This deep dive covers The False Friends Table — AQA GCSE Priority within The false friends bank (Gift, bekommen, also, Rat) for GCSE German. Revise The false friends bank (Gift, bekommen, also, Rat) in Reading and Translation into English for GCSE German with 10 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 2 of 4 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📋 The False Friends Table — AQA GCSE Priority
| Deutsch | Looks like… | Actually means | Correct German for the English word |
|---|---|---|---|
| das Gift, die Gifte | gift | poison | das Geschenk, die Geschenke |
| bekommen | become | to get / to receive | werden |
| also | also | so / therefore | auch |
| der Rat, die Ratschläge | rat | advice | die Ratte, die Ratten |
| die Art, die Arten | art | type / kind / sort | die Kunst |
| der Chef, die Chefs | chef | boss / manager | der Koch, die Köche |
| fast | fast (quick) | almost / nearly | schnell |
| die Note, die Noten | note | grade / mark (school) | die Notiz, die Notizen |
| der See, die Seen | sea | lake | die See / das Meer |
| aktuell | actual | current / up-to-date | wirklich / eigentlich |
| eventuell | eventually | possibly / perhaps | schließlich / irgendwann |
| sensibel | sensible | sensitive / emotionally aware | vernünftig |
| bald | bald | soon | kahl / glatzköpfig |
| das Kind, die Kinder | kind | child | nett / freundlich |
⭐ The Four Worst Traps
These four appear most often in AQA reading texts to catch students out: das Gift (poison, not gift), bekommen (to get/receive, not become), also (so/therefore, not also), der Rat (advice, not rat). Memorise these four first.
⭐ der See vs die See
der See = lake (masculine) — e.g. der Bodensee (Lake Constance).
die See = sea (feminine) — also das Meer = sea/ocean.
The article changes the meaning completely. In a reading text, check whether See carries der or die before translating.
Ich bekomme ein Geschenk.
I get / I receive a present.
- bekommen = to get/receive (NOT "become"). "To become" is werden. Translating this as "I become a present" is one of the most common AQA reading errors.
Das Gift ist gefährlich, also muss man vorsichtig sein.
The poison is dangerous, so one must be careful.
- das Gift = poison (NOT a gift — a gift is das Geschenk).
- also = so / therefore (NOT "also" — "also" in German is auch). Two false friends in one sentence — exactly the kind of compression AQA uses in reading passages.
Practice questions for The false friends bank (Gift, bekommen, also, Rat)
What does 'das Gift' mean in English?
'Ich bekomme ein Geschenk' means which of the following in English?