What is a False Friend?
If you are a German speaker, you likely use English words in your daily German (“Denglisch”). The problem arises when you use those same words with a native English speaker, assuming they mean the same thing. They often don’t!
Here are the top 5 mistakes I hear in Düsseldorf corporate offices:
1. Handy vs. Mobile Phone
In Germany, your phone is a Handy. In English, handy is an adjective meaning “useful” or “convenient”.
- ❌ “I lost my handy.” (Confusing)
- ✅ “I lost my mobile / cell phone.”
2. Home Office vs. Work From Home
This is subtle. In English, a Home Office usually refers to the physical room in your house.
- 🇩🇪 “Ich mache heute Home Office.”
- 🇬🇧 “I am working from home today.” (Or “I’m working remotely.”)
3. Beamer vs. Projector
If you ask for a Beamer in the UK, people might think you are talking about a BMW car (slang) or Star Trek (“Beam me up!”).
- ✅ “Can you connect your laptop to the projector?“
4. Chef vs. Boss
In English, a Chef cooks food in a restaurant. Your manager is your Boss or Head.
- ❌ “My chef is very strict.” (Unless you work in a kitchen!)
- ✅ “My boss is very strict.”
5. To Become vs. To Get
The classic mistake. Bekommen (German) means to get. Become (English) means werden.
- ❌ “I became a steak at the restaurant.” (This means you transformed into a piece of meat!)
- ✅ “I got / ordered a steak.”
Awareness is Key
These mistakes rarely stop communication, but they can be distracting. Eliminating them is a quick win to sounding more polished and advanced.