French versus fast in English
In French
The confusion for anglophones come from the fact that vite and rapide in French have two grammatical functions which can be confusing. Vite is an adverb and gives information to the verb (translated by fast or quickly) and rapide is an adjective which is connected to a noun (rapid, quick)
« Tu parles trop vite or rapidement » « you speak too fast/ quickly »
« Le service de ce restaurant est très rapide » « the service of this restaurant is very quick, fast »
In English
Just like in French, quick, quickly and fast also have different grammatical functions.
-Quick is an adjective translated in French by rapide.
-Quickly is an adverb that can be translated by rapidement or by vite.
-Fast in English can be alternatively an adjectif or an adverb and can be translated by vite or rapide.
« Le train est très rapide » « The train is very quick, fast »
« Tu comprends vite » « You understand quickly »
« Elle parle trop vite » « she speaks too fast, quickly »
Common mistakes « Le service est vite » « ma décision est vite »
What you should say « Le service est rapide » « ma décision est rapide »