查看文章
 
French-English False Cognates - Faux amis(K)
2008/11/26 8:58

Kidnapper vs Kidnapper

Kidnapper is the French verb to kidnap.
Kidnapper refers to the person who does the deed - un ravisseur / une ravisseuse.



Label
vs Label

Label refers to an official label or certification, such as where a product comes from or a guarantee of its quality.
Label is a more general word for any kind of étiquette.

Lac vs Lack

Lac is a large body of water - lake.
Lack is a deficiency or absence - un manque.

Langage vs Language

Langage refers to jargon or other kinds of specialized language.
Language can refer both to le langage and to the more general term la langue.

Laid vs Laid

Laid is an adjective meaning ugly.
Laid is the past tense of the English verb to lay: he laid his briefcase on the table - il a posé son porte-documents sur la table, she was laid on the ground - elle était déposée au sol.

Lame vs Lame

Lame is a noun: strip (of wood or metal), slide (of a microscope), or blade.
Lame is an adjective: boiteux, estropié, faible.

Large vs Large

Large is the French adjective for wide, broad, or expansive. It can also mean generous or ample.
Large is synonomous with big - grand, vaste, gros, important.

Lecture vs Lecture

Lecture refers to reading in all senses of the word.
Lecture indicates a speech on a particular subject, especially for academic purposes: une conférence.

Legs vs Leg

Legs indicates a legacy or bequest.
Legs
is the plural of leg - une jambe.

Légume vs Legume

Légume is a vegetable.
Legume is une légumineuse.

Lever/Lèvre vs Lever

Lever means to lift or raise, while une Lèvre = lip.
Lever indicates un levier or une manette.

Libéral vs Liberal

Libéral in politics refers to the ideology of Libéralism, which, generally speaking, believes in individual rights, freedom of thought, limited power, rule of law, market-based policies, and transparent government. The market-based policies in particular tend to be favored by political parties on the right.
Liberal is more or less synonymous with Democratic in the US, which is on the left, politically.

Librairie vs Library

Une Librairie is a bookstore, while Library in French is une bibliothèque.

Lice vs Lice

Lice is fairly archaic; it refers to an arena (entrer en lice - to enter the competition lists) or a female hunting dog.
Lice is the plural of louse = un pou.

Licencier vs License/Licence

Licencier means to make redundant, dismiss, or lay off.
License is a verb: avoir une license pour or acheter la vignette de as well as a noun: un permis or une authorisation. Licence is the British spelling of the noun.

Lime vs Lime

Lime is a semi-false cognate. It can mean a lime or lime tree, but it more commonly refers to a file (metal or nail file).
Lime is un citron vert or, less commonly, une lime.

Limon vs Lemon

Limon refers to alluvium, silt, or stringboard.
Lemon = un citron.

Liqueur vs Liquor

Liqueur is a sweet, flavored alcoholic beverage: J'ai bu une liqueur après le dîner - I drank a cordial after dinner.
Liquor can mean any alcoholic beverage, but most often refers to hard liquor: Liquor is his only vice - L'alcool est son vice unique.

Lit vs Lit

Lit is a bed.
Lit is the past participle of to light: allumer or éclairer.

Littérature vs Literature

Littérature = literature, writing
Literature usually indicates la littérature, but can also refer to documentation or brochures (publicitaires).

Livide vs Livid

Livide = pallid.
Livid means blafard, vilain, furieux, or furibond.

Location vs Location

Location refers to something that is available for rent, such as a house or car. C'est pour un achat ou pour une location ? - Is it to buy or to rent?
Location indicates the position or placement of someone/something: It's a suitable location for a bakery - C'est une emplacement convenable à une boulangerie.

Logeur vs Lodger

Logeur is the landlord - the person who rents out rooms, while a Lodger is the opposite - the person who rents/stays in the rooms: locataire, pensionnaire.

Losange vs Lozenge

Losange means diamond (in shape).
Lozenge is une pastille (pour la toux).

Lover vs Lover

Lover = to coil.
Lover = un/e amant/e.


类别:词汇||添加到搜藏 |分享到i贴吧|浏览(67)|评论 (0)
 
最近读者:
 
网友评论:
发表评论:
姓 名:
网址或邮箱: (选填)
内 容:
     

   
帮助中心 | 空间客服 | 投诉中心 | 空间协议
©2012 Baidu