faux ami

See also: faux-ami

English

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French faux-ami, from faux (“false”) + ami (“friend”).

Noun

faux ami (plural faux amis)

1. (linguistics, translation studies, lexicography) A false friend; one of a pair of words in different languages or dialects that look similar and may be related but that differ significantly in meaning.

Usage notes

• The terms faux ami and false cognate are sometimes used interchangeably, but linguists distinguish the two.

Translations

false friend — see false friend