Contrary to false friends , who are often barriers to language learning, the true friends are words deemed transparent, that is to say having the same meaning in two different languages.

In general, the English has borrowed heavily to French culinary vocabulary for the military, diplomatic, linguistic and everything that refers to clothing and body care. Conversely, recent techniques whose principles were first defined in the Anglo-Saxon countries (IT, marketing, telecommunications, business management, for example) forward of the words in French are called anglicisms , some of these words are only roundtrips (budgeting, routine, coat).

Note, however, that transparency is not complete:

• word usage is different: a common word in French may have a sense ameliorative in English (large) or pompous (extraordinary or vis--vis, popularized by The Matrix Reloaded)
• some words have changed meaning: charade in English means deception.

In general, count on true friends to fill gaps in English is such a good idea: one runs the risk of not being understood or pass for a pedant.

Rules of lexical convergence

We can see some general rules of "lexical convergence," with exceptions of course:

• names ending '... ing "have the same meaning in French: serving section. Even the word translation, which usually means "translation" has the meaning of "translation" in the technical field.
• names ending "... ty" often have their equivalent in French "... ty": university, university.
• the adjective "... able" or "ible ..." also have a sense close to French when they are formed on the roots of French or Latin origin: able, unable, terrible.
• the adjective "... e" are often transposed into "them ..." delicious, fabulous, precious.
• verbs "... ate" verbs generally correspond to the first French group: Tolerate, create, enumerate.
• verbs "... ize" (or "... ise") correspond to verbs in French "... ize" Privatization, Realization, modernization.
• the words "scientists", that is to say compounds of Greek or Latin roots unprocessed through use, are easily understandable: math, metropolitan, rigid, television, taxi, xenophobia. It is mainly these words in science, technology, biology, species designation.

Examples

• immediately = immediately
• road = road
• current = current
• price = price
• date = date
• name =
• baby = baby
• debonair debonair =
• tail = tail (queue)
• = harp harp
• Effectively = actually
• Apparently = apparently
• successively successively =

True / False Friends

Given what is known as polysemy (a term often has several meanings or meanings), some English words are both true friends and false friends, it does mean that date, in addition to 'date' , as "dating" or more familiarly "tip-off."

See also

• French words of English origin
• False friends in English
• History of the English language
• List of words of French origin Franais ( English)

External Links

• False friends in English
• Gallicisms English

• Language portal
• French Portal

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