False friends: English and Azerbaijani

30 English words that look like Azerbaijani words but mean something else — the traps Azerbaijani speakers fall into most often.

Azerbaijani has taken in many international words, often through Russian, and many of them go back to Latin, Greek or French, just like their English counterparts. Most still mean roughly the same thing, but some drifted apart. That is why the exceptions are dangerous: a word that looks familiar feels safe, so nobody checks it.

Each word below has its real meaning in Azerbaijani, the Azerbaijani word it gets confused with, and how to say that word in English.

Test yourself ↓

Words that don't mean what they seem

magazine A1

Means: jurnal
Not: mağaza → shop, store

Magazine means «jurnal», not «mağaza» (which is shop or store in English).

I bought a magazine at the airport.

family A1

Means: ailə
Not: familiya → surname, last name

Family means «ailə», not «familiya» (which is surname or last name in English).

Everyone in my family loves tea.

actual B1

Means: faktiki, əsl
Not: aktual → current, topical, relevant

Actual means «faktiki, əsl» (real, true), not «aktual» (which is current or relevant in English).

The actual cost was higher than we thought.

actually A2

Means: əslində
Not: aktual → current, topical

Actually means «əslində» (in fact), and has nothing to do with «aktual» (which is current or relevant in English).

Actually, I live in Ganja, not in Baku.

sympathetic B2

Means: anlayışlı, həmdərd
Not: simpatik → nice, likeable, good-looking

Sympathetic means «anlayışlı, həmdərd» (understanding someone's feelings), not «simpatik» (which is nice or likeable in English).

My teacher was sympathetic when I was sick.

personal A2

Means: şəxsi
Not: personal → staff, personnel

Personal means «şəxsi», not «personal» (which is staff or personnel in English).

Please don't ask me personal questions.

blank A2

Means: boş
Not: blank → form

Blank means «boş» (with nothing on it), not «blank» (a printed form to fill in, which is a form in English).

Please leave the last line blank.

prospect B1

Means: ehtimal, perspektiv
Not: prospekt → avenue, wide street

Prospect means «ehtimal, perspektiv» (a chance of something in the future), not «prospekt» (which is an avenue in English).

There is little prospect of rain today.

gymnasium B1

Means: idman zalı
Not: gimnaziya → secondary school

Gymnasium means «idman zalı», a sports hall, not «gimnaziya» (a type of school, which is a secondary school in English).

We play basketball in the school gymnasium.

fabric B2

Means: parça
Not: fabrika → factory

Fabric means «parça» (cloth), not «fabrika» (which is a factory in English).

This fabric is soft and warm.

revision B1

Means: düzəliş, təkrar
Not: reviziya → audit, inspection

Revision means «düzəliş» (checking and changing something) or, in British English, «təkrar» before an exam. «Reviziya» is an audit or inspection in English.

The book needs some revision before it is printed.

repetition B2

Means: təkrar
Not: repetisiya → rehearsal

Repetition means «təkrar» (doing something again and again), not «repetisiya» (which is a rehearsal in English).

Learning words needs a lot of repetition.

pretend A2

Means: özünü ... kimi göstərmək
Not: pretenziya → claim, complaint

Pretend means «özünü ... kimi göstərmək» (to act as if something is true), not «pretenziya» (which is a claim or complaint in English).

He pretended to be asleep.

fond B1

Means: sevən, xoşlayan
Not: fond → fund, foundation

Fond (of) means «sevən, xoşlayan» (liking someone very much), not «fond» (which is a fund or foundation in English).

She is very fond of her grandmother.

brilliant A2

Means: parlaq, çox ağıllı, əla
Not: brilyant → diamond

Brilliant means «parlaq; çox ağıllı, əla», not «brilyant» (which is a diamond in English).

That was a brilliant idea!

physician B1

Means: həkim
Not: fizik → physicist

Physician means «həkim» (a doctor), not «fizik» (which is a physicist in English).

The physician told me to rest.

conserve B2

Means: qorumaq, qənaət etmək
Not: konserv → canned food

Conserve means «qorumaq, qənaət etmək» (to use carefully or protect), not «konserv» (which is canned food in English).

