In linguistics, a "false friend" is a word, in the language you are learning, which looks or sounds like a word in your own language, but the meaning is different. Students registering for courses at London Town Modica, Centro Linguistico Internazionale will receive Pat's Little Book of False Friends for Italian Learners of English.
Sai cos'è un "falso amico" in linguistica? È una parola di una lingua straniera che assomiglia a una parola della tua lingua, ma il significato è tutto diverso. Chi s'iscrive da London Town, Modica, Centro Linguistico Internazionale avrà il nuovo libretto di Pat!
Cross-posted at Pat's English Pages.
5 comments:
Why did I never realise that false friends exist with other languages and not just German? Thanks. (Feels like a fool.)
Hi, Sabine. Yes, they are all over the place!
There's is nothing wrong with a little self-promotion, I say! :)
My favourite is "burro" which means butter in Italian but, erm, donkey in Spanish.
All sorts of confusions spring to mind, some unsuitable for family reading round the fireside, as Peter Simple used to say!
That cheers me up, Lee! You're quite right, WY - some are very unsuitable for family reading!
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