Easily Confused Words

Phantasieren

• To Improvise• Sounds like the English word, “Fantasize.”

Raffiniert

• Sounds like the English word, Refined. However, the definition is only true in an industrial sense.

• Refined sugar, oil, ect.

• When speaking of people, it’s definition is cunning, or crafty.

Der Rasen

• Means Lawn, or Turf

• Rasen, as a verb, means to rage, or rave.• Rasieren as a verb, means to shave, or raze.

• Germans sometimes confuse Rasend (raving) with Rasent, a military term used to describe a flat trajectory.

Der Rat

• Means Council, or Advice• Confused with the English animal, rat.• -rat is also a counciller, and is attached to

many civil service ranks.

• Das Rad, means wheel, and is pronounced similarly.

Sächsisch

• Means Saxon

• Confused with the englishword, sexy

Der Sekt

• Means Champagne• Champagner is also used, but Sekt is used for

non-French champagne.

Not used as a religious sect, die Sekte, or an insect, Das Insekt.

Spendieren

• To buy something for someone, or to give a treat.

• Does not mean to spend (verbringen, ausgeben)

Tasten

• To touch, or handle

Often confused with to taste (Schmecken, kosten)

Der Tod

• Noun meaning Death

• Not pernounced like the English name, Todd.• The adjective Tot means dead• Töten is to kill• Sterben to die• Schleppen is to tote, as in carrying.

Toll

• Amazing, Awesome

The english word, Toll, is Zoll (tariff)

Weiß

• WhiteWeise = wise

• Viese is a meadow, and Waise is an orphan.• The noun Weise means way, manner.

Das Wien

• Austrian capital Vienna

• Confused with Wine in english, which would be Wein.

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