Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash
Part Two
By Federica Lupis, https://www.federicalupis.com/
Author of "Fluent On The First Try" and "Why You're Not Fluent and How To Fix It"
Language trainer, interpreter and translator.
False friends are words whose spelling or pronunciation is similar to a word in one's native language but whose meaning is different.
In this article, you'll find the most common Italian false friends.
Enjoy!
MAGAZZINO vs MAGAZINE
Magazzino = warehouse
Magazine = rivista
Amazon ha magazzini dappertutto.
Amazon has warehouses everywhere.
Mi sono abbonata alla rivista Focus perché pubblica sempre articoli interessanti.
I subscribed to Focus magazine because it always publishes interesting articles.
MORBIDO vs MORBID
Morbido = soft
Morbid = morboso
Questo cuscino è durissimo. Avete un cuscino più morbido?
This pillow is very hard. Do you have a softer pillow?
La gelosia è inutile e se diventa morbosa è pericolosa.
Jealousy is useless and if it becomes morbid it is dangerous.
NOIOSO vs NOISY
Noioso = boring
Noisy = rumoroso
Noise = rumore
A molte persone piacciono i libri di Emily Bronte, Charlotte Bronte e Jane Austen. Io li trovo noiosi.
Many people like books by Emily Bronte, Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen. I find them boring.
Non riesco a dormire perché i ragazzi nella stanza accanto alla mia sono molto rumorosi. Avete una stanza più tranquilla?
I can't sleep because the guys next door are very noisy. Do you have a quieter room?
Sono andata da Harvey Norman e ho chiesto al commesso se il frigorifero che volevo comprare faceva rumore. La risposta del commesso è stata impagabile: “Tutti i frigoriferi fanno rumore”.
I went to Harvey Norman and asked the shop assistant if the fridge I wanted to buy was noisy. The salesman's answer was priceless: ‘All fridges make noise’.
PARENTI vs PARENTS
Parenti = relatives
Parents = genitori
Ho molti parenti che vivono nel nord e nel sud d’Italia.
I have many relatives who live in northern and southern Italy.
I miei genitori sono in Italia, ma li sento tutti i giorni su WhatsApp.
My parents are in Italy, but I talk to them on WhatsApp every day.
PRESERVATIVO vs PRESERVATIVE
Preservativo = contraceptive, condom
Preservative = conservante
Il primo preservativo è stato inventato nel 1855.
The first condom was invented in 1855.
Cerco di evitare i cibi ricchi di conservanti.
I try to avoid foods rich in preservatives.
PRETENDERE vs TO PRETEND
Pretendere = to expect
To pretend = fare finta, fingere
Pretendi troppo da te stesso.
You expect too much of yourself.
Facciamo finta di essere in italia. Come chiederesti indicazioni a un passante?
Let's pretend we're in Italy. How would you ask a passer-by for directions?
RUMORE vs RUMOUR
Rumore = noise, sound
Rumour = pettegolezzo, diceria
C'è troppo rumore qui. Non riesco a concentrarmi.
There is too much noise in here. I cannot concentrate.
Era solo una diceria.
It was just a rumour.
STAMPA vs STAMP
Stampa = press, printing, publishing
Stamp = francobollo
Perché la stampa parla sempre dei reali?
Why is the press always talking about the royals?
Vorrei cinque francobolli per favore.
I’d like five stamps, please.
TERRIFICANTE vs TERRIFIC
Terrificante = terrifying
Terrific = fantastic
La previsione del continuo aumento delle temperature è terrificante.
The prediction of continued rising temperatures is terrifying.
Fantastico!
That's terrific!
You look terrific!
Stai benissimo! (Be careful not to say: ‘Sei terrificante’!)
~ ~ ~
BONUS
The following words are not false friends, but as I was writing this article, they kept popping into my mind, so I decided to include them.
RIDICOLOUS = RIDICOLO
I ragazzi australiani indossano spesso magliette ridicole alle cene di Natale.
Australian guys often wear ridiculous shirts to Christmas dinners.
SERIOUS = SERIO
Che faccia seria! È successo qualcosa?
What a serious expression! Did something happen?
Thanks for reading, I'll see you all next month!
If you enjoyed my article, you can discover my tried and tested language learning strategies in my books:
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Kyara e l'Anello degli Antenati by Saveria Parisi - ITALIAN version
Kyara e i Guerrieri di Pietra by Saveria Parisi – ITALIAN version
Startup Mindset: Help Me Start a Business by Pete Moon
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