Faux (or its feminine form, fausse) is probably the first word that comes to mind when you want to say “false” in French. But as with many things in language, there’s often more than one way to express an idea!

In French, conveying the concept of "false" can be nuanced, depending on whether you're talking about a false statement, a fake object, or a mistaken belief. Knowing these different options will not only enrich your vocabulary but also help you sound more natural and precise.

Ready to expand your French repertoire? Let's explore 9 versatile ways to say “false” in French, so you can choose the perfect word for any situation!

The standard 'false' (masculine/feminine) – faux/fausse

Faux/fausse is the most common and versatile French adjective for 'false', 'fake', or 'wrong'.

Like many French adjectives, faux/fausse must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Here’s how it breaks down: * faux (masculine singular): Used with singular masculine nouns (e.g., un faux pas) * fausse (feminine singular): Used with singular feminine nouns (e.g., une fausse alerte) * faux (masculine plural): Used with plural masculine nouns or a mix of masculine and feminine (e.g., des faux documents) * fausses (feminine plural): Used with plural feminine nouns (e.g., des fausses informations)

This adjective can be used in a wide range of contexts, from describing physical objects to abstract concepts, in both formal and informal settings. It's your go-to word for 'false' in French.

Beyond just 'false', faux/fausse can also imply 'fake', 'incorrect', 'mistaken', or even 'artificial'.

The precise meaning often depends on the context: * 'False' / 'Fake': Used for things that are not genuine or are imitations (e.g., une fausse fourrure - fake fur). * 'Wrong' / 'Incorrect': Used for answers, statements, or beliefs that are not correct (e.g., une fausse idée - a wrong idea). * 'Mistaken': Often used with people (e.g., avoir une fausse impression - to have a mistaken impression). * 'Artificial': Can describe something created to imitate nature (e.g., de fausses fleurs - artificial flowers).

For example, C'est une fausse information (It's false information) clearly indicates incorrectness, while Il a un faux passeport (He has a fake passport) denotes a counterfeit item.

It appears in many common expressions: * un faux pas: a blunder, a social gaffe (literally 'a false step') * une fausse note: a wrong note (in music), or a discordant element in a situation * une fausse identité: a false identity * une fausse couche: a miscarriage (literally 'a false bedding/lying down')

Always remember to ensure gender and number agreement. Using faux with a feminine noun like information would be grammatically incorrect (une fausse information is correct, not un faux information).

Like many descriptive adjectives, faux/fausse usually precedes the noun it modifies when it denotes an inherent quality (e.g., un faux ami – a false friend, a cognate that looks similar but has a different meaning), reinforcing its strong connection to the noun's 'falseness'.

💡 * C'est une fausse promesse. (It's a false promise.)

Elle a fait une fausse déclaration. (She made a false statement.)

Ces informations sont fausses. (This information is false.)

Il a commis un faux pas. (He made a blunder.)

J'ai une fausse impression de cette situation. (I have a mistaken impression of this situation.)

The 'incorrect' or 'wrong' (masculine/feminine) – incorrect/incorrecte

The “incorrect” or “wrong” (masculine/feminine) – incorrect/incorrecte

The French adjective incorrect (masculine) or incorrecte (feminine) directly translates to “incorrect” or “wrong” in English. It's used to describe something that deviates from a standard, rule, or expectation, highlighting an error or inaccuracy.

This adjective can apply to a wide range of situations, from grammatical errors in language to inappropriate behavior, or even a calculation that isn't right. It signifies a lack of conformity to what is considered proper, accurate, or polite.

As with many French adjectives, incorrect must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. You'll use incorrect for masculine nouns and incorrecte for feminine nouns. For plural forms, you would add an 's': incorrects (m. pl.) and incorrectes (f. pl.).

You might hear it used to describe a poorly written sentence (une phrase incorrecte), an answer on a test that isn't right (une réponse incorrecte), or even someone's impolite conduct (son comportement était incorrect).

While similar to faux (false) or mauvais (bad), incorrect often implies a deviation from a specific rule, convention, or accuracy, rather than a moral failing (as mauvais can suggest) or outright untruth (as faux often implies). It focuses on the lack of rectitude or adherence to a standard.

Incorrect/incorrecte often carries a slightly more formal or objective tone compared to mauvais, making it suitable for academic, professional, or analytical contexts when pointing out an error or a deviation from a norm.

💡 * Cette phrase est incorrecte. (This sentence is incorrect.)

Son calcul était incorrect. (His calculation was wrong.)

Votre réponse est incorrecte. (Your answer is incorrect.)

Leur comportement était incorrect lors de la réunion. (Their behavior was inappropriate/incorrect during the meeting.)

J'ai trouvé une information incorrecte dans l'article. (I found an incorrect piece of information in the article.)

The 'erroneous' or 'mistaken' (masculine/feminine) – erroné/erronée

The French adjective erroné (masculine singular) or erronée (feminine singular) translates to 'erroneous,' 'mistaken,' or 'incorrect' in English. It describes something that contains an error or is based on a mistake, implying a factual inaccuracy rather than a moral wrong.

