What’s the difference between “Introduire” in French and “Introducing” in English?

Ever had someone correct your use of French, only to only hint at what on Earth you might have said? 

It can be embarrassing if it’s something a bit sexual, right? Especially in public. 

The use of ‘introduire’ someone in my Conversation Café groups caused quite a stir one week. 

You see, it can mean something totally deeper in French and in public it got quite delicate! 

So this week, I present . . . (pun intended) . . . over Brillant, Car, Doubler Raper and Cave - are you using them correctly?

Today you will discover:

• The difference between INTRODUIRE & PRÉSENTER

• How to use these very common verbs and other false friends!

• How these greeting work in context without slipping up.

Two very different verbs: “Introduire” and “Introducing”.

You may think they mean the same but they do not:

• présenter >>> to present someone
• introduire  >>> to insert

Let’s play with full sentences:

• Introduisez votre carte bleue dans la machine. >>> Insert your credit card into the machine.

• Sophie a présenté son collègue Marc auprès de l’équipe. >>> Sophie introduced her colleague to the team.

Pay attention to the spelling. Moreover, the meaning differs completely:

• un caractère >>> personality, nature
• un personnage  >>> a character

Here’s a way to use them:

• Ce personnage est vraiment intéressant. >>> This character is really interesting.

• Je l’aime car il a un caractère fantastique. >>> I like him because he has a kind nature.

The exact same spelling but they have nothing to do with each other:

• facturer >>> to charge
• charger  >>> to load

You will use these verbs like this:

• Tu peux me le facturer ? >>> Can you charge me / send me the bill?
• Il se peut que j’ai trop chargé la voiture. >>> I think I might have overloaded the car.

Not only is the pronunciation unlike but these words are used in a specific context as well:

• Une pièce de monnaie >>> a coin
• Un coin >>> a coin

Here is how to use them:

• As-tu une pièce d’un Euro pour la caddie ? >>> Have you got a 1 euro coin for the trolley?

• Mets ce fauteuil dans le coin.  >>> Put this chair in the corner.

The following two friends are related to the education system. However, they do not refer to the same level of education: 

• Une université >>> a college
• Un collège >>> a middle school

Have a look at these examples:

• Je travaille à l’école d’ingénieurs à Tarbes. >>> I work at the engineering university of Tarbes.

• Ma fille va au collège en ville. >>> My daughter goes to the local middle school.

Tips to learn false friends in French.

To start with, choose one thing at a time and master it. Once you do, you can add more to your list.

Then, say it aloud to memorise it.

The word is not enough. Indeed, if you put it into context with your own example it will facilitate.

Then, you want to practise as much as possible or you will forget it.

In a nutshell, there is no need to learn a lot. You would better apply your learning in order to speak French simultaneously with confidence. 

In this mini-lesson, you have covered the following false-friends:

• présenter >>> to present someone vs introduire  >>> to insert
• un caractère >>> personality, nature vs un personnage  >>> a character
• facturer >>> to charge vs charger  >>> to load
• Une pièce de monnaie >>> a coin vs un coin >>> a coin
• Une université >>> a college vs un collège >>> a middle school

Are you interested in learning more about false-friends? You may be interested in this mini-lesson:

The difference between ‘Actuellement’ & ‘En fait’ and more false friends

What’s the difference between “Brillant” in French and “Brilliant” in English?

Do you know other false friends?