While many of these English imports blend seamlessly into French, others have taken on a new identity, complete with French flair. Some are “faux amis on steroids”, words that look familiar to English speakers but mean something entirely different. Let’s take a closer look at a few that might trip you up.

10 of my favourite faux amis in French

• Le cocooning → Staying cosy at home, curled up like a cocoon.

• Le dancing → Not the act of dancing, but a dance hall.

• Le dressing → Nothing to do with salad dressing! It’s a walk-in wardrobe.

• Le forcing → Pressure, not forcing in the English sense.

• Le lifting → A facelift, not a weightlifting session.

• Le living → Short for “living room”, another word for le salon.

• Le relooking → A makeover, not taking a second look.

• Le shooting → A photoshoot, not what you might fear.

• Le strapping → An ankle bandage, not a strong or strapping man.

• Le string → A thong (G-string), not a ball of string. And beware, les tongs are flip-flops!

And just when I thought I’d seen them all, I came across a very French invention:

• Le fooding → A clever mash-up of “food” and “feeling”, used to describe a whole philosophy of enjoying good food. Only in France!

These examples show how languages don’t just borrow words, they reshape them to fit their own culture and lifestyle. It’s part of what makes French such a fascinating language to learn. You’ll not only discover how to pronounce words beautifully, but you’ll also uncover the humour, creativity, and cultural quirks behind them. That’s the magic that keeps learners motivated, especially when they can share a giggle about words like le string or le shooting.

When you start noticing these details, you stop seeing French as a set of rules to memorise and begin enjoying it as a living, playful way of expressing yourself. This is exactly the kind of “aha!” moment we love to bring into our group classes, learning through laughter, real-life examples, and memorable connections.

Ready to learn French in a fun way?

If this list has made you smile, imagine how much fun you’d have learning French with a group of supportive, like-minded learners. From next week, starting Monday 8th September, our new term of Speech Bubble French classes kicks off on Zoom.

Spaces are very limited, and our brand new Beginners’ French group starts Thursday 11th September, 3–4.30pm UK / 4–5.30pm French time, with the lovely Judith Keys.

Here’s what our students say:

“I’m absolutely LOVING the French classes with Judith. She is so patient and explains things so well. I actually look forward to my classes and feel challenged from the very start each time. For the first time ever, I feel like I’m really learning! So, so chuffed!” – Gordon

“Judith is absolutely brilliant for teaching French lessons in a fun way. She gives everyone so much confidence. Today I even went to the hairdressers and practised some of the French I learnt last week relating to hair!” – Hazel

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to finally start (or restart) your French, this is it. Send me an email (frannie@speechbubblelanguages.co.uk) and we can have a quick 15-minute, no-pressure chat to find your perfect spot.

Because learning French doesn’t have to be intimidating. It can be fun, friendly, and full of discoveries, just like the words above!