This is a list of English-German false friends, that is, word pairs similar in appearance but different in meaning. Translations may be approximated; see linked entries for details.
| German word
|
English translation
|
English word
|
German translation
|
| Art
|
type
|
art
|
Kunst
|
| Bad
|
bathroom
|
bad
|
schlecht
|
| bald
|
soon
|
bald
|
kahl, glatzköpfig
|
| bekommen
|
get
|
become
|
werden
|
| Billion
|
trillion
|
billion
|
Milliarde
|
| Boot
|
boat
|
boot
|
Stiefel, hochfahren
|
| Brand
|
fire, blaze
|
brand
|
Marke
|
| Brief
|
letter
|
brief
|
kurz
|
| Chef
|
boss
|
chef
|
Koch
|
| dispositiv
|
non-mandatory
|
dispositive
|
decisive about the matter
|
| Etikett
|
tag, label
|
etiquette
|
Etikette
|
| Fabrik
|
factory
|
fabric
|
Textil
|
| Gaffer
|
onlooker, gawker
|
gaffer
|
Greis
|
| Gift
|
poison
|
gift
|
Geschenk
|
| Glut
|
ambers, glow
|
glut
|
Überfluss
|
| Gruft
|
crypt
|
gruft
|
?
|
| Gymnasium
|
grammar school, prep school
|
gymnasium
|
Fitnessstudio, Turnhalle
|
| Handy
|
mobile phone
|
handy
|
praktisch, handlich, geschickt
|
| Hut
|
hat
|
hut
|
Hütte
|
| Korn
|
kernel (more general)
|
corn
|
Getreide
|
| Mist
|
manure, shit, crap
|
mist
|
Nebel
|
| Note
|
grade
|
note
|
Notiz
|
| Rente
|
pension
|
rent
|
Miete
|
| spenden
|
donate
|
spend
|
ausgeben
|
| Tag
|
day
|
tag
|
Etikett, Markierung
|
| Taste
|
key (on a piano)
|
taste
|
Geschmack, schmecken
|
| tasten
|
feel, fumble, grope
|
taste
|
Geschmack, schmecken
|
| übersehen
|
overlook
|
oversee
|
beaufsichtigen, betreuen
|
| überhören
|
miss
|
overhear
|
mithören, belauschen
|
| Unternehmer
|
entrepreneur, employer
|
undertaker
|
Bestatter
|
| Wand
|
wall
|
wand
|
Stab
|
| will
|
want
|
will
|
werden
|
| wandern
|
hike
|
wander
|
schlendern
|
| winken
|
wave, beckon
|
wink
|
zwinkern, blinzeln
|
