12 Anglicisms That Don’t Exist in English
False Anglicisms: Words That Sound English but Aren't
A false anglicism, also called a pseudo-anglicism, is a word that looks and sounds English but is not actually used by native English speakers, or means something different to them. Many European languages are full of them: French, Italian, German, and Spanish have all borrowed English-looking words and given them a life of their own. This guide from SPRACHCAFFE walks through twelve of the most common false anglicisms and the words English speakers actually use, then looks at examples from other languages.
12 false anglicisms and their real English equivalents
| False anglicism | Used in | Correct English |
|---|---|---|
| baby-foot | French | table football (UK), foosball (US) |
| flipper | French, Italian | pinball (machine) |
| parking | French, Italian, Spanish | car park (UK), parking lot (US) |
| goal (= goalkeeper) | French | goalkeeper |
| ferry (= car ferry) | French, Italian | car ferry |
| un jean (singular) | French | jeans, a pair of jeans |
| camping-car | French | motorhome, campervan, RV |
| jogging (the garment) | French, Italian | tracksuit |
| baskets | French | trainers (UK), sneakers (US) |
| rugbyman | French, Italian | rugby player |
| talkie-walkie | French | walkie-talkie |
| sweat | French | sweatshirt |
A closer look at a few
Baby-foot. In English this literally sounds like the foot of a baby. The pub table game is table football in the UK and foosball in the US.
Parking. The verb "to park" exists, but adding -ing names the action, not the place. English speakers park in a car park (UK) or a parking lot (US).
Goal. In English, a goal is the target or the point scored, never the person. The player who defends it is the goalkeeper.
Jean. English treats trousers as plural, so you wear jeans or a pair of jeans, never "a jean." The same logic applies to trousers.
Jogging. From the verb "to jog," but in English jogging is the activity, not the clothing. The outfit is a tracksuit; the activity is "going for a jog" or "a run."
Talkie-walkie. The meaning is identical, but English reverses the halves: it is a walkie-talkie.
Sweat. In English, sweat is perspiration. The hooded or crew-neck top is a sweatshirt, and it is pronounced /swet/, not /swiːt/.
False anglicisms in other languages
English-looking words that native speakers would not recognise appear across Europe:
- German "Handy" means a mobile phone. To an English speaker, handy just means "useful."
- German "Beamer" means a video projector. In the US, a "Beamer" is slang for a BMW car.
- German "Oldtimer" means a classic or vintage car, not an elderly person.
- Italian "smart working" means remote work or working from home.
- Spanish and Italian "footing" means jogging or running.
These borrowed words show how living languages reshape English to fit their own needs, which is exactly why hearing English from native speakers matters so much.
