When you first dive into the world of the German language, you'll likely encounter some words that feel oddly familiar. You might think, “I’ve seen this before!” only to discover that it means something quite different than expected. These so-called "false friends of a translator" have an almost mischievous way of tricking you, and they pop up in the most innocent-seeming places.
One of the first false friends you're likely to encounter is also. It’s used so often in German conversations that it’s impossible to miss, and, with its familiar spelling, you might assume it means exactly what it does in English—"also." But, in reality, also in German translates to "so" or "therefore." So, when someone says Also, ich gehe jetzt ("So, I’m leaving now"), they aren’t adding a last-minute piece of information—they’re just heading out.
Then there’s eventuell. Surely, this means "eventually," right? Not quite. In German, it means "possibly" or "maybe." If someone says, Ich komme eventuell morgen, they aren’t committing to any definite future plans; they’re saying they might come tomorrow, but don’t hold your breath. It’s a word that keeps things delightfully uncertain.
Rat is another one that might raise an eyebrow. You could be forgiven for thinking it has something to do with rodents, but in German, Rat means "advice" or "council." So if you hear Er gibt mir einen guten Rat ("He gives me good advice"), you can relax knowing it has nothing to do with pests—just some helpful guidance.
Gift is a particularly sneaky false friend. While in English it’s something you’d be happy to receive on your birthday, in German, it’s something you’d want to avoid entirely— Gift means "poison." So, if you come across Das Gift ist gefährlich ("The poison is dangerous"), it’s not a warning about poorly chosen presents, but something much more sinister.
The word sensible can also be confusing. In English, it refers to someone who is practical and reasonable. In German, however, sensibel means "sensitive" or "emotional." So, if you say someone is sehr sensibel, you’re talking about their emotional vulnerability, not their ability to make sound decisions. It’s one of those words that sounds like it’s complimenting someone’s judgment, but it’s actually noting how easily they might cry during a sad movie.
Kurios is another false friend that plays tricks on the mind. You might think it means "curious," but in fact, it means "odd" or "strange." If someone tells you something is kurios, they’re not expressing interest—they find it peculiar, almost as if the situation itself has an air of mystery and oddness.
Let’s move on to Provision. In English, we think of provisions as food supplies, something to pack for a long trip. But in German, Provision refers to a "commission" or "fee," typically in the context of business. If someone is talking about a Maklerprovision, they mean the fee charged by a real estate agent, not snacks for a road trip.
Another word to watch out for is konsequent. It might remind you of "consequent," something that follows as a result of an action. But in German, konsequent means "consistent." So, if someone is described as konsequent, it means they are steady and reliable in their actions, not that they are the outcome of a logical chain of events.
The word blank is sneakily different, too. It looks like it should mean "blank," as in something that’s empty. But in German, blank means "shiny" or "polished." So, if you hear Das Silber ist blank, it’s not talking about something devoid of content, but rather gleaming, polished silver.
Finally, there’s Dose. While in English, a dose refers to a measured amount of medicine, in German, Dose simply means "can" or "tin." So, if someone says Ich brauche eine Dose Cola ("I need a can of cola"), they’re asking for a drink, not a carefully measured amount of syrup for their cough.