The German word Beamer may sound pretty English, but in fact it’s a classic false friend (a word which looks or sounds the same in both languages, but actually has completely different meanings). The English word for Beamer is projector. The word Beemer (with double e) is used to talk about a BMW.
False friends are a common source of confusion, amusement and embarrassment.
Test yourself
Have a look at the sentences below. Each one contains a false friend. See if you can find the word which is wrong and replace it.
- Just a moment, I need to make some notices.
- How much provision would the sales reps get?
- Can you fill in the formula and send it back by the end of the week?
- We’re starting a big new sales action next month.
- I’m not 100% sure at the moment, but eventually we can finish the project by the end of June.
How did you do?
Here are my suggestions – there are other possibilities, of course – and the explanations:
Just a moment, I need to make some notes.
notices = Aushänge, Ankündigungen
Notizen = notes
How much commission would the sales reps get?
provision has many meanings including Bereitstellung, Vorschrift, Vorkehrung
Provision = commission
Can you fill in the form and send it back by the end of the week?
formula = Formel
Formular = form
We’re starting a big new sales campaign next month.
action = Handlung, Handeln, Vorgehen
Aktion = campaign
I’m not 100% sure at the moment, but maybe we can finish the project by the end of June.
eventually = schließlich
eventuell = possibly, maybe
Two more to watch out for
Billion
In English a billion is one thousand million (= German: Milliarde). A trillion is one million million (= German Billion)
Tricky
Although tricky can mean trickreich, but it’s more often used in the sense of kniffelig or heikel. Examples of this usage are:
That’s a tricky question.
We’re in a tricky situation.
For more on false friends see Can I become a beefsteak.
