← Back to Articles

False Friends- The English and The German

Culture, Cross‑Cultural Thinking & Euro‑Cultural Dynamics•2 min read•August 2026

A German Account Manager goes to their manager’s desk to give them an update.

[Manager]: Would you like a cake, it's my birthday so I brought some in?

[Account Manager]: Thank you. I must have the receipt for these cakes.

[Manager]: Don't worry I didn't steal them. How was the meeting with the client yesterday?

False Friend #1:
Receipt [English: Proof of purchase / Sales slip; German false friend: Rezept (Meaning: Recipe / Prescription)]

[Account Manager]: They said they are starting a new Fabric in a few months.

[Manager]: I didn't realise they are into textiles, I thought it was solely production of electrical components.

[Account Manager]: Yes they only do electrical components that is what the Fabric is for, they have run out of space in their previous one.

[Manager]: Ah... ok.

False Friend #2:
Fabric [English: Textile cloth / Material; German false friend: Fabrik (Meaning: Factory / Manufacturing plant)]

[Account Manager]: I hope to become more news about the fabric, however it is a bit of a sensible topic for them. I think I may need to control at the updates.

False Friend #3:
Become [English: To grow into / Turn into; German false friend: Bekommen (Meaning: To get / To receive)]

False Friend #4:
Sensible [English: Practical / Rational; German false friend: Sensibel (Meaning: Sensitive / Touchy)]

False Friend #5:
Control [English: To command / Direct; German false friend: Kontrollieren (Meaning: To check / To inspect)]

[Manager]: Shall we try again in German?

False Friends- The English and The German
View Links & Info