15 Common French Mistakes English Speakers Make (And How to Fix Them)
Common French Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Even advanced French learners fall into these traps. Here are the 15 most common mistakes English speakers make — and simple ways to fix them.
1. "Actually" ≠ "Actuellement"
Actuellement means "currently," not "actually." To say "actually," use en fait.
✅ Actuellement, je travaille à Paris. (Currently, I work in Paris.)
2. "I am cold" ≠ "Je suis froid"
In French, you have cold, not are cold. "Je suis froid" means "I am a cold person" (emotionally).
✅ J'ai froid. (I'm cold.)
3. Forgetting Gender
Every French noun is masculine or feminine. There's no neutral option. You must learn the gender with each word.
✅ Le livre (the book - masculine)
✅ La table (the table - feminine)
4. "Library" ≠ "Librairie"
A librairie is a bookshop. A library is a bibliothèque.
5. "I am excited" ≠ "Je suis excité(e)"
In French, "excité" has a sexual connotation. Instead, say:
✅ J'ai hâte ! (I can't wait!)
✅ Je suis enthousiaste ! (I'm enthusiastic!)
6. Using "Tu" When You Should Use "Vous"
"Tu" is informal and "vous" is formal/plural. Using "tu" with strangers or in professional settings is considered rude.
7. Forgetting Agreements
Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.
✅ Une grande maison (a big house - feminine)
✅ Un grand jardin (a big garden - masculine)
8. "Introduce" ≠ "Introduire"
Introduire means to insert or put in. To introduce someone, use présenter.
✅ Je te présente mon ami. (I introduce you to my friend.)
9. Literal Translations from English
French has its own logic. Stop translating word for word!
❌ "I miss you" → "Je manque toi" (wrong!)
✅ Tu me manques. (Literally: "You are missing to me.")
10. "Eventually" ≠ "Éventuellement"
Éventuellement means "possibly," not "eventually." For "eventually," use finalement.
11. Forgetting Negation Pairs
French negation uses two words: ne...pas, ne...jamais, ne...rien.
✅ Je ne parle pas français. (I don't speak French.)
12. Mixing Up "Savoir" and "Connaître"
Both mean "to know," but:
- Savoir = to know a fact or how to do something
- Connaître = to be familiar with a person, place, or thing
- Think about → Penser à
- Depend on → Dépendre de
13. "To attend" ≠ "Attendre"
Attendre means "to wait." To attend is assister à.
✅ J'assiste au cours. (I attend the class.)
14. Incorrect Preposition Use
French prepositions don't always match English ones:
15. Forgetting the Subjunctive
After certain expressions (il faut que, je veux que, bien que...), French requires the subjunctive mood.
✅ Il faut que tu sois là. (You need to be there.)
Keep Learning!
Making mistakes is a natural part of learning. The key is to be aware of them and practice regularly. In our lessons, we focus on correcting these common errors so you build strong habits from the start.
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