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Quiz about False Friends GermanEnglish
Quiz about False Friends GermanEnglish

False Friends: German-English Trivia Quiz


We all know that 'aktuell' does not in fact mean 'actual' - or do we? Here are some more false friends, some better known than others. Have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by bloomsby. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
bloomsby
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
346,167
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
728
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: 1nn1 (8/10), Triviaballer (10/10), workisboring (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. What is the meaning of 'konsequent'? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The word 'Romanist' can cause misunderstandings. What does 'Hans ist Romanist' mean? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. 'Es wird schon hell'. What does this mean? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Someone remarks that the person who first produced 'die Konfektion' on a large scale made a lot of money. What are they talking about? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The verb 'absolvieren' means to 'to absolve'.


Question 6 of 10
6. The meaning of German 'fatal' looks perfectly obvious, but what does it mean? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Surely, the meaning of 'das Etikett' is perfectly obvious - or is it? What does it mean? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Surely, you may think, there is no such word as 'unterstehen' in German, but there is. What does it mean? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. What does 'das Tablett' mean? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The usual meaning of 'der Akt' is 'act'. However, it can also be a 'false friend'. What does 'das Aktfoto' mean? Hint



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Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What is the meaning of 'konsequent'?

Answer: consistent

Example: 'Diese Argumentation ist nicht ganz konsequent' - 'This line of argument is not altogether consistent (logical)'.

Note, however, that 'die Konsequenz (pl. -en)' used as a countable noun does mean 'consequence'.

The German for 'consequent' (adj.) is '(daraus) resultierend'.
2. The word 'Romanist' can cause misunderstandings. What does 'Hans ist Romanist' mean?

Answer: Hans is a student of Romance languages

The word can also refer to anyone specializing in Romance languages, not only students.

In English the word 'Romanist' is rare, but when it is used it refers to extreme members of the High Church wing of the Anglican Church or to Roman Catholics.

Note that 'der Romanist' is a weak noun, so except in the nom. sing. it ends in -en.

The German for 'Roman' is 'der Römer' (pl. -) and for 'novelist' it is 'der Romanschriftsteller' (pl. -).
3. 'Es wird schon hell'. What does this mean?

Answer: It is already getting light

The German for 'hell' is 'die Hölle', which is related to 'die Höhle (pl. -n)' - cave, cavern. At the level of Proto-Germanic 'hell' and 'Hölle' (and also 'hollow' and 'hole') are etymologically related but they have acquired different meanings in the various Germanic languages.
4. Someone remarks that the person who first produced 'die Konfektion' on a large scale made a lot of money. What are they talking about?

Answer: Off the peg clothing

Like all German nouns ending in '-tion', 'die Konfektion' is feminine. Note, for example, 'die Nation' and 'die Revolution'. In German 'confectionery' is 'Süßwaren', but the word is not widely used.

Incidentally, the German for 'jam' is 'die Konfitüre', and the German word for 'concoction' ('brew') is 'das Gebräu'.
5. The verb 'absolvieren' means to 'to absolve'.

Answer: False

It means 'to complete (successfully), graduate from' and is mainly used of university and school courses, and courses of training - and also of road tests for vehicles.
6. The meaning of German 'fatal' looks perfectly obvious, but what does it mean?

Answer: unfortunate

So, if someone talks about 'ein fataler Unfall' is means 'an unfortunate (or wretched) accident', not a fatal accident. (That would be 'ein tödlicher Unfall'). 'Fateful' is 'verhängnisvoll' and 'ominous' is 'ominös' or 'unheilverkündend'.
7. Surely, the meaning of 'das Etikett' is perfectly obvious - or is it? What does it mean?

Answer: label

The word is used for a wide range of kinds or labels, including stickers. The plural is 'die Etikette'. Just to make things more complicated, German also has the word 'die Etikette' (singular, uncountable and therefore no plural), which does indeed mean the same as 'etiquette' in English.

Note also 'etikettieren' - 'to label (usually a person, generally in a negative way)'.
8. Surely, you may think, there is no such word as 'unterstehen' in German, but there is. What does it mean?

Answer: to be subordinate to

'Unterstehen' (inseparable - untersteht - unterstand - hat unterstanden)' + dative means 'to be subordinate to, under the authority of, answerable to'.

Note also 'sich unterstehen' (also inseparable) which means 'to dare to, to be so bold as to'. It is almost always used in a negative sense, for example, 'Was unterstehen Sie sich!' - 'Don't you dare!'
9. What does 'das Tablett' mean?

Answer: tray

The plural is 'Tabletts' or 'Tablette'. So, if someone says to you, 'Nimm dir ein Tablett' it means 'Use a tray'; they are not telling you to take medication!

However, note 'die Tablette' (pl. -n), which means 'tablet' (medication).
10. The usual meaning of 'der Akt' is 'act'. However, it can also be a 'false friend'. What does 'das Aktfoto' mean?

Answer: nude photo

Sometimes 'der Akt' (pl. -e) can have the same meaning without being part of a compound. Note also 'das Aktbild' (pl. -er).

Don't confuse 'der Akt' with 'die Akte' (pl. -n), which means 'file'.
Source: Author bloomsby

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