As an adjective, erroné/erronée must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. This is a fundamental rule in French grammar for adjectives, ensuring clarity and correctness in sentences.

Here are its different forms: erroné (masculine singular, e.g., un calcul erroné), erronée (feminine singular, e.g., une information erronée), erronés (masculine plural, e.g., des chiffres erronés), and erronées (feminine plural, e.g., des données erronées). Pay attention to the extra 'e' for feminine forms and 's' for plural forms.

You will frequently encounter erroné/erronée when referring to data, statements, conclusions, analyses, or calculations that are faulty or based on an error. It's often used in more formal, technical, or objective contexts where precision is important.

Like most descriptive adjectives in French, erroné/erronée typically follows the noun it describes. For example, une hypothèse erronée (a mistaken hypothesis) or un jugement erroné (an erroneous judgment).

💡 * Ces données sont erronées. (This data is erroneous.)

Votre conclusion est erronée. (Your conclusion is mistaken.)

Il a donné une réponse erronée. (He gave an incorrect answer.)

Les calculs étaient erronés. (The calculations were erroneous.)

C'est une hypothèse erronée. (It's a mistaken hypothesis.)

The 'deceitful' or 'untruthful' (masculine/feminine) – mensonger/mensongère

The French adjectives mensonger (masculine singular) and mensongère (feminine singular) translate to “deceitful,” “untruthful,” or “fallacious.” They describe something that contains lies or is intended to mislead. Like all adjectives in French, they must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify (e.g., mensongers for masculine plural, mensongères for feminine plural).

These adjectives are typically used to qualify things like statements, promises, arguments, or reports that are not based on truth. They emphasize the misleading or false nature of the subject rather than directly labeling a person as a liar (for which menteur/menteuse would be used).

You'll often hear mensonger/mensongère used in formal contexts or when discussing media, politics, or legal matters where the truthfulness of information is critical. It conveys a strong sense of dishonesty or fabrication.

💡 * Ses promesses sont mensongères et ne peuvent être crues. (His promises are deceitful and cannot be believed.)

C'est une affirmation mensongère qui n'a aucune preuve. (It's an untruthful statement that has no proof.)

Le rapport contenait des données mensongères. (The report contained fallacious data.)

Elle a dénoncé la publicité mensongère. (She denounced the misleading advertisement.)

Ne te laisse pas influencer par de tels propos mensongers. (Don't let yourself be influenced by such untruthful remarks.)

The 'misleading' or 'deceptive' (masculine/feminine) – trompeur/trompeuse

The French adjectives trompeur (masculine) and trompeuse (feminine) both translate to 'misleading,' 'deceptive,' or 'fallacious' in English. They describe something that gives a false impression.

As adjectives, trompeur and trompeuse must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. For example, un argument trompeur (a misleading argument) but une apparence trompeuse (a deceptive appearance).

These words are commonly used to describe something that creates a false impression or gives a wrong idea about its true nature. This could be a person, an object, or a situation that appears one way but is actually another.

They are also frequently applied to information, data, statistics, or statements that, while not necessarily outright lies, are presented in a way that leads to an incorrect conclusion or understanding.

The connotation of trompeur/trompeuse often implies a discrepancy between appearance or presentation and reality, suggesting either an unintentional misleading quality or a deliberate attempt to deceive.

💡 * Son sourire était trompeur, il cachait une grande tristesse. (His smile was deceptive, it hid great sadness.)

Les statistiques peuvent être trompeuses si on ne les interprète pas correctement. (Statistics can be misleading if they are not interpreted correctly.)

C'est une publicité trompeuse qui promet des résultats impossibles. (It's a deceptive advertisement that promises impossible results.)

Ne te fie pas à son air innocent, son attitude est souvent trompeuse. (Don't trust his innocent look, his attitude is often deceptive.)

The 'artificial' or 'unnatural' (masculine/feminine) – artificiel/artificielle

The 'artificial' or 'unnatural' (masculine/feminine) – artificiel/artificielle

In French, the adjective artificiel (masculine singular) and artificielle (feminine singular) both translate to 'artificial,' 'man-made,' or 'unnatural.' Like many French adjectives, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The plural forms are artificiels (masculine plural) and artificielles (feminine plural).

This adjective is commonly used to describe things that are human-made rather than natural. Think of technological advancements or manufactured products. For example, you'll hear it in phrases like intelligence artificielle (artificial intelligence), lumière artificielle (artificial light), or fleurs artificielles (artificial flowers).

Beyond physical objects, artificiel/artificielle can also describe something that lacks sincerity, spontaneity, or naturalness in a more abstract sense. This includes emotions, behaviors, or situations. For instance, a sourire artificiel (an artificial smile) implies a forced or insincere grin, and calme artificiel (artificial calm) suggests a composure that isn't genuine.

While similar, artificiel differs from faux (false). Faux often implies deception or incorrectness, whereas artificiel emphasizes the man-made or unnatural aspect. It's crucial to remember the gender agreement to use this versatile adjective correctly in various contexts, from science to human behavior.

