Common mistakes
Every learner makes mistakes. Knowing the most common ones helps you avoid them.
Gender confusion
Common errors
| Incorrect | Correct | Note |
|---|---|---|
| le problème | problème is masculine | |
| le silence | silence is masculine | |
| la voiture | voiture is feminine |
How to fix it
Learn nouns with their articles. When in doubt, learn the gender patterns.
False friends
| French | Looks like | Actually means |
|---|---|---|
| 🔊 actuellement | actually | currently |
| 🔊 assister | assist | to attend |
| 🔊 attendre | attend | to wait |
| 🔊 blesser | bless | to injure |
| 🔊 coin | coin | corner |
| 🔊 librairie | library | bookshop |
| 🔊 location | location | rental |
| 🔊 préservatif | preservative | condom |
| 🔊 raisin | raisin | grape |
| 🔊 regarder | regard | to watch/look at |
| 🔊 rester | rest | to stay |
| 🔊 sympathique | sympathetic | nice/likeable |
Correct translations
| English | French |
|---|---|
| actually | 🔊 en fait |
| to assist | 🔊 aider |
| to attend | 🔊 assister à |
| library | 🔊 bibliothèque |
| location | 🔊 emplacement |
Être vs Avoir expressions
French uses avoir where English uses "to be":
| Incorrect | Correct | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 🔊 J'ai faim. | I'm hungry. | |
| 🔊 J'ai 25 ans. | I'm 25 years old. | |
| 🔊 J'ai froid. | I'm cold. |
Savoir vs Connaître
Both mean "to know," but:
- Savoir = to know facts, how to do something
- Connaître = to know/be familiar with people, places
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| 🔊 Je sais parler français. | |
| 🔊 Je connais Marie. |
C'est vs Il est
| Use C'est | Use Il/Elle est |
|---|---|
| + noun with article: 🔊 C'est un livre. | + adjective: 🔊 Il est grand. |
| + proper noun: 🔊 C'est Marie. | + profession without article: 🔊 Il est médecin. |
| + stressed pronoun: 🔊 C'est moi. | + nationality: 🔊 Elle est française. |
Passé composé agreement
With être verbs, participles agree:
- 🔊 Elle est allée. (not allé)
- 🔊 Ils sont partis. (not parti)
The partitive
Use du/de la/des for unspecified quantities:
| Incorrect | Correct | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 🔊 Je veux du pain. | I want (some) bread. | |
| 🔊 J'ai de l'argent. | I have (some) money. |
After negation, use de:
- 🔊 Je n'ai pas de pain. — I don't have any bread.
Pronunciation errors
| Error | Correct |
|---|---|
| Pronouncing silent letters | Final consonants usually silent |
| English "r" | French "r" is guttural |
| Pronouncing "h" | H is always silent |
| "u" as "oo" | French "u" = lips rounded, say "ee" |
Tu vs Vous
Using tu when vous is expected can seem rude:
- Use vous with strangers, elders, in formal settings
- Wait to be invited to use tu
Common verb errors
| Incorrect | Correct | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Je suis allée... | Agreement with subject | |
| Je suis devenu médecin. | Devenir uses être | |
| Je ne sais rien. | Keep both negative words |