Think of words that have come from your own language into English. Try to find words from these topic areas, which are particularly rich in loanwords in English. • food and drink
• animals, flowers and landscape features
• industrial products and inventions
• clothing and the home
• politics and society
• the arts, sports and leisure activities
Make a list of false friends for English and your own first language. Here is a list begun by a Spanish speaker. English word similar word in my language + meaning meaning in English complexion
complexión = person’s physical build
appearance of skin on a person’s face (a clear complexion)
destitute
destituido = removed from job
without money, food, home or possessions
These words are said to have moved from English into a number of other languages. Which of them exist in your language? thematic fields English source words food and drink
beefsteak, jam, pudding, sandwich
animals
bulldog, dog, skunk
clothing
blazer, cardigan, pullover, sweater
political and social life
parliament, Tory, boycott, budget, inflation, strike
industry and inventions
car ferry, container, freight, computer chip, cable TV
arts, sports and leisure
ace [1 in playing cards], boxer, football, break-dance
89.1 89.2 89.3 89.4 89.5 89.6
186 English Vocabulary in Use Advanced Easily confused words 90 Words similar in form and close in meaning The United Nations should
intervene to stop the civil war.
[step in; neutral in meaning]
She shouldn’t