False Friends: German-English Trivia Quiz

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'.

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. -).

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.

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'.

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.

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'.

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)'.

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!'

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).

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'.