Some words sound like they mean one thing when they actually mean something very different. Using one of these false friends incorrectly could cause you a problem. But It Sounded Right … The term “false friends” traditionally refers to words in a foreign language that sound like English words. If you want a drinking glass in France, don’t ask the server for “glace;” you might get a glass, but it will be filled with ice, the translation of “glace.” You really will be embarrassed if you use the Spanish “embarazada” to mean embarrassed because it actually means “pregnant.”
Originally published September 11, 2017Sign up for our free newsletter.