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Verbs that are faux-amis

Learn to spot the difference with these verbs that look like a verb in your language, but in fact, have a different meaning.

Faux-amis, false friends, are words in a language that look like a word in your language but have a different meaning. French has many faux-amis for English speakers, and many verbs too. Below you'll find a list of the most common verb faux-amis.

Verbs' legend:

	Verb is completely regular
	Conjugation is irregular
	Conjugation is regular

VERB

GROUP

to abuse to use too much, to overuse

to abuse = maltraiter

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to accomodate to prepare

to accomodate = loger

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to achieve to complete, to finish off

to achieve = atteindre

-ER

Irregularities:

►	present (indicative)
	achève, achèves, achève, , , achèvent Learn more

►	simple future (indicative)
	achèver- Learn more

►	present (subjunctive)
	, , , achevions, acheviez, Learn more

►	present (conditional)
	achèver- Learn more

to aggravate to compound

to aggravate = taquiner

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to agonize to be dying

to agonize = se tourmenter

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to alter to distort, to impaire

to alter = modifer

-ER

Irregularities:

►	present (indicative)
	altère, altères, altère, , , altèrent Learn more

►	present (subjunctive)
	, , , altérions, altériez, Learn more

to apply for a job, etc. to affix, to bring to life

to apply for a job, etc. = postuler

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to approach to bring close

to approach = aborder

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

APPRÉHENDER

to apprehend, to arrest to dread

to apprehend, to arrest = arrêter

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to argue to infer

to argue = contester

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to assist to attend

to assist = aider

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to attend to wait

to attend = assiter

-RE

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to avert to warn

to avert = éviter

-IR

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to bless to wound

to bless = bénir

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to blame to criticize

to blame = imputer

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to chase to hunt

to chase = poursuivre

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

CONFECTIONNER

to make confectionery to make (roughly or quickly)

to make confectionery = faire des bonbons

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to make comfortable to reinforce

to make comfortable = réconforter

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to confront to compare

to confront = affronter

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to convene to be suitable

to convene = convoquer, organiser

-IR

Irregularities:

►	present (past)
	avoir convenu Learn more

►	present (indicative)
	conviens, conviens, convient, convenons, convenez, conviennent Learn more

►	simple future (indicative)
	conviendr- Learn more

►	simple past (indicative)
	conv- [-ins endings] Learn more

►	present (subjunctive)
	, , , convenions, conveniez, Learn more

►	present (conditional)
	conviendr- Learn more

to cry to shout

to cry = pleurer

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to cure to dredge

to cure = remédier

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to demand to ask

to demand = exiger

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to devise to converse

to devise = concevoir

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to divert to entertain

to divert = détourner

-IR

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to dress to train, to tame

to dress = s'habiller

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to deceive to disappoint

to deceive = tromper, duper

-IR

Irregularities:

►	present (past)
	avoir déçu Learn more

►	present (indicative)
	déçois, déçois, déçoit, décevons, décevez, déçoivent Learn more

►	simple future (indicative)
	décevr- Learn more

►	simple past (indicative)
	déç- [-us endings] Learn more

►	present (subjunctive)
	, , , décevions, déceviez, Learn more

►	present (conditional)
	décevr- Learn more

to defile to walk (on a catwalk), to scroll

to defile = souiller

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to disgust to taste

to disgust = dégoûter

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to deliver to set free

to deliver = livrer

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to deter to unearth

to deter = dissuader

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to imprint to borrow

to imprint = imprimer

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to make an error to wander

to make an error = se tromper

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to exonerate to exempt

to exonerate = disculper

-ER

Irregularities:

►	present (indicative)
	exonère, exonères, exonère, , , exonèrent Learn more

►	present (subjunctive)
	, , , exonérions, exonériez, Learn more

to harass to exhaust

to harass = harceler

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to hurl to yell

to hurl = lancer violemment

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to injure to insult

to injure = blesser, se blesser

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to intoxicate to poison

to intoxicate = enivrer

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to introduce to insert

to introduce = présenter

-RE

Irregularities:

►	present (past)
	avoir introduit Learn more

►	present (indicative)
	, , introduit, introduisons, introduisez, introduisent Learn more

►	simple past (indicative)
	introduis- Learn more

to lance to throw, to launch

to lance = percer

-ER

Irregularities:

►	present (indicative)
	, , , lançons, , Learn more

►	imperfect (indicative)
	, , , lancions, lanciez, Learn more

►	simple past (indicative)
	lanç- Learn more

to magnify to glorify, to idealize

to magnify = agrandir

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to march to walk

to march = défiler

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

PASSER (UN EXAM)

to pass an exam to take (an exam)

to pass an exam = réussir un examen

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to pick, to choose to sting

to pick, to choose = choisir

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

POURCHASSER

to purchase to hunt, to track an animal

to purchase = acheter

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to preserver to save

to preserver = conserver

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to pretend to claim, to say

to pretend = faire semblant

-RE

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to prevent to warn

to prevent = empêcher, éviter

-IR

Irregularities:

►	present (past)
	avoir prévenu Learn more

►	present (indicative)
	préviens, préviens, prévient, prévenons, prévenez, préviennent Learn more

►	simple future (indicative)
	préviendr- Learn more

►	simple past (indicative)
	prév- [-ins endings] Learn more

►	present (subjunctive)
	, , , prévenions, préveniez, Learn more

►	present (conditional)
	préviendr- Learn more

to query to fetch

to query = mettre en doute

-IR

Irregularities:

►	present (infinitives and participles)
	Learn more

►	present (past)
	Learn more

►	present (indicative)
	, , , , , Learn more

►	imperfect (indicative)
	, , , , , Learn more

►	simple future (indicative)
	q- Learn more

►	simple past (indicative)
	- Learn more

►	present (subjunctive)
	, , , , , Learn more

►	imperfect (subjunctive)
	, , , , , Learn more

►	present (conditional)
	q- Learn more

►	present (imperative)
	, , Learn more

to regard to watch

to regard = considérer, estimer

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to relieve to lift up

to relieve = soulager

-ER

Irregularities:

►	present (indicative)
	relève, relèves, relève, , , relèvent Learn more

►	simple future (indicative)
	relèver- Learn more

►	present (subjunctive)
	, , , relevions, releviez, Learn more

►	present (conditional)
	relèver- Learn more

to resent to feel, to experience

to resent = s'indigner de

-IR

Irregularities:

►	present (indicative)
	ressens, ressens, ressent, ressentons, ressentez, ressentent Learn more

to rest to stay

to rest = se reposer

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to retire to withdraw

to retire = prendre sa retraite

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to rape to grate

to rape = violer

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to resume to summarize

to resume = recommencer

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to survey to supervise, to surveille

to survey = mener une enquête

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to trouble to confuse

to trouble = préoccuper

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to trespass to pass away

to trespass = enfreindre

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

to use to wear out

to use = utiliser

-ER

Irregularities: this verb is 100% regular.

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RÉJOUIR

	To delight, to make happy Show languages
	Alegrar a
	Donner de la joie
	Fare piacere a
	让很高兴
	Verb is 100% regular

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