So similar …but so different!
As we all know, learning a foreign language is always difficult but things can get even more complicated when encountering some similarities in the vocabulary. Wondering why something that should make your life easier – such a similarity between two languages – is actually there to confuse you?
Unfortunately not all the words that might look similar have the same meaning and most of them are actually wolves in sheep’s clothing of language learning.
Do not be afraid, even people who speak almost fluently a foreign language sometimes can fall into the trap of these wolves in sheep’s clothing. Making mistakes is normal – sbagliando si impara! With time and practice you will learn how to recognise these tricky words as well as how to use them correctly.
What are exactly Cognates and False friends?
All the words that look and sound similar in two different languages can be divided and identified into two main groups: cognates and false friends.The expression cognate is used to define a word that is present in two different languages, with a similar spelling and the exact same meaning.This type of words is generally pronounced in the same way or very similarly in both languages and the spelling tends to be similar too.
Most importantly, these similar words in the two different languages have the same basic definition. This is because the words may be from different languages, but if you go back far enough to get to their historic origin, you will find out that they actually share the same linguistic root.
Hence, they derive from the same original word. In our specific case, bear in mind that English and Italian share the same linguistic root of the Vulgar Latin.
Cognates are usually easy to recognise, learn and remember: you can definitely consider them as really true friends!
Example:
Fork → Forchetta
Table → Tavolo
Aria → Air
Animale → Animal
False friends, on the other hand, make learning a new language a bit more tricky. A false friend is a word in a specific language that even if spelled and pronounced in a similar way to a word in another language, unfortunately has a totally different meaning.
As already mentioned, Italian and English share the same linguistic origin, reason why there are a lot of words in both languages that having a common Latin root, look and sound very similar.
Not only English and Italian share a lot of cognates, but they also share quite a number of false friends.
Most common false friends between Italian and English
I have put together a comprehensive (and pretty long) list of some of the most common false friends to watch out for:
Argomento vs Argument
argomento = topic, subject, theme, evidence
argument = discussione, litigio
Fabbrica vs Fabric
fabbrica = factory
fabric = stoffa
Fattoria vs Factory
fattoria = farm
factory = fabbrica
Attualmente vs Actually
attualmente = currently
actually = in realtà
Accidente vs Accident
accidente = coincidence, misfortune, sickness
accident = incidente, infortunio
Educato vs Educated
educato = polite
educated = istruito, erudito
Pretendere vs Pretend
pretendere = to demand
to pretend = fare finta di, fingere
Libreria vs Library
libreria = bookshop
library = biblioteca
Confrontare vs confront
confrontare = to compare
to confront = affrontare
Sensibile vs Sensible
sensibile = sensitive
sensible = sensato, adatto
Conveniente vs convenient
conveniente = good value
convenient = comodo
Largo vs Large
largo = wide
large = grande
Delusione vs Delusion
delusione = disappointment
delusion = illusione, allucinazione
Morbido vs Morbid
morbido = soft
morbid = morboso
Lettura vs Lecture
lettura = reading
lecture = lezione, conferenza, ramanzina
Eventualmente vs eventually
eventualmente = possibly, if need be
eventually = finalmente, prima o poi
Pavimento vs pavement
pavimento = floor
pavement = marciapiede, strada asfaltata
Finalmente vs Finally
finalmente = about time
finally = alla fine
Libreria vs library
libreria = bookshop
library = biblioteca
Discussione vs discussion
discussione = litigio (argument)
discussion = exchange of opinions, conversation
Magazzino vs magazine
magazzino = warehouse
magazine = periodico, rivista
Confidenza vs Confidence
confdenza = intimacy, familiarity
confidence = sicurezza, fiducia in se stesso
Marmellata vs Marmalade
marmellata = jam
marmalade = marmellata di agrumi
Parenti vs Parents
parenti = relatives
parents = genitori
Preservativo vs Preservative
preservativo = contraceptive, condom
preservative = conservante
Ricordo vs Record
ricordo = memory, recollection
record = nota, documento, disco, vinile
Romanzo vs Romance
romanzo = novel
romance = storia d’amore
Rumore vs Rumour
rumore = noise, sound
rumour = pettegolezzo, voce diffusa
Stampa vs Stamp
stampa = press, print, printing
stamp = francobollo
Terrificante vs Terrific
terrificante = terrifying
terrific = fantastico, eccezionale
Cesto vs Chest
cesto = basket
chest = petto
Crudo vs Crude
crudo = raw
crude (vulgar) = volgare, rozzo
Caldo vs Cold
caldo = hot
cold = freddo
Annoiare vs Annoy
Annoiare = to bore
to annoy = infastidire
Noioso vs Noisy
noioso = boring
noisy = rumoroso
Aggiustare vs Adjust
aggiustare = to fix, to repair
to adjust = adattare
Agenda vs Agenda
agenda = diary
agenda = ordine del giorno
Camera vs Camera
camera = room
camera = fotocamera, macchina fotografica
False friends in food vocabulary
As one of my favourite topics is food – or better saying Italian food, let’s point out some very common false friends related to the food vocabulary. I think that the following list will be extremely useful if you are planning to visit Italy or just even to dine in a traditional Italian restaurant.
Knowing these words will save you from bad surprises or embarrassing moments. However, don’t worry, in the event, please just fatevi una bella risata (have a laugh) with the waiter and order something else! As you know, everything is always delicious. 😋
Cocomero vs Cucumber
cocomero (anguria) = watermelon
cucumber = cetriolo
Crema vs Cream
crema = custard
cream = panna
Peperoni vs Pepperoni
peperoni = peppers
pepperoni = salame piccante (spicy salame)
Maccheroni vs Macaroni
maccheroni = specific type of pasta that can be prepared with
different kind of sauces
macaroni = mac and cheese
Latte vs Latte
latte = milk
latte = caffè latte (milky coffee)
Scaloppine vs scallops
scaloppine = sliced meat dish
scallops = capesante
Panini vs Panini
panini (plural of panino) = cold or toasted sandwich, bread roll
panini = toasted sandwich
Al fresco vs Al fresco
al fresco – stare al fresco = to stay in a chilly / breezy place
al fresco – to eat al fresco = mangiare fuori, all’aperto
Do you want to learn more Italian language with cooking?
Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaVwBqct6-Tb1swX4s_9-1A and learn the basics of Italian and how to make authentic Italian meatballs in tomato sauce, pizza, ciambellone (Grandma’s cake) and much more!
Grazie mille!
Raffaella
