300 True French English Cognates
Did you know that many French and English words look exactly the same or very similar? These words are called cognates, and they can make learning French vocabulary much easier.
A cognate is a word that shares its origin with a word in another language and has the same or a closely related meaning. French and English have thousands of cognates, so recognizing them can help you understand and remember new vocabulary.
In this list, you’ll find more than 300 French English cognates arranged alphabetically. I’ve included the French word, its gender when it is a noun, and its part of speech.
One important thing to remember: even when a French word looks exactly like an English word, its pronunciation may be quite different. That’s why listening to the audio is an important part of learning these words.
Be careful, though! Not every French word that looks like an English word has the same meaning. These misleading words are called faux amis, or false friends. You can learn more in my lesson on 50 French False Friends – Faux Amis.
You can download a free PDF of this list in my private French Grammar Library.
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 |
How to Learn French-English Cognates
French-English cognates are a great way to expand your vocabulary, but don’t stop at recognizing the words. Try these simple ways to remember and use them.
1. Pay attention to pronunciation.
A word may look familiar but sound quite different in French. Listen to the audio and repeat each word aloud.
2. Learn the gender of French nouns.
When you learn a new French noun, remember whether it is masculine or feminine. For example:
- le restaurant (masculine)
- la décision (feminine)
- le problème (masculine)
- la solution (feminine)
3. Use new words in sentences.
Seeing a familiar word in a sentence helps you understand how it is used in French.
4. Watch out for false friends.
Some French words look like English words but have different meanings. Learning to recognize these false friends will help you avoid common mistakes.
Want to avoid some common French vocabulary mistakes? Take a look at my list of 50 French False Friends (Faux Amis) to learn which familiar-looking words don’t mean what you might expect.
