We thought it would be fun to put together a list of false friends in Czech and English. False friends are words that look similar in both languages but mean completely different things. Some examples are: The English 'actual' means 'skutečný' in Czech The Czech 'aktuální' means 'current' in English The English 'gymnasium' means 'tělocvična' in Czech The Czech 'gymnázium' means 'grammar school' in English The English 'sympathetic' means 'soucitný' in Czech The Czech 'sympatický' means 'likeable' in English The English 'physician' means 'lékař' in Czech The Czech 'fyzik' means 'physicist' in English and so on... Do you know any other false friends in Czech and English? Post them here!
Alright, I have one. English: control == Czech: ovládat Czech: (z)kontrolovat == English: check This is a "false friend" except in the case of the expression "passport control" in which case it is a "true friend." Also: English: evidence == Czech: důkaz Czech: evidence == English: records Also: English: maturity == Czech: dospělost Czech: maturita == English: a test roughly equivelent to high school or A levels
Eventually; in the end, finally = nakonec, konečně Eventuálně = possibly, perhaps, or, if need be Concurrence = shoda, souběh, současnost Kunkurence = competition Prospect = vyhlídka, průzkum Prospekt = prospectus, leaflet, brochure Isolation = oddělení -- např. v nemocnici Izolace = insulation Respectively = v uvedeném pořadí Respektive = or, (or) as the case may be Armature = kotva (el. stroje) Armatura = fitting(s), fixture, accessories Silicone = silikon Silicon = křemík
(pa)pa = tatínek (pá)pá = bye bye (In Czech, a children`s word, sometimes, however, used by adult female speakers to express cuteness, friendliness, intimacy) Colonial = kolonista, osadník Koloniál = groccer`s Credence = víra, důvěra Kredenc = sideboard/buffet
One of my favorites is "host" [English]---which in Czech means the equivalent of English "guest." It's so easy to mistake the two that in one of the Czech textbooks I studied from, instructions for a role-play conversation confused the two words. Speaker "A" was indicated to be the person giving a party; the instructions for the role play were in Czech--and Speaker "A" was referred to in the Czech instructions as the "host." Almost as good as "gift" in English and German!! :lol:
list = seznam, ceník list = sheet (of paper), leaf (of paper, tree) pasta = špagety, těstoviny pasta = paste (zubní pasta=toothpaste) hymn = chvalozpěv, kostelní píseň, hymnus hymna = (national) anthem cantor = hlavní zpěvák, předzpěvák [(In Jewish worship) an official who sings liturgical music and leads prayer in a synagogue. (In formal Christian worship) a person who sings solo verses to which the choir or congregation respond] kantor = teacher
