German False Friends List- German words that SOUND like English

Sometimes you hear a word in German, and you are certain that you know the meaning, even if you’ve never heard the word before. It makes perfect sense that the word Banane means Banana. And then sometimes, you hear a German word, and it sort of sounds English, but the meaning couldn’t be more different. The most obvious of these “False Friends” is the word Gift. In English, when someone gives you a gift, you are happy! You’ve gotten a present! In German, you might die, someone just gave you poison!! A “False Friend” is a word that sounds the same (or almost the same) in English and German… but has a wildly different meaning. This German False Friends list are some of my favorite false friends, do you know any others that should be on the list?

German False Friends List

False friends are an added degree of confusion to an English speaker learning German. The words are close, and you might automatically presume a meaning… or get the meanings of both words goofed up in your head. Here are some of the most common False Friends… words I’ve goofed up myself, or heard others step on, or I just think are funny!

I will list the “false friend”, tell you what it sounds like in English… give the German meaning… and then for fun, I’ll give the German meaning of the English sounding word.
Finally, I’ll try to put it into a sentence for context.

Gross
sounds like gross or disgusting
means big
in German gross is eklig

That gross (big) mess is eklig (gross).

Wer
sounds like where
means who
in German where is WO.

Wer (who) are you, and where (wo) are you going?

Korn
sounds like corn
means grain (think Vollkorn) or Schnapps
in German corn is Mais

You can drink a shot of Korn (Schnapps) while eating your corn (Mais).

Mist
sounds like- morning fog
means- animal poop (mostly cow or horse)
in German “mist” is Nebel

So, the morning mist (nebel) smelled a little like mist (poop)

Bald
sounds like- bald/ hairless
means- soon
in German “bald” is kahlköpfig

So the  kahlköpfig (bald) man will arrive bald (soon).

Chef
sounds like chef/ cook
means- the boss
in German chef is Koch

The Chef (cook) is the Chef (boss) of the kitchen.

Fast
sounds like- Fast / speedy
means- almost
in German “fast” is schnell

We are fast (almost) there, we should go fast (schnell).

Art
sounds like- Art / painting statue
means- way to do something
in German “art” is Kunst

This museum contains Kunst (art) of Modern style (art).

Igel
sounds like Eagle
means- Hedgehog
in German eagle is Adler.

The Eagle (Adler) would eat an Igel (hedgehog).

Etikett
sounds like- etiquette
means- tag or label
in German- etiquette is Etikette (so it is confusing)

It’s bad etiquette (etikette) to leave the price Etikett (label) on your gifts.

Stehen
sounds like – stay
means- stand
in German stay is bleiben

If you plan to stay here (hier bleiben) then you will have to remain stehen (standing).

Stoff   
sounds like – stuff
means- fabric / material
in German stuff is Zeug

Let’s put some stuff (Zeug) into this bag made of Stoff (fabric).

which brings us to…

Fabrik
sounds like fabric
means- factory
in German, fabric is Stoff

They make fabric (Stoff) in the Fabrik (factory)

Roman (I was confused in bookstores for YEARS)
sounds like someone from Rome
means- novel
in German Roman is Römisch

The Römischer man (man from Rome) would read a Roman (novel).

Wimper
sounds like whimper
means- eyelash
in German whimper is wimmern

You would wimmer (whimper) if someone pulled out your Wimper (eyelash).

Clothing can be a problem

Smoking
sounds like smoking / having a cigarette
means- Tuxedo
in German smoking is rauchen

I don’t want anyone smoking (rauchen) near my new Smoking (tuxedo).

Kostüm
sounds like costume
means- Suit or Costume
in German costume is Kostüm

You should wear a Kostüm (suit) to work, not a costume (Kostüm)

Hut
sounds like hut
means- hat
in German a hut is a Hütte

Take off your Hut (hat) when you go in the hut (Hütte)

Spenden
sounds like spend
means donate
in German spending is ausgeben

You can spend (ausgeben) money at a Thrift Store on things people spended (donated).

The next few are all entwined…. it’s no wonder people mix them up.

Miete
sounds like meet
means rent
in German meet is treffen

We can meet (treff) each other after I pay the Miete (rent).

Rente
sounds like rent
means Pension
in German Rente is pension

You can pay your Rent (miete) with your Rente (pension)

Pension
sounds like pension/ retirement income
means bed and breakfast
in German pension is Rente

You can pay to stay at a Pension (bed and breakfast) with your pension (Rente)

Eis
sounds like ice
means ice cream
in German ice cube is Eis Wurfel

So, if you want an ice cube (Eis Wurfel) don’t ask for an Eis (ice cream)

Which brings us to …

Eiskaffee (This one confuses SOOO many tourists every summer….)
sounds like Ice Coffee
means Ice CREAM and coffee
in German Ice Coffee is Kaffee mit Eiswurfel (coffee with ice cubes)

Would you rather drink a Kaffee mit Eiswurfel (coffee with ice cubes) or an Eiskaffee(coffee with ice           cream?

Names for Schools are still confusing, so let’s see if we can sort them.

Gymnasium
sounds like gymnasium
means- high school
in German, a gymnasium is a Turnhalle

Our Gymnasium (High School) has a gymnasium (Turnhalle).

Hochschule
sounds like High School
means- colleges or Universities… places of higher learning
in German High School is Gymnasium

I went to Hochschule (college) after I finished High School (gymnasium).

 Wand
sounds like magic WAND
means- wall
in German magic wand is Zauberstock

The Magician aimed his Wand (Zauberstock) at the Wand (wall).

Stapel
sounds like staples
means- pile or stack
in German staple is Heftklammer

After you staple (Heftklammer) those papers, put them in a Stapel (pile)

Allee
sounds like alley
means – avenue
in German an alley is a Gasse

After you drive down the Allee (avenue) for three miles, turn right at the alley (Gasse).

Prüfen
sounds like prove
means to check
in German prove is beweisen

After they were done prüfen (checking) each other’s work, they could prove (beweiss) that it was correct.

Gift
sounds like a present
means poison
in German, gift is a Geschenk

Let’s hope the Geschenk (gift) is not Gift (poison)

And now it’s time to Wave Goodbye…

Winken
sounds like wink
means wave
in German wink is blinzeln
You wink (blinzel) with your eye, and use your hands for winken (waving).

Can you think of any other False Friends?