When learning Luxembourgish, one of the most subtle traps is the presence of so-called falsche Frënn — “false friends.” These are words that look familiar to speakers of German, French, or English, but actually carry a different meaning. They often pass unnoticed until the learner suddenly realizes that a conversation did not go as expected.
A classic example is the word Gift. In German, it means poison. In Luxembourgish, it carries the same meaning, yet for an English speaker the immediate association is with a present. One learner reported misunderstanding a doctor’s warning about “e klenge Gift am Kierper” as something entirely harmless. A moment of confusion like this is harmless in everyday life, but in an exam situation such as the Sproochentest, it can cost valuable points.
Typical false friends in Luxembourgish
Here are a few common examples that tend to appear in everyday speech and can easily mislead:
Gift = poison (not a present)
eventuell = possibly (not eventually)
pretendéieren = to claim (not to pretend)
bilan = balance sheet (not just summary in French)
blöd = stupid (not bloated)
Because Luxembourgish is a contact language influenced by German and French, these false friends come from both sides — making them especially tricky for multilingual learners.
Why they matter for the Sproochentest
The Sproochentest evaluates practical communication, not theoretical knowledge. During the listening comprehension part, a single false assumption about a word can alter your entire understanding of a passage. In the oral exam, using a word incorrectly might confuse the examiner or interrupt the flow of conversation.
That is why it is essential not only to learn vocabulary lists, but also to identify and practice with these deceptive words. In our 10 full Sproochentest simulations, we deliberately include tasks where false friends appear, so candidates can train themselves to notice the trap before it is too late.
Looking beyond the exam
Of course, the Sproochentest is only one requirement for Luxembourgish citizenship. Applicants must also pass the Vivre-Ensemble test, which focuses on history, society, and institutions — you can find more on this at vivre-ensemble.lu.
Still, mastering false friends is valuable far beyond any exam. It sharpens listening, prevents embarrassing mistakes, and ultimately makes daily conversations smoother and more natural. For many learners, recognizing their first falsche Frënd is a turning point: a reminder that learning a language is not just about words, but about meanings that shift across cultures.