Learn who your real French friends are

Today’s faux amis is the word ‘lecture’. In English, this word denotes a class normally taken at university, where students sit in rows and listen while a professor delivers content verbally. It can also mean to speak to someone at length in a reproving manner.

In French, the word ‘lecture’ (pronounced like ‘confiture’ and other words ending in ‘-ture’) is a feminine noun which means reading. It refers to the physical act of perusing a book or other literary work. For example, you may have been taught to say ‘J’aime la lecture’ (I like reading) when discussing your interests in conversation class.

‘Lecture’ as it refers to a class in English is translated as cours magistral in French (cours magistraux plural).

E.g. J’ai un cours magistral à midi – I have a lecture at noon

Lecture and la lecture are what we call false cognates. This means they have the same spelling, but different etymologies (linguistic origins) and meanings. By contrast, true cognates are words which have the same spelling, origin and meaning. For example, ‘danger’ in French means the same thing as the English word ‘danger’.