False friends, or to give them their proper name, false cognates, are words which sound or look similar in two different languages, but actually mean very different things. These words can cause harmless misunderstandings and sometimes they can be really funny.
Gil the Travelling Gecko almost always seems to run into these words. Occasionally this means that he doesn’t understand as much as he thought that he did. These ‘errors’ can be great ways to have some fun when learning a new language and will often make you laugh. Best of all, you will probably remember them!
Highlights from Gil the Travelling Gecko Books
In the Gil book series, we use these false friends in each story where Gil is in a country where English isn’t the first language. Sometimes we use common ‘street’ terms to highlight how different people speak in other English speaking countries.
Below are some examples of False Friends and their alternate meanings, plus a few funny words from other countries.
A Dutch squirrel is an acorn. Well it sounds like one!
In Dutch, a squirrel is called an ‘eekhorn’, and it sounds just like acorn, which is what squirrels actually eat. An acorn in Dutch is an ‘eikel’ and grows on an ‘eikenboom’, which is an oak tree.
Maybe this is where the term ‘Double Dutch’ came from!
Drahtesel
A Drahtesel is a bicycle in German. It literally translates as an iron donkey.
Many years ago people used to ride donkeys, then bicycles were invented, which replaced the donkeys, so an iron donkey became the favourite mode of transport.
Many German words have funny literal meanings, but they actually make some sense.
Gallo Pinto
One of my favourite things to eat in Costa Rica is ‘Gallo Pinto’ which means speckled hen. It is rice and black beans and is served with a variety of toppings and sometimes an egg. With a fresh fruit smoothie it is the perfect way to start the day
Are you a ‘morgenmuffel’?
In Germany, ‘morgen’ means morning and ‘muffel’ means grumpy. When you say them together, ‘morgenmuffel’ it means someone is difficult to wake up and very grumpy in the morning.
In Scotland everyone has a coupon
My friend Jayden, the Skye Terrier, tells me that a coupon is not an advertisement or a discount.
In Scotland it means your face.
The Scots use lots of words which are a bit strange.
A Gift from Denmark is something that you do not want
In Danish the word gift doesn’t mean a present, it means poison. Something which is poisonous is ‘giftig’.
For some reason it is also the word for marriage.
A barbecue in Oz is called a barbie
In Australia, which is also known as ‘Oz’, or ‘the land down under’, a barbie is the name for a barbecue.
When they say “throw a shrimp on the barbie” they do not mean put shrimp on a plastic toy. That would be weird!
They also like to put ‘Dead Horse’ on their BBQ meats, which sounds gross, but it is just a nickname for tomato ketchup
Gesundheit is the German word for health
Gesundheit in German means health and also, ‘bless you’ when it is said after someone sneezes.
Gesundheitsbrot is also a kind of high fibre bread which is often eaten at breakfast. The name literally means health bread.
Cenotes
In Mexico they have some strange underground caves where you can sometimes swim. These are called ‘cenotes’.
Some of them have become quite famous, especially those in the Quintana Roo area.
One particular cenote, is called ‘Dos Ojos’, which means two eyes. Dos Ojos are two cenotes which are connected with an underground tunnel and people sometimes swim from on to the other.
Robots – South African False Friends
In South Africa, traffic lights are called ‘robots’.
This is because for many years, humans would stand on the street corners to direct the traffic.
When traffic lights arrived, the locals decided that it was these machines that had taken away their jobs, so they called them robots
Fart – Danish False Friends
When Danish people say the word ‘fart’ they are talking about speed and not a little bubble of gas.
If you hear them say ‘full fart’, they actually saying ‘fuldt fart’ which sounds just the same but means top speed.
A fart in Danish is a ‘prut’
Handy German False Friends
In Germany, a ‘handy’ is not on the end of your arm, It is a common name for a cell phone or mobile
Boogers – Australian False Friends
Australia has lots of words that can confuse you. Boogers are boogie-boarders and not green yuck from out of your nose. Boogers are also sometimes called shark biscuits
Drumbledrones
In the southwest of England there is a place called Dartmoor where they have some funny words for everyday things.
In Dartmoor, bees are called ‘drumbledrones’.
Florida Crackers
Florida Crackers are not crazy people in Florida. Only someone who is born and bred in Florida, is called a ‘Florida cracker’. Many Floridians take great pride in being called a Florida Cracker.
Gods Transport – Danish False Friends
In Denmark it looks like God has his own transport and delivery company.
‘Gods Transport’ means goods transport. It is funny when they are parked outside of a church.
Chunder
Australia has lots of funny words that are regularly used by people of all ages.
The word ‘chunder’ in Australia means to be sick.
Soda – Costa Rican False Friends
A soda in Costa Rica is not a soda.
When you visit Costa Rica, you will find that a soda is not a drink. It is a place they go to to eat. These are family run businesses which serve great local food.
You can still get a soda to drink, but you will probably have to ask for it by name!
What da wybe
My friend Big Major lives in the Bahamas and likes to swim in the sea,
If you ask him “What da wybe?” It means ‘what’s up!’
He will answer “Een nothin’.” which means ‘nothing much.’
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Lego
Danish False Friends (kind of)
Lars lives in Denmark, close to Lego Land. Lego is short for “Leg Godt” which means ‘Play well” in Danish.
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Gringo – Cuban False Friends
My friend Pancho lives in Cuba.
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Oui – French False Friends
When visiting France you will hear a lot of people saying wee. They do not need to go to the toilet they mean ‘yes’. Oui in French just sounds like wee!
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Goona Pains
My friend Mick lives in Australia. In Australia toilet paper is called ‘poo tickets’ and ‘goona pains’ are when you really, really need to poo.
Poutine – Canadian False Friends
My friend Laurent lives in Canada and he likes to eat poutine. I think it sounds like ‘poo tin’ uuurgh!
Bunny Chow South African False Friends
One of the tastiest foods in south Africa is known as ‘Bunny Chow’.
It may not sound very pleasant but it is. Bunny Chow is a loaf of bead filled with curry. Yum!
Fantasia – Portuguese False Friends
The word ‘fantasia’ in Portuguese doesn’t mean a fantasy, it means a costume.
Make sure that you do not give any secrets away by misunderstanding what someone has asked you.
Australian False Friends
We all know that boogers live in your nose, but in parts of Australia, young boogie boarders are also called boogers!
Bakkie – South African False Friends
In South Africa a pick-up truck is called a ‘Bakkie’. You will often see groups of people riding in the back of these bakkies, even though it can be dangerous.
Ya Su – Greek False Cognates
My friend Pavlos lives on the island of Corfu in Greece. When you are travelling in Greece you may hear lots of people sneezing a lot. But they are actually saying ‘Ya su’ which means hello.
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La – Arabic False Cognates
In Arabic the word ‘La’ means no.
If you say it twice, ‘La La’ it does not mean a Teletubby
More examples of false friends will be added in the near future. If you can think of some, get in contact and let is know. We are always looking for new ideas for new stories.
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