A word that resembles a word in another language but differs in meaning or use.
Example
Portuguese esquisito commonly means strange. Spanish exquisito can mean delicious or exquisite. A word can share some senses and differ in others.
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Cite this entry
Jibber Jabber. "False friend." Comprehensible Input Portuguese, updated 2026-11-09. https://comprehensibleinputportuguese.com/glossary/false-friend/