Spotting cognates and false friends
You already know more French than you think, because many words look similar to English — but a few tricks can catch you out.
Part of your national curriculum
- Reading: Deduce meaning from a variety of texts, using context and knowledge of word patterns and cognates
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Deduce meaning from a variety of texts, using context and knowledge of word patterns and cognates
Key learning points
- • What are cognates?
- • Beware false friends
- • Using context to guess meaning
This lesson at a glance
- 20 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
Spotting cognates and false friends
You already know more French than you think, because many words look similar to English — but a few tricks can catch you out.
In a nutshell
Deduce meaning from a variety of texts, using context and knowledge of word patterns and cognates
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · What are cognates?
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
What are cognates?
Cognates are words that look and mean the same, or nearly the same, in two languages, often because both borrowed from Latin. 'Le restaurant', 'l'hôpital', 'la musique' and 'important' are all near-identical to their English equivalents, which makes reading French easier than it first seems.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
Beware false friends
False friends look similar but mean something different: 'la librairie' means 'the bookshop', not 'the library' (which is 'la bibliothèque'); 'assister à' means 'to attend', not 'to assist'; and 'sensible' in French means 'sensitive', not 'sensible'. Context is the best way to catch these traps.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Using context to guess meaning
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
Using context to guess meaning
When you meet an unfamiliar word, look at the words around it, any pictures, and the type of text. In a menu, 'poulet' next to a price and near 'viande' (meat) is very likely to mean 'chicken', even before you check a dictionary.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
____ is the best way to catch these traps.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
You meet 'rapidement' for the first time. It most likely means...
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Spotting cognates and false friends
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. You meet 'rapidement' for the first time. It most likely means...
2. What is a cognate?
3. What does the French word 'librairie' actually mean?
4. What is the best strategy for guessing an unknown French word in a text?
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
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Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 17 · Watch & discover
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Deduce meaning from a variety of texts, using context and knowledge of word patterns and cognates