Many words in French and English are exactly the same, which can really increase your vocabulary! These words are called cognates. A cognate is an easy word to remember because it looks and means the same thing as a word you already know. Discover more than 300 true French English cognates below.
For this reason, recognizing cognates in written form is very easy. Though these words look exactly alike and have the same meaning, pronunciation is often very different from English to French. This can make it difficult to spot them as words you know while listening.
Be sure to listen to the audio so that you can hear the different pronunciations in English and French, and you can download a free PDF of this list in my private French Grammar Library.
It is also interesting to know about les faux amis, French words that look like English words, but mean something altogether different.
A – True French English Cognates
| abdomen | abdomen (m) noun |
| absence | absence (f) noun |
| absent | absent(e) adjective |
| absorption | absorption (f) noun |
| accent | accent (m) noun |
| accessible | accessible adjective |
| accident | accident (m) noun |
| accusation | accusation (f) noun |
| action | action (f) noun |
| addition | addition (f) noun |
| admiration | admiration (f) noun |
| adolescent | adolescent(e) (m / f) noun |
| adorable | adorable adjective |
| agriculture | agriculture (f) noun |
| alphabet | alphabet (m) noun |
| angle | angle (m) noun |
| animal | animal (m) noun |
| applicable | applicable adjective |
| art | art (m) noun |
| article | article (m) noun |
| attention | attention (f) noun |
| automobile | automobile (f) noun |
| avenue | avenue (f) noun |
B – True French English Cognates
| banjo | banjo (m) noun |
| banquet | banquet (m) noun |
| base | base (f) noun |
| bikini | bikini (m) noun |
| bizarre | bizarre adjective |
| blond | blond(e) adjective |
| bonus | bonus (m) noun |
| bouquet | bouquet (m) noun |
| boutique | boutique (f) noun |
| brave | brave adjective |
| brochure | brochure (f) noun |
| brutal | brutal(e) adjective |
| budget | budget (m) noun |
| bureau | bureau (m) noun |
| bus | bus (m) noun |
C – True French English Cognates
| cage | cage (f) noun |
| campus | campus (m) noun |
| capable | capable adjective |
| capture | capture (f) noun |
| carafe | carafe (f) noun |
| caramel | caramel (m) noun |
| cause | cause (f) noun |
| central | central(e) adjective |
| certain | certain(e) adjective |
| champion | champion (m) noun |
| chance | chance (f) noun |
| chaos | chaos (m) noun |
| chef | chef (m) noun |
| cigarette | cigarette (f) noun |
| clarification | clarification (f) noun |
| classification | classification (f) noun |
| client | client(e) (m ou f) noun |
| cognition | cognition (f) noun |
| collection | collection (f) noun |
| commercial | commercial(e) adjective |
| communication | communication (f) noun |
| complication | complication (f) noun |
| compliment | compliment (m) noun |
| compression | compression (f) noun |
| concentration | concentration (f) noun |
| concept | concept (m) noun |
| conclusion | conclusion (f) noun |
| condition | condition (f) noun |
| confession | confession (f) noun |
| confrontation | confrontation (f) noun |
| conscience | conscience (f) noun |
| content | content(e) adjective |
| continent | continent (m) noun |
| contribution | contribution (f) noun |
| convergence | convergence (f) noun |
| coordination | coordination (f) noun |
| correct | correct(e) adjective |
| costume | costume (m) noun |
| couple | couple (m) noun |
| crime | crime (m) noun |
| crucial | crucial(e) adjective |
| cruel | cruel(le) adjective |
| culture | culture (f) noun |
D – True French English Cognates
| danger | danger (m) noun |
| date | date (f) noun |
| description | description (f) noun |
| destination | destination(f) noun |
| destruction | destruction (f) noun |
| dialogue | dialogue (m) noun |
| diligent | diligent(e) adjective |
| dilution | dilution(f) noun |
| direct | direct(e) adjective |
| distance | distance(f) noun |
| distinct | distinct(e) adjective |
| divorce | divorce(m) noun |
| durable | durable adjective |
E – True French English Cognates
| effort | effort (m) noun |
| encouragement | encouragement(m) noun |
| endurance | endurance (f) noun |
| estimation | estimation(f) noun |
| exact | exact(e) adjective |
| excellent | excellent(e) adjective |
| excuse | excuse (f) noun |