We must conserve water in summer.

patron B2

Means: himayədar, daimi müştəri
Not: patron → cartridge

Patron means «himayədar» (a supporter) or a regular customer, not «patron» (which is a cartridge in English).

The restaurant thanks its regular patrons.

ambulance B1

Means: təcili yardım maşını
Not: ambulatoriya → outpatient clinic

Ambulance means «təcili yardım maşını», not «ambulatoriya» (which is an outpatient clinic in English).

Call an ambulance, he is hurt!

genial C2

Means: mehriban, xoşxasiyyət
Not: genial → brilliant, ingenious

Genial means «mehriban, xoşxasiyyət» (friendly and cheerful), not «genial» (which is brilliant or ingenious in English).

Our host was a genial man who made everyone laugh.

marmalade C2

Means: sitrus cemi
Not: marmelad → fruit jelly candy

Marmalade is a jam made from citrus fruit, usually oranges. «Marmelad» (a jelly sweet) is a fruit jelly candy in English.

I like orange marmalade on toast.

angina C2

Means: ürək ağrısı (stenokardiya)
Not: angina → tonsillitis, sore throat

Angina is chest pain when the heart does not get enough blood («stenokardiya»), not «angina» (which is tonsillitis in English).

He has angina, so he must avoid heavy work.

Words that only sometimes match

These share one meaning with the look-alike, but usually mean something else — see the example.

artist A1 sometimes

Means: rəssam
Not: artist → actor, performer

Artist usually means «rəssam», a person who paints or makes art. The Azerbaijani «artist» (a stage performer) is usually actor or performer in English.

The artist painted the sea in blue.

technique B1 sometimes

Means: üsul, metod
Not: texnika → machinery, equipment

Technique means «üsul, metod», a skilful way of doing something. «Texnika» in the sense of machines is equipment or machinery in English.

He showed me a simple technique for learning words.

cabinet B1 sometimes

Means: şkaf
Not: kabinet → office, study room

Cabinet usually means «şkaf» (a cupboard with doors); it is also a government «Nazirlər Kabineti». A «kabinet» as a room is an office or study in English.

The glasses are in the kitchen cabinet.

resume B2 sometimes

Means: davam etmək
Not: rezyume → CV, résumé

As a verb, resume means «davam etmək» (to start again after a pause). Only the noun résumé (American English) means «rezyume», a CV.

The meeting will resume after lunch.

audience A2 sometimes

Means: tamaşaçılar, dinləyicilər
Not: auditoriya → lecture room, classroom

Audience means «tamaşaçılar, dinləyicilər», the people watching or listening. «Auditoriya» as a room is a lecture room or classroom in English.

The audience clapped for a long time.

spirit B1 sometimes

Means: ruh
Not: spirt → alcohol

Spirit usually means «ruh». «Spirt» is alcohol in English; only the plural spirits means strong drinks.

The team showed great spirit.

attraction B1 sometimes

Means: cazibə, görməli yer
Not: attraksion → amusement ride

Attraction means «cazibə» or «görməli yer» (a place worth seeing). An «attraksion» (a ride in an amusement park) is an amusement ride in English.

The old castle is the main attraction of the town.

romance B1 sometimes

Means: məhəbbət macərası
Not: roman → novel

Romance means a love story between two people, «məhəbbət macərası». «Roman» is a novel in English; a romance novel is a love novel.

Their romance began in Paris.

Test yourself: which translation is right?

10 words from this page. One of the options is the trap — the look-alike word.

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Questions

What are false friends?

False friends (in Azerbaijani «yalançı dostlar») are words in two languages that look or sound alike but have different meanings, like English «magazine» (jurnal) and Azerbaijani «mağaza» (shop).

Why do English and Azerbaijani have false friends?

Both languages use many international words of Latin, Greek and French origin, and Azerbaijani received some of them through Russian. The spelling stayed similar, while the meanings developed separately in each language.

How do I stop mixing them up?

Learn each word with an example sentence rather than as a one-word translation, and check familiar-looking words too. Practising the tricky ones a few days apart helps the right meaning stick.

Levels (A1–C2) and translations come from the WordStudy dictionary. Spotted a mistake? Write to words.study.project@gmail.com.