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false friend

A word in a foreign language bearing a deceptive resemblance to a word in one's own language.

Etymology:

  • Calque of French faux ami, from the longer phrase faux amis du traducteur, first used by Maxime Kœssler and Jules Derocquigny in 1928 in their book Les Faux Amis ou les trahisons du vocabulaire anglais.
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Submitted on September 01, 2009

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to false friend

fair weather friendring falsefalse teethfalse notefriend with benefitsfalse lightfriend of Bill W.the enemy of your enemy is your friendbrilloso my frienddiamonds are a girl's best friendmy enemy's enemy is my friendfriend with benefitsfalse lightfalse note

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