| existence | existence (f) noun |
| exorbitant | exorbitant(e) adjective |
| expert | expert(e) (m ou f) noun |
| export | export (m) noun |
| extravagant | extravagant(e) adjective |
F – True French English Cognates
| fascination | fascination (f) noun |
| festival | festival (m) noun |
| fiasco | fiasco (m) noun |
| film | film (m) noun |
| final | final(e) noun (f) or adjective |
| flexible | flexible adjective |
| force | force (f) noun |
| fruit | fruit (m) noun |
| futile | futile adjective |
G – True French English Cognates
| garage | garage (m) noun |
| glucose | glucose (m) noun |
| gourmet | gourmet (m) noun |
| grain | grain (m) noun |
| gratitude | gratitude (f) noun |
| grotesque | grotesque adjective |
| guide | guide (m ou f) noun |
H – True French English Cognates
| habitable | habitable adjective |
| hibernation | hibernation (f) noun |
| horizon | horizon (m) noun |
| horizontal | horizontal(e) adjective |
| horrible | horrible adjective |
| hyperbole | hyperbole (f) noun |
| hypocrite | hypocrite (m ou f) noun or adjective |
I – True French English Cognates
| identifiable | identifiable adjective |
| identification | identification (f) noun |
| illustration | illustration (f) noun |
| imagination | imagination (f) noun |
| immersion | immersion (f) noun |
| impatience | impatience (f) noun |
| impression | impression (f) noun |
| improbable | improbable adjective |
| inaccessible | inaccessible adjective |
| indulgence | indulgence (f) noun |
| innocence | innocence (f) noun |
| instinct | instinct (m) noun |
| instruction | instruction (f) noun |
| intelligence | intelligence (f) noun |
| intelligent | intelligent(e) adjective |
| intuition | intuition (f) noun |
| inverse | inverse adjective |
| invisible | invisible adjective |
| irritable | irritable adjective |
| irritation | irritation (f) noun |
| isolation | isolation (f) noun |
J – True French English Cognates
| jazz | jazz (m) noun |
| judo | judo (m) noun |
| jungle | jungle (f) noun |
| jury | jury (m) noun |
| justice | justice (f) noun |
| justifiable | justifiable adjective |
K – True French English Cognates
| karma | karma (m) noun |
| kayak | kayak (m) noun |
| kiwi | kiwi (m) noun |
| kleenex | kleenex (m) noun |
| koala | koala (m) noun |
| kumquat | kumquat (m) noun |
L – True French English Cognates
| lamentable | lamentable adjective |
| laser | laser (m) noun |
| latent | latent(e) adjective |
| limitation | limitation (f) noun |
| logo | logo (m) noun |
| long | long(ue) adjective |
| lotion | lotion (f) noun |
M – True French English Cognates
| macabre | macabre adjective |
| machine | machine (f) noun |
| magazine | magazine (m) noun |
| manipulation | manipulation (f) noun |
| maritime | maritime adjective |
| massage | massage (m) noun |
| maximum | maximum (m) noun or adjective |
| menace | menace (f) noun |
| mental | mental(e) adjective |
| message | message (m) noun |
| microbe | microbe (m) noun |
| microphone | microphone (m) noun |
| miniature | miniature noun (f) or adjective |
| minimum | minimum noun (m) or adjective |
| minuscule | minuscule adjective |
| minute (time) | minute (time) (f) noun |
| miracle | miracle (m) noun |
| monument | monument (m) noun |
| moral | moral(e) adjective |
| multitude | multitude (f) noun |
| muscle | muscle (m) noun |
N – True French English Cognates
| nation | nation (f) noun |
| national | national(e) adjective |
| nature | nature (f) noun |
| nonchalant | nonchalant(e) adjective |
| normal | normal(e) adjective |
| notable | notable adjective |
| note | note (f) noun |
| novice | novice (f ou m) noun |
| nuance | nuance (f) noun |
O – True French English Cognates
| objection | objection (f) noun |
| obsession | obsession (f) noun |
| ode | ode (f) noun |
| omission | omission (f) noun |
| opinion | opinion (f) noun |
| optimal | optimal(e) adjective |
| orientation | orientation (f) noun |
| original | original(e) adjective |
P – True French English Cognates
| parachute | parachute (m) noun |
| parasite | parasite (m) noun |
| pardon | pardon (m) noun |
| participation | participation (f) noun |
| passage | passage (m) noun |
| patience | patience (f) noun |
| pause | pause (f) noun |
| perceptible | perceptible adjective |
| perfection | perfection (f) noun |
| permanent | permanent(e) adjective |
| pertinent | pertinent(e) adjective |
| photo | photo (f) noun |
| pirate | pirate (m) noun |
| place (where something or someone has its place or ranking) | place (f) noun |
