Have you ever tried to directly translate an English word into one that sounded similar in Italian, only to be met with a look of confusion? Unfortunately, some Italian words that seem like cognates are really false friends, which can have slightly different uses, or sometimes mean something else entirely! Here is a list of 20 sneaky false friends that will always try to trip you up.

 

1. actually ≠ attualmente

actually = in realtà/ veramente

attualmente = currently

 

1. annoying ≠ annoiato

annoying = infastidito

annoiato = bored

 

1. to pretend ≠ pretendere

to pretend = fingere

pretendere: to demand/claim

 

1. notice ≠ notizia

notice = avviso

notizia = news

 

1. addiction ≠ addizione

addiction = dipendenza

addizione = addition/ sum. mainly used in maths or science (when talking about an extra person or thing- aggiunta is better)

 

1. educated ≠ educato

educated = istruito

educato = polite/ well mannered

 

1. eventually ≠ eventualmente

eventually = alla fine

eventualmente = possibly/ if need be

 

1. pavement ≠ pavimento

pavement = marciapiede

pavimento = floor

 

1. parents ≠ parenti

parents = genitori

parenti = relatives

 

1. romanzo ≠ romance

romance = storia d’amore

romanzo = novel

 

1. rumour ≠ rumore

rumour = pettegolezzo

rumore = sound/ noise

 

1. record ≠ ricordo

record = nota/ documento

ricordo = memory/ reminder

 

1. morbid ≠ morbido

morbid = morboso/ macabro

morbido = soft

 

1. library ≠ libreria

library = biblioteca

libreria = bookshop

 

1. sensible ≠ sensibile

sensible = sensato

sensibile = sensitive

 

1.     large ≠ largo

large = grande

largo = wide

 

1.     lecture ≠  lecture

lecture = lezione

lettura = reading

 

1.     arguement ≠ argomento

argument (quarrel) = discusione/ litigio

argomento = topic/ argument (e.g. of an essay)

Therefore, discussione also does not always mean discussion, but often used for arguments between people.

 

1. to demand ≠ domandare

to demand = chiedere/ esigere

domandare = to ask for/ inquire about

 

1.     gross ≠  grosso

Gross = disgustoso/ schifoso. Colloquialism: how gross! = Che schifo!

Grosso = big/ thick/ bulky

 

Learn these pesky false friends to avoid those awkward moments of miscommunication! If you wish to learn many other Italian words, false friends and cognates, specific to a certain area of vocabulary, have a look here!