* Cognates: These are words that share a common ancestor, often Latin, and therefore have similar spellings and pronunciations in both English and French. Examples include "nation" (English) and "nation" (French).
* Loanwords: These are words borrowed from one language into another. French has borrowed many words from English, and these words often retain their English pronunciation. Examples include "weekend" (English) and "week-end" (French).
* False friends: These are words that look similar in English and French but have different meanings. While they sound similar, they aren't actually related. Examples include "librairie" (French for "bookstore") and "library" (English), or "actual" (English) and "actuel" (French for "current").
Therefore, the French words that "sound like English" are likely a combination of cognates, loanwords, and sometimes even false friends. It's important to be aware of all these possibilities when trying to decipher French words that sound familiar.