| plausible | plausible adjective |
| point | point (m) noun |
| police | police (f) noun |
| position | position (f) noun |
| possession | possession (f) noun |
| possible | possible adjective |
| probable | probable adjective |
| public | public (m) noun |
| publication | publication (f) noun |
Q – True French English Cognates
| quadrant | quadrant (m) noun |
| qualification | qualification (f) noun |
| question | question (f) noun |
| questionnaire | questionnaire (m) noun |
| quota | quota (m) noun |
R – True French English Cognates
| racial | racial(e) adjective |
| radar | radar (m) noun |
| radiant | radiant(e) adjective |
| radiation | radiation (f) noun |
| radio | radio (f) noun |
| rat | rat (m) noun |
| rectangle | rectangle noun (m) or adjective |
| recyclable | recyclable noun (m) |
| regret | regret (m) noun |
| religion | religion (f) noun |
| respect | respect (m) noun |
| respectable | respectable adjective |
| restaurant | restaurant (m) noun |
| route | route (f) noun |
| royal | royal(e) adjectif |
| rural | rural(e) adjective |
S – True French English Cognates
| sacrifice | sacrifice (m) noun |
| saint | saint(e)(m or f) noun |
| sanction | sanction (f) noun |
| sandwich | sandwich (m) noun |
| satisfaction | satisfaction (f) noun |
| saturation | saturation (f) noun |
| sauna | sauna (m) noun |
| science | science (f) noun |
| script | script (m) noun |
| second | second(e) adjective |
| secret | secret (m) noun |
| secret | secret / secrète adjective |
| segment | segment (m) noun |
| senior | senior (m) noun |
| service | service (m) noun |
| session | session (f) noun |
| signature | signature (f) noun |
| silence | silence (m) noun |
| simple | simple adjective |
| simplification | simplification (f) noun |
| site | site (m) noun |
| situation | situation (f) noun |
| sketch (a skit) | sketch (m) noun |
| slogan | slogan (m) noun |
| snob | snob noun (m or f) or adjective |
| sociable | sociable adjective |
| social | social(e) adjectif |
| soda | soda (m) noun |
| sofa | sofa (m) noun |
| solitude | solitude (f) noun |
| solution | solution (f) noun |
| sophistication | sophistication (f) noun |
| source | source (f) noun |
| spinal | spinal(e) adjective |
| sprint | sprint (m) noun |
| statue | statue (f) noun |
| stimulation | stimulation (f) noun |
| structure | structure (f) noun |
| style | style (m) noun |
| sublime | sublime adjective |
| substitution | substitution (f) noun |
| succession | succession (f) noun |
| suffocation | suffocation (f) noun |
| suggestion | suggestion (f) noun |
| suicide | suicide (m) noun |
| surprise | surprise (f) noun |
| suspect | suspect(e) noun (m or f) or adjective |
| syndrome | syndrome (m) noun |
| synopsis | synopsis (f) noun |
T – True French English Cognates
| taxi | taxi (m) noun |
| technique | technique noun (f) or adjective |
| tennis | tennis (m) noun |
| tension | tension (f) noun |
| terrible | terrible adjective |
| test | test (m) noun |
| texture | texture (f) noun |
| trait (character) | trait (m) noun |
| transition | transition (f) noun |
| transparent | transparent(e) adjective |
U – True French English Cognates
| ultimatum | ultimatum (m) noun |
| unification | unification (f) noun |
| unique | unique adjective |
| urgent | urgent(e) adjective |
| usage | usage (f) noun |
V – True French English Cognates
| vacant | vacant(e) adjective |
| vague | vague noun (f) or adjective |
| vain | vain(e) adjective |
| variable | variable adjective |
| variation | variation (f) noun |
| vertical | vertical(e) adjective |
| vestige | vestige (m) noun |
| vibrant | vibrant(e) adjective |
| vibration | vibration (f) noun |
| village | village (m) noun |
| violence | violence (f) noun |
| violent | violent(e) adjective |
| viral | viral(e) adjective |
| virus | virus (m) noun |
| visa | visa (m) noun |
| visible | visible adjective |
| volume | volume (m) noun |
| vote | vote (m) noun |
W – True French English Cognates
| wagon | wagon (m) noun |
| water polo | water polo (m) noun |
| webcam | webcam (f) noun |
| weekend | weekend (m) noun |
| western | western (m) noun |
X – True French English Cognates
| xylophone | xylophone (m) noun |
Y – True French English Cognates
| yacht | yacht (m) noun |
| yoga | yoga (m) noun |
Z – True French English Cognates
| zinc | zinc (m) noun |
| zombie | zombie (m) noun |
| zone | zone (f) noun |
| zoo | zoo (m) noun |
