False friends
English words that look like Ukrainian or Russian ones but mean something else, such as magazine, fabric, accurate and sympathetic, with the word you actually need.
The problem
Ukrainian and Russian share thousands of words with English, mostly borrowed from Latin, Greek, French and German. Many of them mean the same thing everywhere: university, problem, theatre. That is why learners trust a familiar-looking word. But some of these words changed meaning on the way, in one language or the other, and now point to something different. Linguists call them false friends.
They are dangerous for two reasons. First, the sentence is grammatically perfect, so nothing warns you. Second, the listener understands a real English word, just not the one you meant: I bought bread in the magazine makes perfect sense to you and very little to anyone else.
How English does it
The table lists the false friends that cause the most trouble. The middle column is what the English word really means; the right column is the English word you need when you are thinking of the Ukrainian or Russian one.
| English word | It means | Not the same as | For that, say |
|---|---|---|---|
| magazine | a publication with articles and photos, usually weekly or monthly | магазин | shop, store (American) |
| fabric | cloth, material | фабрика | factory |
| accurate | exact, correct | акуратний / аккуратный | tidy, neat, careful |
| sympathetic | showing understanding of someone's problems | симпатичний / симпатичный | nice, attractive, good-looking |
| actual | real, existing in fact | актуальний / актуальный | relevant, topical, current |
| decade | ten years | декада (ten days) | ten days |
| artist | a painter or other creative artist | артист | performer, actor |
| intelligent | clever, quick to learn | інтелігентний / интеллигентный | cultured, well-educated |
| family | parents, children and relatives | фамилия (Russian) | surname, last name |
| cabinet | a cupboard; the group of senior ministers | кабінет / кабинет | office, study |
| novel | a long work of fiction | новела / новелла | short story |
| complexion | the colour and quality of facial skin | комплекція / комплекция | build, figure |
| chef | a professional cook | шеф | boss, manager |
| prospect | a possibility in the future | проспект | avenue |
| pathetic | weak and useless, or causing pity | патетичний / патетичный | emotional, solemn, grand |
Two more need a note. Realise is not реалізувати / реализовать: it means to understand something you did not understand before, I realised I was lost. For carrying out a plan, English uses carry out, implement or put into practice. Actually is not актуально: it means "in fact", and is often used to correct someone politely, Actually, the meeting is on Tuesday.
Examples
- I bought a magazine at the station to read on the train.
- My father worked in a factory that produced fabric for curtains.
- The report gives an accurate picture of the situation.
- The doctor was very sympathetic when Anna explained her problem.
- This topic is very relevant today. (not actual)
- Tom spent a decade working abroad and came home in 2020.
- What is your surname? (not family)
- I suddenly realised that I had left my keys at home.
Common mistakes
- ✗ This question is very actual now.
✓ This question is very relevant now. / This is a very topical question.
Актуальний / актуальный means important at the moment. English actual means real, as in the actual cost was higher. - ✗ Anna is a very sympathetic girl. (meaning: pretty)
✓ Anna is a very attractive girl. / Anna is really nice.
Sympathetic describes someone who understands your problems, not someone who looks good. An English speaker hears співчутлива / сочувствующая. - ✗ He is an accurate person, his desk is always clean.
✓ He is a tidy person, his desk is always clean.
Accurate is for information, numbers and measurements. For people who keep things in order, say tidy, neat or organised. - ✗ I need to go to the magazine to buy milk.
✓ I need to go to the shop to buy milk.
A magazine is something you read. In a British town you go to the shop; in the United States, to the store. - ✗ Tom is a very intelligent man, he never swears.
✓ Tom is a very polite, well-educated man.
English intelligent only means clever. The Ukrainian and Russian idea of інтелігентність, good manners and culture, has no single English word.
Try it
- Choose: The ___ (actual / real) problem is money.
- Replace the false friend: She works at a car fabric.
- Replace the false friend: Is there a magazine near here? I need to buy milk.
- Choose: Please give me the ___ (accurate / tidy) figures.
- Replace the false friend: Write your first name and your family on the form.