12 False Friends: Wörter, die nicht das bedeuten, was du denkst | B1-B2

Welcome to a new podcast episode. Welcome to Expertly German. I'm Tom, and today we're going to take a look at a few fake friends. False Friends We all know her. Say some word. I often say words in English that actually have a completely different meaning. Of course, this also exists in German. Also we have words that are literally English, which sound so similar to the English word, but have a completely different meaning. And I'm trying to help you out a bit there. I've picked out a few words that are quite frequent and probably will bring you right into the Bridolie. Or into the situation where you might use the word. But it has a completely different meaning. But it's not a problem if you use the word incorrectly. It's so much fun when you can play around a bit with the language. I also make plenty of mistakes in English and in German. The first word is gotten. Get. Ah, what does "bekommen" mean? It does not mean to become. And if you say I received a bicycle for my birthday, Then that doesn't mean I became a bicycle on my birthday. No, but rather that means you have received it. That you managed to get it. Also something received, something obtained. The waiter might also be in the restaurant. He has his plate with him, a dish that he wants to put on the table. And he asks, who gets the steak? Who is turning into a steak? No, of course not. Who gets the steak? Where should I put the steak, the plate with the steak on it, and the delicious potatoes? and with the vegetables, the delicious sauce. Who gets this steak? Who gets this? Who receives it? Getting something is exciting, isn't it? My God. The next word is currently. I also think it's good right now. That does not mean actually. Also, actually would probably mean something like actually in German. But currently it means something like present, at the moment, up to date. So in that direction. And then the current news are the news that are just now, at this very moment, What is currently happening in the world or in your region right now? At the present time. So these are the current news. What else is there? Ah yes, I've still written down what your current major project is? What are you currently working on? So what are you doing right now? Which project are you currently working on? So if your boss comes up to you at work and says, well, what are you currently working on? Then it does not mean that he actually wants to say, but rather at this moment, currently. I think you've understood it. Perhaps "current" or "up to date" in English. So current, that's perhaps so current and trendy. So, then there is not currently, but possibly still. For some reason, we kind of like these L-words. Also not eventually. Eventually means, for example, finally. But maybe that means something completely different. Something like maybe, possibly. Also, I might drop by on Friday. I'm not quite sure yet. That does not mean that I will eventually come on Friday. Rather, I might possibly come by, perhaps on Friday. I find it a bit confusing somehow when one wants to learn German. that the words sound extremely similar. Also, eventually is more like ultimately or finally. But maybe something like perhaps, maybe. So in that direction. Okay, then we still have sensitivity. Sensible is not the same as sensitive, in fact. I think that's a word that I probably misuse from time to time. or incorrectly used. Sensible is kind of like, that's the sensible thing to do. That is, in German one would probably say reasonable. That is reasonable to do. That makes sense. I don't know if it's the same as rational, but something along those lines. That is thoughtful. That makes sense. We did have that recently, after all. Exactly, but "sensible" means more like "sensitive." Also, he is, sorry, "sensibel" more or less means something like "sensitive." So a bit sensitive. He's a bit sensitive, too. A sensitive person cannot handle criticism so well. You say something, and then the person is instantly pissed off. One might perhaps say. Sensible. But it can also be something positive when someone is sensitive. I think so, at least. Then perhaps someone has a better sense of it, is a bit more sensitive. In some situations, or in certain professions, or simply in everyday life situations Maybe it isn't even a bad strategy to be a little sensitive. But that's precisely interesting—that "sensitive" and "sensible" have completely different meanings. Is there anything interesting left that I've written down about this? Oh yes, taking things to heart quickly. To take things straight to your heart. To take things to heart quickly is, therefore, when someone is criticized And this person, you actually probably want to criticize the matter or how one thinks about it, or whether one might perhaps think about it differently. You don't want to criticize the person at all, but simply suggest perhaps adjusting the plan at work. But the person takes it to heart quickly, takes it personally right away. That would also be an example of it. Also sensible, sensible. Then, okay, maybe we don't need to talk about it for so long. I still find it funny. The boss is not a cook, but your employer at work. And the chef, the cook, is "der Chef" in German, the one you find in the restaurant. But the boss, whether male or female, is your boss, meaning your superior at work. If you have a supervisor or a boss. I don't think we need to discuss this further. Then a nice other word is a noun of the corporation. And that sounds a bit like "concern." Also, it doesn't concern me. Or something like that, I don't know. But the corporation is a large company. What is the difference between a company and a conglomerate? The corporation is such a