False Friends in Italian: 30 Words That Don't Mean What You Think
If you're learning Italian, avoid embarrassing mistakes with these common Italian false friends. Learn words that look like English but mean something completely different!
8/4/20264 min read
One of my favorite things about learning Italian is discovering words that look incredibly familiar...until you realize they mean something completely different. Oops! I've experienced plenty of these oopsie moments.
These are called false friends (or falsi amici in Italian). They're words that resemble English words but have entirely different meanings.
Sometimes they're harmless. Sometimes they're hilarious. And sometimes...they lead to a very embarrassing moment during your online Italian class (we'll get to that later).
If you're learning Italian or planning a trip to Italy, knowing these common false friends can save you from some pretty funny misunderstandings.
What Are False Friends?
False friends are words in two different languages that look or sound alike but have different meanings.
Since English and Italian share many words with Latin roots, it's easy to assume you already know what something means.
Unfortunately, your brain loves making that assumption. And your brain is often wrong.
My Most Embarrassing Italian Mistake
Years ago, I was taking an online Italian class with my teacher and numerous students from across the globe.
The teacher asked each of us to discuss how the food in our country differs from food in Italy.
I wanted to say that the food in the U.S. has more preservatives in it than the food in Italy. So I confidently used the word...
Preservativi.
My teacher immediately started laughing and got a little embarrassed. She then explained that I had just been talking about food in the U.S. having a lot of condoms in it!
Turns out:
Preservativi = condoms
Conservanti = food preservatives
Needless to say, I learned that vocabulary word very quickly.
It's one of those mistakes you only make once...and then tell everyone else about so they don't make it too.
Common Italian False Friends
Here are some of the most common ones that trip up English speakers.
1. Camera
Looks like: Camera
Actually means: Room
If you want to buy a camera in Italy, ask for a macchina fotografica.
Otherwise, someone might think you're looking for your hotel room.
2. Libreria
Looks like: Library
Actually means: Bookstore
A public library is called a biblioteca. To this day, after many years of studying Italian, my mind immediately thinks 'library' and I have to remind myself that it's 'bookstore.'
3. Parenti
Looks like: Parents
Actually means: Relatives
Your parents are:
Madre - Mother
Padre - Father
Genitori - Parents
4. Morbido
Looks like: Morbid
Actually means: Soft
A fluffy blanket? Morbido.
Nothing morbid or creepy about it.
5. Attualmente
Looks like: Actually
Actually means: Currently
If you want to say "actually," use:
In realtà
Veramente
6. Eventualmente
Looks like: Eventually
Actually means: Possibly or if necessary
Not "someday."
7. Simpatica/o
Looks like: Sympathetic
Actually means: Nice, friendly, pleasant
Someone can be very simpatico without agreeing with you.
8. Sensibile
Looks like: Sensible
Actually means: Sensitive
If someone is practical or sensible, you'd usually describe them as ragionevole.
9. Educato
Looks like: Educated
Actually means: Polite or well-mannered
Someone with a college degree is istruito or laureato, depending on the context. This is another one that i mix up all the time still.
10. Fabbrica
Looks like: Fabric
Actually means: Factory
Fabric is tessuto.
11. Burro
Looks like: Burrow
Actually means: Butter
And if you ever use the term burro to describe a donkey, remember that donkey in Italian is asino.
12. Confetti
Looks like: Confetti
Actually means: Sugar-coated almonds served at weddings and celebrations.
The colorful paper confetti we throw at parties is called coriandoli.
13. Caldo
Looks like: Cold
Actually means: Hot
Cold is freddo.
This one gets beginners all the time.
14. Collegio
Looks like: College
Actually means: Boarding school
University is università.
15. Pretendere
Looks like: Pretend
Actually means: To demand or insist
If you want to pretend, you'd say fingere.
16. Ricetta
Looks like: Receipt
Actually means: Recipe
Your shopping receipt is usually scontrino.
17. Camera da Letto
You might recognize camera, but camera da letto specifically means bedroom—not a place to store photography equipment.
18. Costume
Looks like: Costume
Actually means: Swimsuit
Another false friend I can't seem to get through my thick skull!
19. Magazzino
Looks like: Magazine
Actually means: Warehouse or stockroom
A magazine is rivista.
20. Conservanti
Since we already talked about my embarrassing mistake...
Remember this one forever.
Conservanti = food preservatives.
Not preservativi.
Trust me on this one. Unless you're in Italy and find yourself needing to ask for preservativi... well, lucky you, I guess. Haha!
Why False Friends Are Actually Helpful
As embarrassing as they can be, false friends are one of the best ways to build your Italian vocabulary.
They also remind us not to rely solely on words that "look right." Sometimes taking an extra second to check the meaning can save you from a very awkward conversation.
And honestly, making these little mistakes is part of learning a new language. Every Italian learner has stories like this, and if they don't yet, they probably will soon.
My Favorite Way to Learn Them
Whenever I come across a new false friend, I don't just try to memorize the definition—I try to use it in a sentence or connect it to a funny story. As you've probably guessed, that's exactly why I'll never confuse preservativi and conservanti again.
Learning Italian doesn't have to be perfect. In fact, some of the funniest moments happen because you get something wrong. Those little mix-ups become the best learning opportunities. Mistakes mean you are learning.
So if you accidentally ask for something completely different than what you meant while you're in Italy, don't panic. Smile, laugh, and keep going. Every conversation is helping you become a better Italian speaker. After all, making mistakes is just part of the adventure, and sometimes they're the most memorable part of learning the language.
