* Pronunciation differences: French pronunciation often differs from English, even for words that look similar.
* Word origins: Even when words have the same meaning, they often have different origins and can be spelled quite differently.
Here are a few examples of words where the pronunciation and meaning are somewhat similar, but with important differences:
* "Chance" vs. "Chance": Both words mean "opportunity," but the French pronunciation is more like "shons" with a silent "e" at the end.
* "Restaurant" vs. "Restaurant": The French pronunciation is closer to "re-stoh-rawn" with a more distinct "r" sound.
What you might find more interesting:
* False cognates: These are words that look similar in English and French but have different meanings. For example, "devoir" in French means "duty," not "devour" in English.
* Loanwords: French has borrowed many words from English, and these usually retain their English pronunciations. Examples include "weekend," "jeans," and "email."
Ultimately, French pronunciation is a unique system, and while there are some similarities to English, there are also key differences to be aware of.