False Friends
Falsche Freunde
Words that sound similar in Romanian and German, but have completely different meanings. Avoid the most common mistakes!
33 pairs found
Romanian
tot
everything, all
German
tot
means: dead
Use instead
alles
Romanian
alt
other, another
German
alt
means: old, aged
Use instead
ander / ein anderer
Romanian
prost
stupid, fool
German
Prost!
means: Cheers! (toast)
Use instead
dumm / Idiot
Romanian
gras
fat, obese
German
Gras
means: grass (plant)
Use instead
fett / dick
Romanian
gros
thick
German
groß
means: big, large, tall
Use instead
dick
Romanian
drum
road, path
German
Trommel / drum
means: drum instrument (die Trommel) / colloq. short for 'darum' (therefore)
Use instead
Weg / Straße
Romanian
brand
brand, trademark
German
Brand
means: fire, blaze
Use instead
Marke
Romanian
brav
brave, courageous
German
brav
means: well-behaved, obedient
Use instead
mutig / tapfer
Romanian
puf
down feather, fluff
German
Puff
means: seedy/disreputable place (slang) — avoid!
Use instead
Daune / Flaum
Romanian
palmă
palm / slap
German
Palme
means: palm tree
Use instead
Handfläche / Ohrfeige
Romanian
dom
dome, cupola
German
Dom
means: cathedral
Use instead
Kuppel
Romanian
ban
coin, money
German
Bann
means: spell, ban
Use instead
Münze / Geld
Romanian
prima
first (fem) / bonus
German
prima
means: great, excellent!
Use instead
erste / Prämie
Romanian
mine
me (pronoun)
German
Mine
means: mine (explosive) / pencil lead
Use instead
mich / mir
Romanian
chip
face, visage
German
Chip
means: computer chip
Use instead
Gesicht
Romanian
concurs
competition, contest
German
Konkurs
means: bankruptcy
Use instead
Wettbewerb
Romanian
gimnaziu
middle school (grades V–VIII)
German
Gymnasium
means: academic high school (leads to Abitur)
Use instead
Sekundarstufe I (lower secondary school) / Turnhalle (gym)
Romanian
chef
mood, craving / party (RO: a avea chef)
German
Chef
means: boss, manager
Use instead
Lust (desire; 'Lust haben' = to feel like) / Feier (party) / Koch (cook)
Romanian
ordinar
ordinary, common
German
ordinär
means: vulgar, crude
Use instead
gewöhnlich / normal
Romanian
familiar
familiar, known
German
familiär
means: relating to the family; (also) intimate/informal
Use instead
bekannt / vertraut
Romanian
serios
serious, earnest
German
seriös
means: reputable, trustworthy
Use instead
ernst / ernsthaft
Romanian
roman
novel — same as German 'der Roman'! (adj.: ancient Roman)
German
Roman
means: novel (fiction book)
Use instead
Römer
Romanian
fast
splendor, pomp
German
fast
means: almost, nearly
Use instead
Pracht / Glanz
Romanian
pensiune
guesthouse / pension
German
Pension
means: guesthouse / retirement pay
Use instead
Pension / Rente
Romanian
matur
mature, adult
German
Matura
means: A-level exam (Austria/Switzerland)
Use instead
reif / erwachsen
Romanian
cadou (gift)
gift, present
German
Gift
means: POISON
Use instead
Geschenk
Romanian
meniu
menu / set meal
German
Menü
means: set meal (fixed course menu)
Use instead
Speisekarte (menu card) / Menü (set meal)
Romanian
simpatic
nice, likeable — same as German 'sympathisch'!
German
sympathisch
means: likeable, pleasant
Use instead
sympathisch (likeable) / mitfühlend (EN 'sympathetic')
Romanian
sensibil
sensitive (emotional) — same as German 'sensibel'!
German
sensibel
means: sensitive (emotionally)
Use instead
sensibel (sensitive) / vernünftig (EN 'sensible')
Romanian
librărie
bookshop, bookstore
German
Bibliothek
means: library (where you borrow books)
Use instead
Buchhandlung
Romanian
handy
handy (EN: useful, practical)
German
Handy
means: mobile phone, cell phone
Use instead
praktisch / griffbereit
Romanian
a deveni (become)
to become
German
bekommen
means: to receive, to get
Use instead
werden
Romanian
provizie
supply, stock, provisions
German
Provision
means: commission (sales percentage)
Use instead
Vorrat / Proviant
