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Every English learner has at least once encountered a common mistake: you seem to think that a word (for example, velvet) means one thing, but in fact its meaning is completely different. In our case, 100% that you thought (if you haven't already encountered it) that velvet is velvet. Although in fact it means "velvet". This kind of confusion is called the translator's false friends. Although why only a translator? Every student stumbles upon such a “set-up” at least once.
Therefore, we decided to insure you by explaining the most common mistakes.
Table. Examples of incorrect translation from English
|
Word |
Correct translation |
False translation |
|
accurate |
Accurate, correct, calibrated |
Careful |
|
actually |
Indeed, in fact |
Actual |
|
aspirant |
Challenger, candidate, ambitious |
Graduate student |
|
attraction |
attraction, attraction, attractiveness |
Attraction |
|
grandmother |
Head scarf, scarf |
Grandmother |
|
baton |
Wand, conductor's baton, police baton |
Baton |
|
benzene |
Benzene |
Petrol |
|
ticket |
Warrant to stay, quarters |
Ticket |
|
biscuit |
Dry biscuits, biscuit |
Biscuit |
|
bra |
Brassiere |
Sconce |
|
cabinet |
Wardrobe, box, cabinet (of ministers) |
Cabinet (furniture) |
|
camera |
Photo - video camera |
Prison cell |
|
chef |
Chef |
Chief, driver |
|
session |
Transfer of rights, assignment of a claim |
Session |
|
climax |
high point, climax |
Climax |
|
compositor |
Compositor |
Composer |
|
corpse |
corpse, dead body |
Frame |
|
data |
Data |
the date |
|
Dutch |
Dutch, Dutch |
Danish |
|
fabric |
Textile |
Factory |
|
family |
Family |
Surname |
|
honor |
Glory, honor |
Honor |
|
intelligent |
Smart, understanding |
intelligent |
|
magazine |
Magazine, warehouse, magazine (for cartridges) |
Shop |
|
mark |
Label, spot, sign, mark |
Brand |
|
major |
Mayor |
Major |
|
motorist |
Motorist |
minder |
|
multiplication |
Multiplication, increase |
Animation |
|
obligation |
Guarantee, obligation, debt |
Bond |
|
physician |
Therapist |
Physicist |
|
prospect |
View, review, panorama, perspective |
Avenue |
|
repetition |
Repetition |
Rehearsal |
|
replica |
Exact copy, reproduction |
Replica |
|
satin |
Atlas, satin |
satin |
|
public house |
Pub, pub |
Brothel |
|
urbane |
Polite, educated |
urban, urban |
|
velvet |
Velvet, velvet |
Velveteen |
|
wagon |
wagon, wagon, trolley |
Railway carriage |
|
wallet |
Wallet |
Jack |
