False Friends: Deceptive Words Between German and English

What Are False Friends?

In language learning, false friends (German: falsche Freunde) are words that look or sound similar in two languages but carry entirely different meanings. They lure you into a false sense of confidence — you see a familiar-looking word, assume you know what it means, and walk straight into a misunderstanding.

Between German and English, false friends are especially common because both languages belong to the Germanic family. They share deep historical roots, which means many words look alike. But centuries of separate evolution have pushed meanings apart, sometimes dramatically. Knowing the most treacherous false friends will save you from embarrassing mistakes and deepen your understanding of both languages.

The Classic Traps

Gift

This might be the most dangerous false friend of all. In English, a gift is a present — something joyful. In German, Gift means poison. The contrast could not be more stark. If someone in Germany offers you a Gift, you should probably be concerned. The German word for a present is Geschenk.

The historical connection is actually logical: the original Germanic root meant “something given,” and in German the meaning shifted to “something administered” — which eventually became associated with poison.

Bekommen

English speakers visiting a German restaurant constantly fall into this trap. German bekommen means “to receive” or “to get.” It does not mean “to become.” The classic mistake: a tourist says Ich bekomme ein Steak intending to say “I’m becoming a steak,” when they are actually correctly saying “I’ll have a steak.” Ironically, the mistake works in their favor at the restaurant, but the confusion runs deep. “To become” in German is werden.

Chef

In English, a chef is a professional cook. In German, Chef means boss or manager. If someone tells you Mein Chef ist streng (my boss is strict), they are not talking about a temperamental cook. The German word for a professional cook is Koch.

Rat

In English, a rat is a rodent. In German, Rat means advice or counsel. The word Rathaus does not mean “rat house” — it means town hall, the place where the city council meets and gives advice on governance. The German word for the animal is Ratte.

Handy

This is a modern classic. In English, handy means convenient or useful. In German, Handy (always capitalized as a noun) means mobile phone. Germans borrowed the English word but gave it a completely different meaning. Saying Wo ist mein Handy? means “Where is my phone?” not “Where is my convenient?”

Food and Drink Traps

Chips

In British English, chips are thick-cut fried potatoes. In American English, they are thin crispy snacks. In German, Chips refers specifically to potato crisps (the thin, crispy kind). Thick-cut fries are Pommes (short for Pommes frites). Ordering Chips in Germany will always get you the packet snack variety.

Mist

In English, mist is a light fog, something poetic and atmospheric. In German, Mist means manure or, in colloquial usage, rubbish or nonsense. Saying So ein Mist! is a common German exclamation meaning “What rubbish!” or “What a mess!” — not a weather observation.

Preservative

This one catches many English speakers off guard. The German word Präservativ does not mean a food preservative. It means a condom. If you want to talk about food additives in German, use Konservierungsmittel. The potential for awkwardness at the dinner table is obvious.

Biskuit

In English, a biscuit is a cookie or cracker. In German, Biskuit refers specifically to sponge cake or sponge batter — the light, airy base used in layer cakes. Asking for a Biskuit in Germany will not get you something to dip in your tea.

Workplace and Formal False Friends

Aktuell

German aktuell means current or up-to-date, not “actual.” If a German colleague says Das ist nicht mehr aktuell, they mean “That’s no longer current,” not “That’s not actual.” The English “actual” translates to tatsächlich or eigentlich in German.

Sympathisch

The German word sympathisch means likeable or pleasant. It does not mean “sympathetic” in the English sense of feeling compassion for someone. A German might say Er ist sehr sympathisch (He’s very likeable). If you want to express sympathy in German, use mitfühlend.

Gymnasium

In English, a gymnasium is a place for physical exercise. In German, a Gymnasium is an academic secondary school — the university-preparatory track in the German education system. German students who attend Gymnasium spend their days studying Latin, mathematics, and literature, not lifting weights.

Engagement

The English word engagement primarily refers to a commitment to marry. The German Engagement means commitment or dedication in a broader sense, often used for social or political involvement. Bürgerliches Engagement means civic engagement, not a marriage proposal to a citizen.

Adjectives That Deceive

Brav

In English, brave means courageous. In German, brav means well-behaved or obedient, especially when describing children. If a German parent says Sei brav! to a child, they mean “Be good!” not “Be brave!” The German word for brave is tapfer or mutig.

Sensibel

German sensibel means sensitive, not sensible. A person described as sensibel is emotionally sensitive or easily affected. The English “sensible” translates to vernünftig (reasonable) in German. Mixing these up can lead to very different impressions of a person.

Genial

In English, genial means friendly and cheerful. In German, genial means brilliant or ingenious. Calling someone genial in German is a strong compliment about their intellect, not their warmth. Das ist genial! means “That’s brilliant!”

Pathetisch

English pathetic means pitiful or inadequate. German pathetisch means passionate, impassioned, or dramatic in a grand way — often used for speeches or performances. A pathetische Rede is an impassioned speech, not a pitiful one.

How False Friends Happen

False friends between German and English typically arise through three mechanisms:

Shared ancestry, divergent evolution. Both languages descend from Proto-Germanic, but over 1,500 years of separate development, many cognates have drifted apart in meaning. Gift/gift and Rat/rat fall into this category.

Borrowing with adaptation. When one language borrows a word from another, the meaning sometimes shifts. Handy is a perfect example — German borrowed an English word but assigned it a specific meaning that does not exist in English.

Latin and French influences. Both English and German borrowed heavily from Latin and French, but often at different times and in different contexts, leading to words that look similar but carry different nuances. Gymnasium and Engagement illustrate this pattern.

How to Avoid False Friend Mistakes

Build a mental list. When you encounter a false friend, write it down with both meanings. Over time, this list becomes an invaluable reference.

Always check context. If a German sentence seems oddly worded based on what you think a word means, there is a good chance you are dealing with a false friend. Pause and verify.

Embrace the humor. Misunderstandings caused by false friends are often hilarious. Germans are generally forgiving about language mistakes, and a funny story about confusing Gift with gift makes for great dinner conversation.

Practice both directions. When learning a German word that resembles an English word, immediately ask yourself: does this actually mean what I think it means? This habit of questioning prevents false assumptions from taking root.

Final Thoughts

False friends are one of the most entertaining and instructive aspects of learning German as an English speaker. They reveal the fascinating history that connects the two languages while highlighting how meanings can diverge over centuries.

Rather than fearing false friends, treat them as memorable landmarks on your language learning journey. The mistakes they cause are rarely serious, always educational, and often the stories you will retell for years.