There are some words which are spelled the same in English and in German, but have completely different meanings. Even though the words are spelled the same, they are usually pronounced completely differently. It can sometimes be dangerous to use these words (for both native English speakers and native German speakers.) Think of that, next time someone wants to give you a " Gift" or opens a door and says " After you!"
| Word |
| German meaning (in English) |
| Englische Bedeutung (auf Deutsch) |
|
| After |
|
| Also |
|
| Angel |
|
| Apart |
| Striking |
| Abgesondert, Abseits |
|
| Arm |
|
| Art |
| Kind, sort, species |
| Kunst, Künstlichkeit |
|
| Ass |
| Ace |
| Esel, Dumpfbacke, Knallkopf |
|
| Bad |
|
| Bagger |
| Excavator |
| Angesteller im Supermarkt der die Einkäufe in Tüten packt |
|
| Bald |
| Soon |
| Unbehaart, Kahlköpfig |
|
| Bang |
| Afraid |
| Knall, Krach, Schall |
|
| Bar |
| in Cash, Pure |
| Stab (see also: Stab), Kneipe |
|
| Bart |
|
| Bat |
| asked politely, requested |
| Fledermaus |
|
| Beet |
| Flower bed |
| Zuckerruebe, rote Ruebe |
|
| Bitten |
| to ask politely, request |
| gebissen |
|
| Blank |
| Shiny, Shining |
| Unbeschriftet, Unausgefüllt |
|
| Blech |
| Sheet metal |
| Ausdruck des Ekels |
|
| Bog |
| to Twist, Form, Bend |
| Sumpf, Torfmoor |
|
| Brand |
|
| Brilliant |
| Diamond |
| Blendend, Geistvoll |
|
| Bug |
| Front of a boat or plane |
| Laus, Insekt, Störung |
|
| Danke |
|
| Dick |
| Thick |
| Schnüffler, Schwanz, der steife Penis |
|
| Elf |
| Team, Eleven |
| Elfe, Kobold |
|
| Falls |
|
| Fang |
|
| Fatal |
| Unfortunate |
| Verhängnisvoll, Unheilvoll, Tödlich |
|
| Fast |
|
| Fasten |
|
| Fee |
|
| Fell |
|
| Fern |
| Far away, Distant |
| Farnkraut |
|
| First |
|
| Flog |
| Flew |
| Peitschen, Auspeitschen |
|
| Fort |
| Away, Off, Gone |
| Festung, Kastell |
|
| Funk |
| Radio |
| Drückeberger, Musik von 1970's |
|
| Gang |
| Walk, Gait, Way |
| Gruppe, Bande, Trupp |
|
| Gift |
|
| Grab |
| Grave |
| Aufgreifen, Ergreifen |
|
| Grad |
| Degree (temperature) |
| einen akademischen Grad erlangen |
|
| Grub |
|
| Gut |
| Good |
| Darm (Schnecke und Kette) |
|
| Hack |
| Heal |
| Heib, Kerbe, Zerhacken |
|
| Half |
|
| Handy |
| Cell Phone |
| Praktisch, Passend, Handlich |
|
| Hang |
| Slope, Inclination |
| Hängen, Henken |
|
| Happen |
| Bit, Morsel |
| Zufällig Geschehen, Vorkommen, Passieren |
|
| Hart |
|
| Heck |
| Back of a boat or plane |
| Was zum Teufel? (What the Heck?) |
|
| Held |
|
| Hell |
|
| Herd |
| Cooker, Oven, Range |
| Herde |
|
| Hose |
|
| Hub |
| Throw, Lob, Swing (see also: Lob) |
| Wickelkern, Nabe |
|
| Hummer |
|
| Hut |
|
| Kind |
|
| Labor |
|
| Lack |
| Varnish |
| Knappheit, Mangel |
|
| Lag |
| Lay |
| zurueckbleiben, zoegern |
|
| Last |
| Load, Burden, Weight |
| Zuletzt |
|
| Lied |
|
| Links |
| Left |
| Verknüpfung, Verbindungen |
|
| List |
|
| Lob |
| Praise |
| Werf, Hub (see also: Hub) |
|
| Log |
|
| Lot |
| Plumb (line) |
| Pazille, die Menge, die Masse |
|
| Lust |
| To feel like doing something |
| Sinnliche Begierde |
|
| Made |
| Maggot |
| Hergestellt, Gemacht |
|
| Maul |
| Mouth (animal) |
| der Schlegel, Beschädigen, Durchprügeln |
|
| Mist |
| Manure, Trash |
| leichter Nebel |
|
| Not |
|
| Note |
| Grade (in school), musical note |
| bemerken, aufschreiben, kleiner Brief |
|
| Nun |
| Now |
| die Schwester (im Kloster), Nonne |
|
| Pest |
|
| Rang |
| Rank |
| Geklingelt, Geklungen |
|
| Rad |
| Wheel |
| Ausdruck der Bewunderung (wie Geil) |
|
| Rat |
|
| Regal |
| Shelves |
| Majestätisch, Königlich, Hoheitsvoll |
|
| Rind |
| Beef, Cattle |
| Schwarte, Schale |
|
| Rock |
|
| Roman |
|
| Rot |
|
| Sage |
| History, Myth |
| Weise, Klug, Gescheit |
|
| See |
|
| Sense |
| Scythe |
| Wahrnehmung, Bedeutung, Verstand, Sinn |
|
| Silvester |
| New Years Eve |
| Name eines Mannes |
|
| Speck |
|
| Spore |
| Spur (see also: Spur) |
| Spore (Pilze) |
|
| Spur |
| Trace, Tracks, Lane |
| Schiffsschnabel, Sporn, Ansporn (see also: Spore) |
|
| Stab |
| Rod, Pole, Baton, Bar (see also: Bar) |
| Erstechen |
|
| Stare |
|
| Stark |
|
| Stern |
|
| Tag |
| Day |
| Markierstelle, Kennzeichnung |
|
| Tang |
| Seaweed |
| Amerikanisches Orangengetränk |
|
| Taste |
| Key (as in keyboard) |
| Kostprobe, Geschmackssinn |
|
| Toll |
| Great! Super! |
| Zollabgabe, Straßenbenutzungsgebühr |
|
| Tod |
| Death, Dead |
| Name eines Mannes |
|
| Ton |
|
| Tot |
| Dead |
| kleines Kind, kleiner Knirps |
|
| Wade |
|
| Wand |
|
| War |
| Was (see also: Was) |
| Krieg |
|
| Was |
| What? |
| wurde/war (see also: War) |
|
| Welt |
|
| Wetter |
|
| Wider |
| Against, Contrary to |
| Weiter, Breiter |
|
| Will |
|
Although not spelled identically in both languages, beginners are often confused by the similarity of the German "bekommen" and English "to become".
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