French Faux Amis: The Combined Book [Paperback]

Saul H. Rosenthal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2009 | ISBN-10: 1604942207 | ISBN-13: 978-1604942200 | Edition: Bilingual

Faux amis (or "false friends") are French words that look and sound like English words but have entirely different meanings than what you expect, causing potential misunderstandings and awkward situations.

French Faux Amis: The Combined Book will help you avoid these embarrassing misunderstandings. It's written in conversational language and it's easy and fun to read. You'll learn how each French word differs from the English one and see it used correctly in example sentences. And you'll find that you'll learn most of these faux amis without having to consciously memorize them, simply because they are so interesting.

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: Wheatmark; Bilingual edition (February 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1604942207
• ISBN-13: 978-1604942200
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Retired and spending time in France.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Book for Students at Every Level, June 30, 2009

By 

John F. Moran (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: French Faux Amis: The Combined Book (Paperback)

I had for quite some time had copies of the Mr. Rosenthal's three previous "faux amis" books, and just when they were just about worn out from use, along comes this wonderful combined book. As a French professor, I find that this book is the perfect supplement for learners at all levels. For the beginning student, in particular the student who has never learned a foreign language, this work is a true eye-opener. So many beginning students immediately fall into the trap of "faux amis"; however, with this book, the beginner can, from the get-go, develop the skills necessary to avoid these commonest of common traps. For the intermediate and advanced student, this book is the perfect reference. Not only does the exhaustive list of "faux amis" provide the more advanced learner an easily accessible catalogue of traps, but also the entries for each "faux ami" go into great detail, explaining both where the potential problem lies and what the accurate translation(s) for the word or expression sought are. Get this book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Faux Amis in Paris, April 3, 2010

By 

ACEMAN (Paris, FR) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: French Faux Amis: The Combined Book (Paperback)

This is the book that you should have had in your beginning high school French class but didn't. It isn't just a book about watching out for false cognates,but gives you the phrases and the words that are actually spoken in any conversation in a Paris Bistro or on the Metro if you want to feel like a Parisian. The book has improved my understanding and speaking of French and has gained me some respect from my French friends and local shop keepers.Make no mistake, this is a very sophisticated book and one should order the other books in S. Rosenthal's series. One reason I didn't give it five stars is that the book should of had a disk attached on the actual French pronunciation of the phrases. Language is meant to be heard and spoken. And while this book and Rosenthal's other books are light years ahead of nearly all books on the meaning and use of French, there should be a disk of the spoken phrases attached so that one could hear the language and these phrases as they should be spoken.

ACEMAN

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making friends with faux amis, May 26, 2009

By 

Ruth G. Koizim "CTbooks" (New Haven, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: French Faux Amis: The Combined Book (Paperback)

Why do French and English share so many words that have such different meanings? Rather than give up learning French (or English), do yourself a favor and buy this book. Clear and easy to understand examples will help you say what you really mean. Does it matter? Well, imagine that you wanted to tell your dinner guests that you used only the freshest, natural ingredients in your recipes - but instead you told them that none of the dishes contained condoms!

"French Faux Amis" is as fun to read as it is useful - VERY!