German GCSE
False Friend
What False Friend means in German GCSE, as defined for AQA, Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of False Friend
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A word that looks similar to an English word but has a different meaning (e.g., das Gift = poison, not gift).
A word that looks similar to an English word but has a completely different meaning (e.g., bald = soon).
A word that looks like an English word but has a completely different meaning (e.g., das Gymnasium).
A word that looks like an English word but has a completely different meaning (e.g., Gymnasium).
A word that looks like an English word but means something different, like 'der Karton'.
A word that looks similar to an English word but has a completely different meaning.
Topics that use False Friend
- General vocabulary: Shape (AQA GCSE)
- Theme-based vocabulary (Foundation): Current and future study and employment (AQA GCSE)
- Theme-based vocabulary (Higher): Local, national, international and global areas of interest (AQA GCSE)
- Themes (AQA GCSE)
- Thematic Context: Studying and my future (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary (greetings, numbers, days, months, seasons, times, colours) (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
- Cognate
- Infinitive
- Modal Verb
- Adjective Agreement
- Nominative Case
- Subordinating Conjunction
- Accusative Case
- Adjective
Using False Friend in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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