Watch Out for These 180+ Common German False Cognates

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English speakers generally have an easier time with the German language than other foreign language speakers. This is because the two languages are so closely related in history that there are many German cognates in English. 

Cognates are words that look and sound similar in English and German and mean the same thing. False cognates, however, are a trap many German learners fall into when they get too accustomed to trusting words that sound like terms we know and love in English. In this guide, discover the most common German false cognates by theme to avoid getting caught out.

What is a German false cognate?

Don’t be fooled! A German false cognate, or false Freunde (false friend), is a term in the German language that looks and sounds exactly, or similar to, a word in English, but means something different. By learning common false cognates in German and English, you can avoid some humorous, or even problematic, misunderstandings.

A popular example of a German false cognate is the word Gift, which actually means “poison” in English. While Gift is spelled and pronounced the exact same way as “gift” is in English, you wouldn’t want to tell a German Ich will dir Gift geben because you’re telling them “I want to give you poison.” Such misunderstandings are common across languages, making German false cognates an important area of study for any language enthusiast.

German false cognates in everyday objects and places

Commonplace items and frequently visited locations can be a minefield of false cognates in German. Get by in your day-to-day conversation by learning some of the most-used German nouns in the chart below that don’t mean what you think they do at first glance.

German false cognates on the menu

Ordering your new favorite German food at an authentic German beer garden or restaurant? Be sure you’re ordering the right thing! Here are some German false cognates you’re likely to encounter on the menu.

German nature terms that aren’t what they seem

From sprawling hills to enchanted forests, Germany has stunning natural features you should explore to get that uniquely Germanic feeling of Waldeinsamkeit. Get ready for a trek on Germany’s nature paths and hiking trails with this list of German false cognates for things you’re likely to encounter out in nature.

German false cognates in the professional world

Are you learning German for work? Your communication skills are a fundamental resource as a professional, so make sure you’re saying what you mean and communicating competently. Avoid misunderstandings with this list of common German false cognates for the professional world.

Costly mistakes with numerical false cognates

Very large numbers, those greater than one million, must be correctly communicated to avoid misunderstandings, particularly when it comes to finance, science, or population data. 

English speakers figuring out how to learn German numbers may see the term Billion (trillion) and automatically assume it refers to the English “billion.” Mistaking a trillion for a billion could be very problematic! German uses a long-form scale with these unusually high numbers, so the German word for “billion” is actually Milliarde. 

A long-form scale is one where each new term for a million-based power is 1000 times larger than the previous one. English, on the other hand, uses a short-form scale, where each new term is 1000 times the previous term, starting from a thousand million. 

To avoid costly misunderstandings, see the chart below for German false cognates related to numerical terms for incredibly large numbers.

False cognates for describing people in German

As you learn a new language and get to meet new people, you’ll likely have conversations about other friends or want to ask about someone new. Describing people’s personalities and attributes involves using a lot of adjectives. Get the right message across by learning these common false cognates for German adjectives.

German false cognates for slang that can get you in trouble

You’ll often encounter slang in casual conversations that you might not necessarily pick up in a German language classroom. While the slang German false cognates you find here likely won’t show up in a board meeting, you can avoid social blunders with your German-speaking friends by knowing which German verbs and terms can get you in trouble if you misunderstand them.

Now that you have 180+ German false cognates in your vocabulary toolbox, what will you use them for? Rosetta Stone live lessons offer cultural topics and real-world understandings that can deepen your comprehension of the German language and help you avoid embarrassing miscommunications in your daily German conversations.