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Quiz about EnglishFrench Deceptive Words Faux Amis

English-French Deceptive Words (Faux Amis) Quiz

English and French have many similar-looking words, but their meanings are sometimes light-years apart. Answer and discover how to avoid a terrible faux-pas...

A multiple-choice quiz by tiffanysgal. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
tiffanysgal

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
158,270

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1542

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. A French person tells you (somewhat apologetically): "Charlotte is a bit lunatic sometimes" - what are you to understand? Hint

Charlotte is raving nuts.

Charlotte can be moody.

Charlotte is easily distracted.

Charlotte can be aggressive.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Your French boss asks you "Pouvez-vous faire cela _�ventuellement_?". What could you suspect they meant? Hint

They would like you to do this "possibly", if you have time and inclination.

They would like you to do this "quickly", it's important.

They would like you to do this "eventually" (not urgent, but necessary).

They would like you to do this "carefully", it's a delicate task they're trusting you with.

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. In a note in French, you translate your "Best Wishes" as "Meilleurs Voeux". Why will this be a source of mirth at the other end? Hint

You have expressed your condolences, though nobody died.

You have wished them a prompt recovery, but they're not ill.

You have wished them a happy Christmas and New Year (in June).

You have told them you wanted to marry them.

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Question 4 of 10

4. You explain that your summer job is to deliver pizzas: "Je d�livre des pizzas." What are you really saying about these pizzas? Hint

I destroy them!

I eat them!

I set them free!

I give birth to them!

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Question 5 of 10

5. In a debate: "Criminals are not deterred by death penalty" = "Les criminels ne sont pas d�terr�s par la peine de mort" Why is your audience looking shocked, then confused? Hint

You said: Criminals are not "killed" by death penalty.

You said: Criminals are not "affected" by death penalty.

You said: Criminals are not "displeased" by death penalty.

You said: Criminals are not "unearthed" by death penalty.

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Question 6 of 10

6. A teacher says "je vais faire une d�monstration" - what do they mean? Hint

They're going to organise a demonstration (to get better salaries or working conditions).

They're going to test the knowledge of the class.

They're going to jump out of the window.

They're going to prove something, for instance a theorem.

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Question 7 of 10

7. A French person tells you someone is "formidable". How do you expect that person to be? Hint

big and scary

wonderful

short and plump

shy

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Question 8 of 10

8. Why is a French girl shocked to be sent to the "female changing rooms"? Hint

In French, "femelle" is only used for the sex of animals, not humans.

She doesn't understand why men and women are separate on "change" i.e. market and trading places.

In France there are no separate changing rooms for men and women.

She thinks it's a facility to exchange women.

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Question 9 of 10

9. Your friend just got a new girlfriend, and you want to tell him he's fortunate: "Ah tu es tr�s fortun�". Why is he upset? Hint

You said he wasn't picky (he doesn't mind if she's ugly).

You said it was sheer luck if he had a girlfriend (he did not deserve one).

You said he was rich (and hint that it might have attracted the girl).

You said he was bound to be miserable (girls are fickle things).

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Your friend offers to entertain you by taking you to see the "forgeron" - what do you say? Hint

No way, you don't want to be involved in making forged banknotes.

It's cool, watching a blacksmith at work is fun.

Why not, a bit of fortune-telling can't hurt.

Well... you don't really need a haircut, do you?

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Apr 13 2024 : Guest 96: 3/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A French person tells you (somewhat apologetically): "Charlotte is a bit lunatic sometimes" - what are you to understand?

Answer: Charlotte can be moody.

"Lunatique" isn't "lunatic". In French, "�tre lunatique" means to be moody and respond differently from one time to the next. One of my French friends actually explained she was prone to mood swings on an American campus... it didn't go down too well! Originally, the word comes from luna/lune/moon: for the French, the way the shape of the moon changed was a good image (or maybe an explanation) of people's different moods; for the English the moon would make people go a bit mad... from there to the werewolf...

2. Your French boss asks you "Pouvez-vous faire cela _�ventuellement_?". What could you suspect they meant?

Answer: They would like you to do this "possibly", if you have time and inclination.

"Eventuellement" is not "eventually; it means "possibly" - in case you were wondering if your boss was being slightly rude.

3. In a note in French, you translate your "Best Wishes" as "Meilleurs Voeux". Why will this be a source of mirth at the other end?

Answer: You have wished them a happy Christmas and New Year (in June).

"Meilleurs Voeux" is not "Best wishes". It is a message you often find on New Year (sometimes Christmas) cards. When I was teaching French in England, and therefore getting notes from English students, I felt it was Christmas all year round!

4. You explain that your summer job is to deliver pizzas: "Je d�livre des pizzas." What are you really saying about these pizzas?

Answer: I set them free!

"D�livrer" (unlike "deliver") is to set someone free (a princess for instance). "Je livre des pizzas" is the right sentence. You shouldn't apply "d�livrer" to food delivery - unless you think, as a pizza militant, that they should be free to run back to the Italian forests they came from...

5. In a debate: "Criminals are not deterred by death penalty" = "Les criminels ne sont pas d�terr�s par la peine de mort" Why is your audience looking shocked, then confused?

Answer: You said: Criminals are not "unearthed" by death penalty.

"D�terrer", far from meaning "to deter", is "to dig up, disinter, unearth". A dog would do it for his bone, or Dr Frankenstein might consider it to get body parts for his creature...

6. A teacher says "je vais faire une d�monstration" - what do they mean?

Answer: They're going to prove something, for instance a theorem.

"Demonstration" applies to demonstrating something; a teacher might prove that a theorem works, or a salesman show that his shoe cream is really the most efficient. If you want to discuss "demonstrations" (when people go on the streets in discontent), then you are better off using "manifestation" (feminine).

7. A French person tells you someone is "formidable". How do you expect that person to be?

Answer: wonderful

If someone or something is said to be "formidable" in French, the speaker is expressing enthusiastic admiration for something remarkable. It can be anything from a new hoover to an old movie... and it doesn't need to be a scary or action-packed film!

8. Why is a French girl shocked to be sent to the "female changing rooms"?

Answer: In French, "femelle" is only used for the sex of animals, not humans.

Unlike "female, "femelle" is only used for the sex of animals, so you'll hear it often on nature documentaries or in biology class... but it is by no means applicable to men and women, who are classified as homme/femme (noun - you'd have that for changing rooms) or masculin/f�minin (adjective).

9. Your friend just got a new girlfriend, and you want to tell him he's fortunate: "Ah tu es tr�s fortun�". Why is he upset?

Answer: You said he was rich (and hint that it might have attracted the girl).

"Fortun�" means owning a fortune, not being "fortunate" or "lucky".

10. Your friend offers to entertain you by taking you to see the "forgeron" - what do you say?

Answer: It's cool, watching a blacksmith at work is fun.

The "forgeron" is the blacksmith - if you haven't got that one right, read more Ast�rix comics ;-)

Source: Author tiffanysgal

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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