large company that it has many subsidiaries. Subsidiaries, not son companies, but subsidiaries. And subsidiaries, that is, many subsidiaries, companies that are attached to them. For example, Siemens is a conglomerate, Volkswagen is a conglomerate. They all have subsidiaries and so on. Next, I then obediently have. "Brav" really means something completely different. In English, one would say "brave." That sounds very much like "brav." But that has absolutely nothing to do with it. Also at least, I don't know if it somehow has the same origin. Or whether there is some kind of connection there. But nowadays, the usage is truly completely different. Brave means courageous, brave. We all know Braveheart. But "brav" has a completely different meaning. That's something like being polite. Polite is a nice word. Such a lovely child. Obedience. Dear And probably one would say in English: like a nice person, a good person, well-behaved. So in that direction. The children were totally well-behaved today and cleaned up without complaining. The children were totally good, totally sweet, totally well-behaved today. They have exactly done what they should do. And helped their parents. Or without complaining. Without complaining. Without shouting or saying we don't want to do it. Did you neatly tidy up the room? That's strange, isn't it? That brave means courageous, valiant. And brave is not the opposite either. But it feels a bit like almost the opposite. Okay, very good. We continue. I still have to donate. Donations. In English, you say "to spend." To spend money, for example. Or to spend time. But donating in German is something completely different. For example, if you give money to a charitable organization. For example, you donate 50 euros every month to a charitable organization. Or a relief organization. Donations. To donate. Also, money is usually spent for a good cause. One can certainly donate money for a bad cause. But usually one tries to do it for a good purpose. And then spending money also has a completely different meaning. Next to hire. Dedicated. Yes, so in English one might perhaps say we are engaged. Has nothing to do with it. We are engaged too. In English, one would say we are engaged. "Engagiert" and "engaged" have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Or at least no longer in its current usage. One is also engaged when one advocates for a cause. One might be motivated to do something. For example, you volunteer at the animal shelter. So it means you either work or get involved. Whenever you have time, or every Sunday morning, you work at an animal shelter. You volunteer your time and effort on a voluntary basis. You're helping with something too. You are motivated about something. Is there anything else helpful regarding this? Ah yes, for example, she is an enthusiastic teacher. She doesn't just go to work and go through the motions. So kids, check out this video and now let's do the quiz on it. And here is Karl Johannes Gustav, you have your three and so on. No, she is a dedicated teacher. She's really thinking about how I can actually make the class awesome. So that the children have fun, that life is fun, and that we all learn something somehow. And the notes come then of their own accord. And next, we have something strange. Weird, it kind of sounds a bit like Comico. Weird, but one can say it's weird that it's funny. But very often we use "komisch" also for "weird." Also, I saw him today and I asked him. I asked him a question about topic X. How are you doing, anyway? And he somehow gave me a strange answer. That does not mean he told a joke, that he told a joke. Rather, it means that his response was somehow a bit strange, a bit peculiar. Weird. Weird is a weird word. Exactly, and next we have the mobile phone. If someone is in English, yes, a mobile phone is probably, for example, handy. And I think that's why the phone, that is, the smartphone in German, which is what it's called. Because it's very convenient. It's very compact. Somewhat practical as well. And you can just easily put it in your pocket and be done. Yes, also the mobile phone, the smartphone. Completely different meaning. Also handy, I don't think I need to explain further. You know what I mean. And then I still have Fast. Fast, also we don't have fast food, but rather fast food. Also fast and fast in German is completely different. Also, if that's fast food, then it's not quite food, or almost food, is it? Rather, it is proper food. Probably not very healthy, but it's definitely delicious. Also, "fast" means something like almost or nearly. For example, I would have been almost late. But luckily not. But today I somehow woke up a bit late, didn't sleep well, who knows. And then I would have been almost late. But in the end I wasn't late after all, because I hurried a bit more. I ran faster toward, well, whatever bus stop it was. And I actually wasn't late after all. Also fast means something like almost or nearly. Whereas "fast" means something like "quickly." Also a very false friend, oh oh oh. And with that, we have reached the end of today's podcast episode. I've created a free workbook for you. A brief teaser for this episode. A small teaser for membership. This is completely free. There's a small mini-exercise there. There are a few explanations, and a few other things I still need to build. And this little teaser, this small workbook, you can simply get for free. By simply clicking the link in the show notes. Then you can practically try out more or less how the membership might look. Many heartfelt thanks for listening to my podcast. And that you watched me. I hope you enjoy learning German. I hope you enjoy learning German with me. And then we'll see each other again next week. Tschüssikowski.