This is part III of a series, find part I and II here.
What are false friends in language terms? They are words in one language that look or sound like words from another language but which have a different meaning (also known as false cognates).
Here are some of the false friends I have come across while living in the Netherlands.
feeling
English - not only in the sense of touch (voelen) or emotions but idea, belief, attitude or opinion.
folder
English – first meaning is a binder for holding documents (map), Dutch – a brochure, (reclamefolder).
fresh
English – newly created or picked, not spoiled, Dutch - (vers niet fris), note: fresh water is (zoetwater)
genie
English – a spirit of Arabian folklore (often kept in a bottle or lamp), Dutch - engineer
global
English – the whole world (wereldwijd, mondiaal), Dutch – not complete, total (globaal)
goldfinch
Dutch - not (goudvink) but (putter).
grandiose
English – originally the same meaning as Dutch (grandioos) imposing, impressive, but now implies pretentious or over the top.
grief
English – intense sorrow or mourning, Dutch – suffering (leed) or grievance (belediging, benadeling)
guest house
English – accommodation for paying guests, Dutch – pension not (gasthuis) which is an almshouse (hofje)
hairdos
English – plural of hairdo, Dutch – (kapsel) not (haardos) which is a head of hair.
harness
English – set of straps etc. used to control a horse, Dutch – (tuig) not (harnas) which is armour.
hernia
English – generally refers to the groin area medically described as “a protrusion of abdominal-cavity contents through the inguinal canal” (liesbreuk), Dutch – generally refers to the back “A fracture in the intervertebral disc” or (Een breuk in de tussenwervelschijf).
high school
English – (higher) secondary education, Dutch – not college (hogeschool).
hound
English – dog used for hunting, Dutch – not translation of (hond).
(the) last time
Dutch – not lately (de laatste tijd) but (de laatste keer).
Look out for part IV soon.
Let me know if you have any comments on the above or any False Friends in Dutch/English languages that you have come across!
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The Goldfinch (Dutch: Het puttertje) by Carel Fabritius, 1654.
The work is in the collection of the Mauritshuis in The Hague, Netherlands.
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