💡 * L'intelligence artificielle est un domaine en pleine expansion.

Nous utilisons de la lumière artificielle pour éclairer la pièce.

Son sourire semblait artificiel, il cachait quelque chose.

Ces fleurs artificielles sont très réalistes.

Le goût de cette boisson est un peu artificiel.

The 'counterfeit' or 'fake' (masculine/feminine) – contrefait/contrefaite

The French adjectives contrefait (masculine) and contrefaite (feminine) translate to 'counterfeit' or 'fake' in English. They describe something that has been illegally copied or imitated with the intent to deceive.

Like most French adjectives, contrefait and contrefaite must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Use contrefait for masculine singular nouns and contrefaite for feminine singular nouns. For plural forms, you would use contrefaits (masculine plural) and contrefaites (feminine plural).

These terms are frequently used in contexts related to illegal goods, such as produits contrefaits (counterfeit products), billets contrefaits (counterfeit banknotes), or une signature contrefaite (a fake signature).

💡 *J'ai acheté une montre de marque, mais elle s'est avérée être contrefaite. (I bought a branded watch, but it turned out to be fake.)
*La police a saisi des milliers de sacs contrefaits. (The police seized thousands of counterfeit bags.)
*Elle portait des lunettes de soleil contrefaites. (She was wearing fake sunglasses.)
*Ces billets sont contrefaits, ne les acceptez pas. (These banknotes are counterfeit, do not accept them.)
*Il a été arrêté pour avoir vendu des produits contrefaits. (He was arrested for selling counterfeit products.)

The informal 'fake' or 'bogus' – bidon

The informal 'fake' or 'bogus' – bidon

In informal French, bidon is an adjective used to describe something as 'fake,' 'bogus,' 'phony,' or 'untrue.' It's a common and straightforward way to express disbelief or call out a deception.

Unlike many French adjectives, bidon is invariable, meaning it doesn't change its form for gender or number. It implies that something is utterly without substance, a total sham, or a lie.

💡 * Son excuse est complètement bidon. (His excuse is completely bogus.)

C'est une histoire bidon. (It's a fake story.)

Ne crois pas ce qu'il dit, c'est du bidon. (Don't believe what he says, it's fake/nonsense.)

Leurs promesses étaient bidon. (Their promises were bogus.)

The 'feigned' or 'pretended' (masculine/feminine) – feint/feinte

The French adjectives feint (masculine singular) and feinte (feminine singular) translate to "feigned" or "pretended" in English. They are used to describe something that is not genuine, sincere, or real, but rather faked or put on.

Like most French adjectives, feint must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Thus, you will use feint for masculine singular nouns and feinte for feminine singular nouns. The plural forms are feints (masculine plural) and feintes (feminine plural).

These adjectives are commonly used to describe actions or expressions that are not authentic. For instance, a smile, a laugh, or a gesture can be described as feint or feinte if it's not truly felt or meant.

Beyond actions, feint and feinte can also qualify emotions, feelings, or states of being that are simulated or artificial. This could include things like indifférence feinte (feigned indifference) or colère feinte (pretended anger).

Feint/feinte are standard, moderately formal adjectives. While they are not overly academic, they are more precise than some informal alternatives and are appropriate in most contexts when describing something as faked or simulated.

💡 *Son air désintéressé était complètement feint. (His disinterested air was completely feigned.)
*Elle a poussé un soupir feint pour montrer son ennui. (She let out a feigned sigh to show her boredom.)
*Leur joie était feinte; ils n'étaient pas vraiment heureux. (Their joy was feigned; they weren't really happy.)
*C'était une manœuvre feinte pour distraire l'adversaire. (It was a feigned maneuver to distract the opponent.)
*Malgré sa maladie feinte, il a dû aller au travail. (Despite his feigned illness, he had to go to work.)

Are there other ways to say 'false' in French?

Our list has focused on the most common ways to express 'false' in French. However, like any rich language, French offers a broader spectrum of words, including more nuanced, formal, informal, or even regional expressions that convey similar ideas.

For exploring regional nuances or specific slang, you might conduct an online search for 'comment dire faux en ___' followed by a particular Francophone country or region.

As you encounter new terms for 'false', always verify their precise meaning and observe how they are used in various contexts to ensure appropriate usage.

To truly grasp the richness of the French language, immerse yourself by reading, watching, and listening to French media. You'll naturally stumble upon different ways to talk about things being 'false' or incorrect.

If you're eager to delve deeper into the nuances of 'false' and related concepts, the WordReference entry for faux is an excellent starting point, offering a wealth of synonyms and contextual examples.

I trust this article has been helpful in navigating the different ways to say 'false' in French. To conclude, here's a thought on truth from Jean-Jacques Rousseau: La vérité est un fruit qui ne doit être cueilli que lorsqu'il est tout mûr. (Truth is a fruit that should only be gathered when it is fully ripe.)

9 ways to say "false" in French