German/Appendices/False friends

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There are some words which are spelled the same in English and in German, but have completely different meanings. Even though the words are spelled the same, they are usually pronounced completely differently. It can sometimes be dangerous to use these words (for both native English speakers and native German speakers.) Think of that, next time someone wants to give you a " Gift" or opens a door and says " After you!"

Note: This list contains some items of etymological interest. For example, the transformation of the consonant 't' in German to 'd' in English in word pairs like Bart->Beard, Bett->Bed, Gut->Good, Hart->Hard, Rot->Red, and Not->Need.

Word
German meaning (in English)
Englische Bedeutung (auf Deutsch)
After
Anus
Später, Nachher
also
thus
auch
Angel
Fishing Rod
Engel
Apart
Striking
Abgesondert, Abseits
Arm
Poor
Arm
Art
Kind, sort, species
Kunst, Künstlichkeit
Ass
Ace
Esel, Dumpfbacke, Knallkopf, Arsch (vulg.)
Bad
Bath
Schlecht, Schlimm
Bagger
Excavator
Angesteller im Supermarkt der die Einkäufe in Tüten packt
bald
Soon
Unbehaart, Kahlköpfig
bang
Afraid
Knall, Krach, Schall
bar
in Cash, Pure
Stab (see also: Stab), Kneipe
Bart
Beard
Name eines Mannes
bat
asked politely, requested (past tense)
Fledermaus
Beet
Flower bed
Zuckerrübe, rote Rübe
bitten
to ask politely, request
gebissen
blank
Shiny, Shining
Unbeschriftet, Unausgefüllt
Blech
Sheet metal
Ausdruck des Ekels
bog
to Twist, Form, Bend (past tense)
Sumpf, Torfmoor
Brand
Fire
Markenprodukt
Brilliant, brillant
Diamond, prächtig, herrlich
Blendend, Geistvoll
Bug
Front of a boat or plane
Laus, Insekt, Störung
Danke
Thanks
Feucht
dick
Thick
Schnüffler, Schwanz, der steife Penis
Elf
Eleven, (coll. soccer team)
Elfe, Kobold
falls
If, in case
Wasserfälle
Fang, fang
Catch, to catch, to capture (imperative)
Reißzahn
fatal
Unfortunate
Verhängnisvoll, Unheilvoll, Tödlich
fast
Almost, Nearly
Schnell
fasten
Fast
Befestigen
Fee
Fairy
Preise, Gebühr
Fell
Coat (animal)
fällen
fern
Far away, Distant
Farnkraut
First
Ridge
Zuerst
flog
Flew
Peitschen, Auspeitschen
fort
Away, Off, Gone
Festung, Kastell
Funk
Radio
Drückeberger, Musik von 1970's
Gang
Walk, Gait, Way
Gruppe, Bande, Trupp
Gift
Poison
Gabe, Geschenk
Grab
Grave
Aufgreifen, Ergreifen
Grad
Degree (temperature)
einen akademischen Grad erlangen
grub
dug (past tense)
Futter
gut
Good
Darm (Schnecke und Kette)
Hack
ground meal, hash
Heib, Kerbe, Zerhacken
half
Helped (past tense)
Halb
Handy
Cell Phone
Praktisch, Passend, Handlich
Hang
Slope, Inclination
Hängen, Henken
Happen
Bit, Morsel
Zufällig Geschehen, Vorkommen, Passieren
hart
Hard
Hirsch
Heck
Back of a car, boat or plane
Was zum Teufel? (What the Heck?)
Held
Hero
Gehalten
hell
Bright
Hölle
Herd
Cooker, Oven, Range
Herde
Hose
Pants
Schlauch
Hub, hub
Throw, Lob, Swing (see also: Lob), (past tense of) to lift
Wickelkern, Nabe
Hummer
Lobster
Jemand der summt
Hut
Hat
Hütte
Kind
child
Art, Sorte
Labor
Laboratory
Arbeit
Lack
Varnish
Knappheit, Mangel
lag
Lay
zurueckbleiben, zoegern
Last
Load, Burden, Weight
Zuletzt
Lied
Song
Gelogen
links
Left
Verknüpfung, Verbindungen
List
Cunning
Schlagseite
Lob
Praise
Werf, Hub (see also: Hub)
log
Lied
Block, Klotz
Lot
Plumb (line)
Pazille, die Menge, die Masse
Lust
To feel like doing something, desire (this can has the English meaning, depending on the situation)
Sinnliche Begierde
Made
Maggot
Hergestellt, Gemacht
Maul
Mouth (animal)
der Schlegel, Beschädigen, Durchprügeln
Mist
Manure, Trash
leichter Nebel
Not
distress, need
Nicht
Note
Grade (in school), musical note
bemerken, aufschreiben, kleiner Brief
nun
Now
die Schwester (im Kloster), Nonne
Pest
Plague
Nervensäge
Rang
Rank
Geklingelt, Geklungen
Rad
Wheel
Ausdruck der Bewunderung (wie Geil)
Rat
Advice
die Ratte
Regal
Shelves
Majestätisch, Königlich, Hoheitsvoll
Rind
Beef, Cattle
Schwarte, Schale
Rock
Skirt
Stein, Fels
Roman
Novel
der Römer
Rot
Red
Verrotten, Verwesung
Sage
History, Myth
Weise, Klug, Gescheit
See
Lake
Siehe
Sense
Scythe
Wahrnehmung, Bedeutung, Verstand, Sinn
Silvester
New Year's Eve
Name eines Mannes
Speck
Bacon
Fleck
Spur
Trace, Tracks, Lane
Schiffsschnabel, Sporn, Ansporn (see also: Spore)
Stab
Rod, Pole, Baton, Bar (see also: Bar)
Erstechen
Stare
Starlings
anstarren
stark
Strong
Völlig, Gänzlich
Stern
Star
Ernst, das Heck
Tag
Day
Markierstelle, Kennzeichnung
Tang
Seaweed
Amerikanisches Orangengetränk
Taste
Key (as in keyboard)
Kostprobe, Geschmackssinn
toll
Great! Super!
Zollabgabe, Straßenbenutzungsgebühr
Tod
Death, Dead
Name eines Mannes
Ton
Clay, a Sound
die Tonne
Tot
Dead
kleines Kind, kleiner Knirps
Wade
calf (of the leg)
waten
Wand
Wall
der Zauberstab
war
Was (see also: Was)
Krieg
was
What?
wurde/war (see also: War)
Welt
World
Quaddel, Beule
Wetter
Weather
Nasser
wider
Against, Contrary to
Weiter, Breiter
will
Wants
Wille

Although not spelled identically in both languages, beginners are often confused by the similarity of the German "bekommen" and English "to become".

bekommen => to receive, to get

werden => to become


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