As English has many words that come from Latin, it s very common for students to think that the meaning of these words are exactly the same as in their own language. In fact, many words that come from Latin (especially verbs and adverbs) have a completely different meaning in English to the meaning they have in French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Catalan etc.

Here are some of the most common ones and their meanings:

Que???? Quoi???

Actual  -.    real 

Actually –  in reality 

Advertise – to put an advert in the newspaper (so as to sell something)

Advise – to tell someone what you think they should do

Agenda – the program for the day/for a meeting (i.e. What s on the agenda?) 

Anxious - nervous

Argument – a debate or verbal fight 

Assist – to help. 

Attempt – to try 

Attend – to be present at  

Avocado – a type of vegetable that is used to make guacamole

Assume – to suppose / to undertake

Career – professional life

Conference – a meeting of many people (i.e. a congress)

Conductor – the person who checks your ticket on a bus

Conservatory – a room in the house that has a lot of sunlight where you keep plants etc.

Currently – at the moment, nowadays

Discussion – a conversation

Disgust – strong dislike

Divert – to deviate

Embarrassed - to feel shame at something

Eventually – finally

Figure – a number or amount (i.e. money) or used generally by women when talking about their weight

Idiom – expression used frequently by native speakers

Lecture – a conference or class given at university

Library – a quiet place where you can read books/study

Note – a piece of paper with something written on it 

Notice – a written announcement, to notice – to pay attention / observe

Occasion – an event

Parent – mother or father

Particular – special

Politics – to do with the government/the running of a business

Policy – the rules of a government

Presume – to assume/suppose

To pretend – to do or say something that is not true

Prove – to demonstrate

Quiet – without speaking

Realize – to comprehend, finally see or understand something

Remove – to take away

Resume – to continue doing something

Reunion – when people see each other for the first time after the have been apart (i.e. high school reunion)

Sane – not crazy

Sensible – reasonable, logical

Spectacles – glasses

Sympathetic – understanding, showing empathy

Sympathy - compassion