false friend
nounUK /ˌfɔːls ˈfrend/
US /ˌfɔːls ˈfrend/
A false friend is a word in another language that looks like a word you know but means something different.
The Spanish word 'embarazada' is a false friend because it means 'pregnant', not 'embarrassed'.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A person who pretends to be your friend but is not loyal to you.
She thought he was a true friend, but he turned out to be a false friend who spread rumors about her.
3. In language teaching, a word pair in two languages that look similar but differ in meaning.
Teachers often warn students about false friends like English 'gift' and German 'Gift', which means poison.
4. A thing that seems helpful or safe but is actually harmful.
That shortcut through the woods was a false friend, leading them straight into a swamp.