False Friends in French
Abrupt(e) - Sheer, steep
Abuser quelqu'un - To take advantage of somebody
Abus - Misuse, overuse
Actuel - Current
Abusif/-ive - Excessive
Accolade - Embrace, hug
Accommoder - Prepare, arrange, fit
Adepte - Follower
Administration - Civil services
Affluent - Tributary
Aggraver - To compound
Agoniser - To be dying
Agrément - Pleasantness, amenity
Allocution - Short speech, address
Allure - Speed (also look and appearance)
Altérer - To adulterate
Alternative - Choice, option
Amateur - Lover of
Amortissement - Depreciation
Ample - Loose, loose-fitting
Ancien - Former, erstwhile
Apologie - Vindication
Appointements - Salary
Approcher - To bring/draw near
Arguer - To infer
Assimilé - Equivalent
Assorti(e) - Matching
Audience - Hearing, session
B
Ballot - Bundle
Bénéfices - Profit
Biologique - Organic
Blâmer - To criticise
Bond - Bound, leap
Bras - Arm
Bride - Bridle
Brutal - Abrupt or sudden
C
Cajoler - To hoax
Candide - Innocent, pure
Cargo - Cargo ship, freighter
Cautionner - To support/back
Cellier - Store room/larder
Chance - Luck, good luck (also chance, probability and likelihood))
Chandelier - Candleholder
Charte - Charter
Chauvin(e) - Jingoistic
Cheftaine - Scout leader
Chrétienté - Christendom
Clairvoyant(e) - Shrewd
Coin - Corner
Conforter - To strengthen
Commode - Convenient, handy
Commodité - Convenience
Commotion (cérébrale) - Concussion
Complainte - Lament
Compositeur - Composer
Compréhensif/-ive - Understanding
Concussion - Misappropriation of public funds
Confronter - To compare
Conjurer - To beg/beseech
Conviction (pièce à conviction) - Firm belief (exhibit)
Contenance - Capacity
(La) critique, (une) critique, (un) critique - Criticism, a review, a reviewer
D
Dartre - Dry patch
Débonnaire - Easy-going
Décade -Ten days
Déception - Disappointment
Dédicacer - To sign
Défiance - Mistrust
Délivrer - To set free/rescue
Denture - Set of teeth
Dépravé(e) - Reprobate
Dérider - To cheer someone up
Dérogatoire - Exceptional
Désespéré - Hopeless, despairing
Destituer (destitution) - To discharge (an officer), to dispose (a monarch) (discharge, dismissal)
Déterrer - To dig up
Deviser - To talk about
Dévotion - Worship
Diète - Starvation diet
Dilapider - To squander
Diminutif - Short form
Désaffecté(e) - Disused
Désagrément - Annoyance
Disgrâce - Disfavour
Dissertation - Essay
Distraction - Entertainment
Dramatique - Terrible
E
Éditer - Publish
Effectivement - Indeed
Émergence - Sudden appearance
Emphase - Pomposity
Encenser - To praise greatly
Engin - Machine, contraption
Engrosser - To get a woman pregnant
Envie - Desire, wish
Errer - To roam
Évent - Blowhole
Éventuel (elle) - Possible. potential
Évidence - Foregone conclusion
Exhausteur - Enhancer, vacuum tank
Expertise - Valuation, survey
Extra - First-rate
Extravagant(e) - Eccentric, wild
F
Fantaisie - Whim
Fastidieux/ieuse -Tedious
Fat - Fatuous person
Fatalité - Fate
Fatalement - Inevitably
Fatuité - Self-complaceny
Félon(ne) (félonie) - Perfidious (perfidy)
Forgerie - Blacksmithing
Formel(le) - Definite
Franchise - Candour
Froc - Trousers
G
Gale - Scabies
Galanterie (femme galante) - Courtesy (woman of easy virtue)
Gaze - Gauze
Gendre - Son-in-law
Grappe - Bunch (grapes, bananas)
Grief - Grievance
Groom - Bellboy
H
Harasser - To exhaust
Hardi(e) - Brave, reckless
Hasardeux - Risky
I
Idiome - Dialect
Improuvable - Not able to be proved
Injurier - To insult, call names
Intoxiquer - To poison
Introduire - To insert
J
Jaquette - Morning coat
Labeur (laboureur) - Toil, ploughing (ploughman)
L
Libelle - Lampoon
Libéral - Free market advocate
Librairie - Bookshop
Lie - Wine dregs/deposits
Livide - Pale
Location - Rental
Logeur - Landlord
Luxure - Lust
M
Magot - Hoard
Magnifier - To glorify
Malice (malicieux/-ieuse) - Mischievousness (mischievous)
Manipuler - To handle/touch
Matrone - Stout woman
Médecine - Medicine
Mite - Moth
Mitaine - Fingerless gloves
Môle - Breakwater, pier
Mondain(e) - Fashionable, worldly
Monnaie - Loose change
Mystifier - To trick
Niche - Kennel
Nomination - Appointment
O
Obédience - Persuasion, authority
Objectif - Lens
Occasionnel(le) - Fortuitous
Office - Church service, butler’s pantry
Officieux/-euse - Unofficial
Onéreux/-euse - Costly
Opportunité - Opportuneness, appropriateness
Organe - Mouthpiece of a newspaper
Ostensible - Conspicuous
Outrage - Insult, offence
P
Pamphlet - Lampoon
Patente - Trading licence
Pathétique - Moving, poignant
Patronage - Youth club
Pétulant(e) - Exuberant
Physicien - Physicist
Pitance - Sustenance
Prégnant(e) - Meaningful
Préjudice - Damage, harm, wrong
Prémices (prémisse) - Beginnings (premise)
Préserver - To save/protect
Préservatif - Condom
Prétendre - To claim/allege
Procès -Action, suit, trial
Procureur - Public prosecutor
Profane - Uninitiated, non-religious, secular
Prune - Plum
Puffin - Shearwater
Q
Quérir - To fetch
Questionner - Interrogate
R
Race - Breed
Rafle - Raid, round-up
Raisin - Grape
Rampant(e) - Grovelling
Rafraîchissement - Drink
Reliable - Linkable
Rente - Pension, private income
Report - Postponement
Réticent(e) - Reluctant
Retenue - Restraint
Retrancher (se retrancher) - To cut away/off (to entrench oneself, to take refuge)
Rétribution - Wages
Romanesque - Romantic
Rude - Rough, rugged
Ruer - To kick (a horse)
S
Sanguin(e) - Of blood, fiery, hot-headed
Séculaire - Age-old
Second - In second place (there is no third place), could be translated as ‘the latter’
Sensible - Sensitive; noticeable
Sentence - Maxim, adage and sentence (trial)
Séquelles - After-effects (illness), aftermath
Servant - Gunner
Solvable - Creditworthy
Spire - Spiral
Spleen (avoir le) - Melancholy
Stance - Stanza
Supplice - Torture or torture method
Susceptible - Touchy
T
Taper - To beat
Targette - Bolt (fastener)
Terrible - Great
Tournoiement - Spinning or whirling
Traînée - Slut
Trappe - Trap door
Trépasser - To die, pass away
Trivial(e) - Vulgar
Troubler - To confuse, upset
Truand - Gangster
Truculent - Colourful character
V
Ventilation - Breakdown/allocation/distribution
Versatile - Fickle
Vétéran - Old hand
Vicieux/-ieuse - Wicked
Voltage - Potential difference