Is English Just Badly Pronounced French?
Historical influences, false friends, and how shared language helps (and sometimes hinders) learners
Have you ever wondered why so many English and French words look alike, but sometimes mean something completely different?
A recent book by French linguist Bernard Cerquiglini, La langue anglaise n’existe pas, even goes so far as to claim that English is just badly pronounced French ! It’s a bold take, but one that’s grounded in centuries of shared history.
So let’s take a quick look at:
- How French has influenced the English language (and vice versa)
- Common cognates you can trust
- False friends to watch out for
- Practical tips for learners of both languages
Why English and French Share So Much
After the Norman conquest in 1066, French became the language of England’s ruling class for several centuries. As a result, around 40% of English vocabulary comes from French or Latin.
You’ll notice this especially in the language of:
- Politics: government, justice, parliament
- Culture: music, art, literature, cuisine
- Abstract ideas: information, emotion, identity
Ever since William the Conqueror, English and French have continued to borrow from each other, which can be both helpful and confusing for learners!
Trustworthy Cognates (Real Friends)
These words look and mean the same in both languages:
| English | French | Meaning |
| culture | culture | culture |
| important | important | important |
| animal | animal | animal |
| situation | situation | situation |
| minute | minute | minute (time) |
False Friends (Faux Amis)
These look similar but the meanings are different:
| English | French | But it really means… |
| actually | actuellement | currently |
| assist | assister | to attend (an event) |
| sensible | sensible | sensitive |
| library | librairie | bookshop |
| preservative | préservatif | condom (!) |
Learner tip: Make note of these false fiends [sic], and don’t worry if you get tripped up by them – it happens to us all!
Language Learning Shortcuts
Some patterns can really help you build vocabulary faster:
- Words ending in -tion (like nation, conversation) often work in both languages — though they’re pronounced differently in French.
- Possessive form “of the” The ‘s possessive can be hard for English learners to get their heads around, but notice how in certain situations it works better to use the French “of the” form (de la, du, des) instead. For example:
- the centre of the universe – le centre de l’univers
- the title of the book – le titre du livre
- Ét- vs St-: Some French words starting with ét- match English words starting with st-.
- État → state
- Étranger → stranger
- Étage → stage
- État → state
As a language learner spotting patterns like this is a real confidence booster!
Watch the Video Debate
If you’re curious about our shared language history and want to know more about the connection between English and French, these two short YouTube videos are a great starting point:
- Bernard Cerquiglini – La langue anglaise n’existe pas (in French)
- RobWords – English response (in English)
Whether you’re learning French or English, these two clips offer insight, humour, and a reminder that languages are always evolving and borrowing from one another.
Personally, as someone who finds language endlessly fascinating (I often wish I’d studied linguistics instead of music!), I really enjoy the RobWords YouTube channel. It’s clever, engaging, and a brilliant way to make sense of all the quirky rules and exceptions that give English learners headaches and explain why many of us grew up with endless spelling tests at school!
Have you discovered any surprising “false friends” lately? Share it in the comments or at our next meet-up!
Author: Clare Catchpole. English text edited and French translation assisted by AI, then reviewed and adapted for clarity and style.
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