Watch Out for German “False Friends”!
”I was very, very confused, and I think I was confused for at least another hour! And that is also a very good example of what can happen if you do not understand something, particularly words.”– Susi Schlik-Blumel, Better German Podcast, Episode 40
If you’ve ever been puzzled by a word in German that looks or sounds just like an English word—but means something totally different—you’ve met a “false friend”! In our latest episode of Better German, host Susi Blumel dives into the fascinating (and sometimes hilarious) world of German-English false friends. This post will help you spot these common traps and give you practical tips to boost your German confidence.
What Are False Friends? (And a Funny Story…)
When Susi first saw a Gift Shop in England, she was totally confused—why would anyone want to shop for poison?
That’s because in German, “Gift” doesn’t mean a present—it means poison. ☠️
That moment is a perfect example of a false friend—a word that looks or sounds like an English word, but has a completely different meaning in German.
These aren’t just quirky vocabulary quirks—they can lead to real misunderstandings, awkward moments, or just hilarious mix-ups.
So yes, if you’re German and you see a Gift Shop in London, it might take a second to realize you’re not in danger. 😅
💡Key Takeaways for German Learners
1. Don’t Trust Familiar-Looking Words Blindly🤓
Just because a German word looks like English, don’t assume it means the same thing. Words like “Gift” (poison), “Rat” (advice), and “fast” (almost) can trip you up. Susi mentions “become” and “bekommen” as another classic example:
- English: to become (to turn into)
- German “bekommen”: to get/receive
So if you say “Ich habe ein Gift bekommen,” you’re not saying “I got a present”… you’re saying you received poison. 😬 Double Oops!
2. Be Curious – Look Your German Words Up!📚
“Does this really mean what I think it means?” should be a habit when learning anything new.
Susi recommends always checking words you’re unsure about. It’s tempting to just keep reading and assume, but that’s how false friends sneak in and trip you up.
Instead, slow down.
Look it up.
Make the unknown known—and turn confusion into confidence.
This simple habit will sharpen your vocabulary and help you understand German on a deeper level.
3. Build Your German Vocabulary Actively🗣️
Like always, Susi reminds us: vocabulary sticks better when you use it in real sentences.
Becoming confident in German means making vocabulary-building a habit. Susi suggests watching TV with subtitles and reading with a dictionary at hand, but making sure you’re active—note down odd or confusing words to review later. Your fluency (and even future success!) grows with every new word you master.
For example:
“Ich habe einen Rat für dich.”
(“I have advice for you”—not “a rat for you,” thankfully.)
It may feel awkward at first, but that’s how you train your brain to stop trusting appearances!
🎧 Tune In & Outsmart Those False Friends!💪
There’s plenty more in the full episode—real-life mix-ups, practical tips, advice, and plenty of “aha!” moments.
Got your own false friend story? Susi would love to hear it (and you’re definitely not the only one who’s been fooled!). And when you’re ready for even more support, join the Better German Community for access to worksheets, extra lessons, and a supportive group of fellow learners.
Come laugh with us, learn smarter, and build habits that actually stick. 💪
🎧 New to The Better German Podcast? Start from Episode 1: Introduction to Better German.
Tip: Start from Episode 1, Introduction to Better German, for the full journey, but whatever you do, don’t miss Episode 4, Introduction to Learning German; it is the heart of our method and your real launch-pad for learning German with confidence.
Related Episodes
Episode 5: Introduction to Articles
Episode 6: Wordlist – Body Parts
Episode 7: Your First German Sentences
Episode 39: Restart and Conversation
Episode 40: Colors
Additional Resources
- Grab our Interactive Movie Guide. Watching German movies and TV shows is great to help you learn German. In this guide, you will find suitable TV shows and movies with subtitles in your language, so you can start using movies to learn right away!
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