False friends are words that look or sound similar in two languages but have different meanings. Dutch-English false friends include: actueel (current/topical, NOT actual), eventueel (possible/if necessary, NOT eventual), sensibel (sensitive, NOT sensible — that is verstandig), pretentie (claim/assumption, NOT pretence). These trip up even advanced learners.
More false friends: sympathiek (likeable/nice, NOT sympathetic — that is meevoelend), pijnlijk (painful or embarrassing, NOT only painful), college (university lecture, NOT colleague — that is collega), brilliant (brilliant gemstone, NOT brilliant meaning excellent — that is schitterend or geweldig), map (folder, NOT map — that is kaart or plattegrond).
Financial and professional false friends: het miljard (billion, NOT milliard), de rekening (bill/invoice, NOT reckoning), de nota (note/bill, NOT note as in musical note — that is noot), de agent (police officer primarily, NOT agent), het bad (bath, NOT bad). Always double-check seemingly familiar words — Dutch and English share Germanic roots, which creates many deceptive near-cognates.