To celebrate the European Day of Languages (there are more than 200 languages spoken in Europe alone), we have decided to promote linguistic diversity between English and Italian through false friends — words that, when translated literally into Italian, have a different meaning from their correct one in English.
Here are some of the most common examples:
Actually ≠ attualmente
It means in realtà, infatti.
Attualmente is translated into currently.
Example: Actually, I don’t agree. = In realtà, non sono d’accordo.
Eventually ≠ eventualmente
It means alla fine, prima o poi.
Eventualmente is translated into possibly, if necessary o if needed.
Example: Eventually, we arrived home. = Alla fine siamo arrivati a casa.
Library ≠ libreria
It means biblioteca.
Libreria is translated into bookshop o bookstore.
Parent ≠ parente
It means genitore.
Parente is translated into relative.
Sensible ≠ sensibile
It means ragionevole, assennato.
Sensibile is translated into sensitive.
Fabric ≠ fabbrica
It means tessuto.
Fabbrica is translated into factory.
Camera ≠ camera
It means macchina fotografica.
Camera (da letto) is translated into bedroom.
Argument ≠ argomento
It means litigio, discussione accesa.
Argomento is translated into topic o subject.
Lecture ≠ lettura
It means lezione universitaria o conferenza.
Lettura is translated into reading.
Realize ≠ realizzare
It means rendersi conto.
Realizzare (un progetto, un sogno) is translated into carry out, achieve o make.
Pretend ≠ pretendere
It means fare finta.
Pretendere is translated into demand, expect o insist on.
Annoyed ≠ annoiato
It means infastidito, irritato.
Annoiato is translated into bored.
Education ≠ educazione
It means istruzione.
Educazione (buone maniere) is translated into manners o politeness.
Sympathetic ≠ simpatico
It means comprensivo, solidale.
Simpatico is translated into nice, friendly o likeable.
Casual ≠ casuale
It means informale.
Casuale is translated into random o by chance.
Novel ≠ novella
It means romanzo.
Novella is translated into short story.