⚠️ False Friends
The tricky words that look familiar but mean something completely different.
These English words look almost identical to an Italian word — but watch out, they mean something different! Each one shows what the English word really means, and what the similar-looking Italian word actually means.
in fact, really
“I actually agree with you.”
currently, at the moment
“Attualmente vivo a Milano.”
in the end, finally
“We eventually found the hotel.”
possibly, if needed
“Eventualmente potremmo rimandare.”
reasonable, practical
“That's a sensible decision.”
sensitive
“È una persona molto sensibile.”
showing compassion
“She was very sympathetic when I was ill.”
nice, likeable
“È un ragazzo molto simpatico.”
cloth, material
“This dress is made of a soft fabric.”
factory
“Lavora in una fabbrica di scarpe.”
a place with books to borrow
“I borrowed this book from the library.”
bookshop (or bookshelf)
“Ho comprato il libro in libreria.”
a device for taking photos
“Don't forget your camera on the trip.”
room (in a house/hotel)
“La camera da letto è al primo piano.”
mother and father
“My parents live nearby.”
relatives
“Ho molti parenti in Sicilia.”
to fake, act as if
“He pretended not to notice.”
to demand, expect
“Pretende troppo dai suoi studenti.”
has received schooling
“She's a well-educated woman.”
polite, well-mannered
“È un bambino molto educato.”
a place where goods are made
“The factory produces cars.”
farm
“I nonni hanno una fattoria in campagna.”
a periodical publication
“I read a magazine on the train.”
warehouse, storeroom
“Le scatole sono nel magazzino.”
property or land someone owns
“He left his estate to his children.”
summer
“Vado al mare ogni estate.”
a company; also solid/steady
“She works for a law firm.”
signature
“Ho bisogno della tua firma qui.”
an educational talk
“The professor gave a lecture on history.”
reading
“La lettura è il mio hobby preferito.”
a disagreement, or a line of reasoning
“They had an argument about money.”
topic, subject
“Qual è l'argomento della lezione?”