False Friend #10:

German: die Fabrik = factory

English: fabric = der Stoff; das Gewebe

False Friend #9:

German: bekommen = (to) get

English: (to) become = werden

False Friend #7:

German: die Billion = trillion

English: billion = die Milliarde

P.S. Thanks to cems for submitting this :)

piratesandindians asked: Hallo! Was ist der Unterschied zwischen 'antworten' und 'beantworten'? Veilleicht braucht 'antworten' ein Akkusativobjekt? Gibt es andrere Wörter wie das? Auch in welcher Stadt wohnen Sie? Ich bin nur neugierig. (Wenn Sie das schon sagten, tut es mir leid.) Ich wohnte in Salzburg, und mag es wann Sie über den Süden sprechen....und hoffentlich war mein Deutsch verständlich! Tschüß!

(Hi! What's the difference between 'antworten' and 'beantworten'? Maybe does 'antworten' require a direct object? Are there any other words like this? Also, what city do you live in? I'm just curious. [If you've said this already, I'm sorry.] I lived in Salzburg and like it when you speak about the south...and hopefully was my German understandable! Bye!)

First of all - thanks for asking in German but also translating your question to English!

The difference between “antworten” and “beantworten” (both translate to “reply” “answer” “respond”) is very difficult to explain. But you’re almost right ;) it has something to do with the object.

“beantworten” takes an accusative object. e.g. “Ich werde deine Email morgen beantworten.” = I’ll reply to your email tomorrow. or: “Diese Frage ist schwer zu beantworten.” = This question is hard to respond to.

“antworten” takes a dative object and also needs a preposition: e.g. “Ich werde morgen auf deine Email antworten.” “Es ist schwer auf diese Frage zu antworten.”

You also use “antworten” for direct speeches e.g. “Ein Kaffee, bitte”, antwortete sie. = “One coffee please”, she answered. So “antworten” also works without an object.

There are similar verbs e.g. arbeiten / bearbeiten; zahlen / bezahlen; kämpfen / bekämpfen etc.

I live in Nürnberg by the way :) Salzburg is a beautiful city :)

False friend #3:

English: actual = eigentlich

German: aktuell = current

Recently, someone asked a question about the different ways of telling the time in German. So I figured, a little chart would be helpful for those of you who are confused, too :) I hope it’ll be more clear now!

Digital clock:     Southern Germans say:       Northern Germany says:    
4:00 Uhr            Vier Uhr (four o’clock)           Vier Uhr (four o’clock)
4:15 Uhr            Viertel fünf (quarter five)      Viertel nach vier (quarter past 4)
4:30 Uhr            Halb fünf (half five)              Halb fünf (half five)
4:45 Uhr            Dreiviertel fünf (3/4 five)       Viertel vor fünf (quarter to five)
5:00 Uhr            Fünf Uhr (five o’clock)           Fünf Uhr (five o’clock)

False friend #2:

German: hell = bright

English: hell = die Hölle

thelightthatshines asked: Is it true that "lecker" isn't used so much because it is considered rude? My teacher said that on a trip to Germany that's what her host family said.

No. Lecker means “yummy” or “delicious” and is associated with food/drink. I don’t see why it’s a rude word. I know that it can also have a sexual connotation as in “Der Typ sieht lecker aus” (Literal: This guy is looking yummy), but still - it’s not a rude thing to say (it’s more funny and sassy).

False friends can be funny and are very important to know. I’ve decided to introduce you to German - English false friends in this new post category. Have fun! :)

False Friend #1:

German: das Gift = poison

English: gift = das Geschenk