If you’re learning Italian, you’ve probably come across “false friends”—those words that look similar to English but actually have a completely different meaning. Today, we’ll look at three of the most common false friends to help you avoid funny (or embarrassing!) misunderstandings.
Today we are looking at these three pairs: attualmente/actually, sensibile/sensible and educato/educated.
1. Attualmente ≠ Actually
- Attualmente in Italian means “at the moment, nowadays.”
- Actually in English means “in reality.”
📌 Example:
Actually, I don’t like coffee → ❌ Attualmente, non mi piace il caffè (wrong!)
✅ In realtà, non mi piace il caffè.
✅ Attualmente vivo a Roma. (Correct, because it means “at the moment”)
2. Sensibile ≠ Sensible
- Sensibile in Italian means “emotional, someone who feels emotions intensely.”
- Sensible in English means “reasonable, showing good sense.”
📌 Example:
She is a very sensible person → ❌ Lei è una persona molto sensibile (wrong, because it could mean she is emotional!)
✅ Lei è una persona molto ragionevole.
✅ Lui è molto sensibile e si commuove facilmente. (Correct, because it refers to emotional sensitivity)
3. Educato ≠ Educated
- Educato in Italian means “polite, well-mannered.”
- Educated in English means “having academic education.”
📌 Example:
He is very educated → ❌ Lui è molto educato (wrong, because it means he is polite, not that he has studied!)
✅ Lui è una persona molto istruita.
✅ I bambini devono essere educati e rispettosi. (Correct, because it refers to good manners)
If you wish to learn vocabulary quickly, take a look at this article all about cognates: 50 Italian cognates to supercharge your learning – Parla Italiano
However, the best way to truly learn new words is to put them into practice—especially in speaking! Do you have a conversation partner or a class where you can practice? If not, all our courses focus on speaking from day one, so you can build confidence and avoid misunderstandings in real conversations. Why not join us and start speaking Italian today?
