German False Friends — English Lookalikes That Betray You

Practice tricky lookalikes that do not mean what you think with Verbanu — listen, repeat, and lock the pairs in. You'll hear pairs like aktuell = current (≠ actually), eigentlich = actually, Gift = poison (≠ gift), das Geschenk = gift / present, bekommen = to receive / get (≠ become), werden = to become, bald = soon (≠ bald), kahl = bald (hairless), plus also = so / therefore (≠ also), auch = also / too, sensibel = sensitive (≠ sensible), vernünftig = sensible / reasonable. Open Verbanu and practice the same drill yourself: https://verbanu.com 0:00 aktuell / current (≠ actually) 0:09 eigentlich / actually 0:19 Gift / poison (≠ gift) 0:28 das Geschenk / gift / present 0:38 bekommen / to receive / get (≠ become) 0:47 werden / to become 0:57 bald / soon (≠ bald) 1:06 kahl / bald (hairless) 1:16 also / so / therefore (≠ also) 1:25 auch / also / too 1:35 sensibel / sensitive (≠ sensible) 1:44 vernünftig / sensible / reasonable 1:54 Fabrik / factory (≠ fabric) 2:03 der Stoff / fabric / material 2:13 Rat / advice (≠ rat) 2:22 die Ratte / rat (animal) 2:32 Chef / boss (≠ chef cook) 2:41 der Koch / chef / cook 2:51 fast / almost (≠ fast) 3:00 schnell / fast / quick 3:10 bekommen / to get (≠ become) 3:19 wurden / became (werden past) 3:29 Brand / fire (≠ brand label) 3:38 die Marke / brand / label 3:48 Lokal / pub/restaurant (≠ local adj.) 3:57 örtlich / local 4:07 Konserve / canned food (≠ conserve) 4:16 konservieren / to preserve / conserve 4:26 Kaution / deposit (≠ caution) 4:35 Vorsicht / caution 4:45 Billion / trillion (DE) / billion (AT/CH differs!) 4:54 Milliarde / billion (Germany) 5:04 Milliarde / billion in German standard 5:13 eventuell / possibly (≠ eventually) 5:23 schließlich / eventually / finally 5:32 sympathisch / likeable (≠ sympathetic) 5:42 mitfühlend / sympathetic / compassionate 5:51 mobil / mobile phone (old) / mobile 6:01 das Handy / cell phone 6:10 Formular / form (≠ formula) 6:20 die Formel / formula 6:29 Hut / hat (≠ hut) 6:39 die Hütte / hut / cabin 6:48 Bekleidung / clothing (≠ becoming) 6:58 kleiden / to dress 7:07 Art / type/kind (≠ art) 7:17 die Kunst / art 7:26 Giftig / poisonous (related to Gift) 7:36 gifts / incorrect plural confusion 7:45 Krankenhaus / hospital (≠ sick house literal ok) 7:55 Wirt / innkeeper (≠ wirt) 8:04 Wirtschaft / economy / pub 8:14 Philosophie / philosophy (same) 8:23 Biologie / biology (same — cognate) 8:33 Präservativ / condom (≠ preservative) 8:42 das Konservierungsmittel / preservative 8:52 bekannt / known / famous (≠ became known only) 9:01 berühmt / famous 9:11 After / rectum (≠ after) 9:20 nach / after (preposition) 9:30 Pickel / pimple (≠ pickle) 9:39 die Gurke / pickle / cucumber 9:49 Mist / dung / crap (≠ mist) 9:58 der Nebel / mist / fog 10:08 Bad / bath/bathroom (≠ bad) 10:17 schlecht / bad 10:27 Brief / letter (≠ brief) 10:36 kurz / brief / short 10:46 Rock / skirt (≠ rock music) 10:55 der Stein / rock (stone) 11:05 Hose / pants (≠ hose) 11:14 der Schlauch / hose / tube 11:24 Kind / child (≠ kind adj.) 11:33 freundlich / kind / friendly 11:43 bekommen ≠ become / classic false friend pair 11:52 Ich bekomme ein Auto / I receive/get a car 12:02 Er wird Arzt / he becomes a doctor 12:11 Das ist aktuell / that is current/up to date 12:21 Eigentlich mag ich das / actually I like that 12:30 Vorsicht, Gift! / caution, poison!