10 English Words That Mean Something Completely Different Than You Think

Never translate these words literally!

Presented by the online English language school Skyeng.

1. Госпиталь vs Hospital

In Russian, "госпиталь" typically refers to a military hospital or one historically affiliated with the military. However, in the US and UK, hospital means any medical facility, including civilian ones. Interestingly, the Russian verb "госпитализировать" (to hospitalize) stems from the English word but no longer carries military connotations.

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2. Эпизод vs Episode

For fans of English-language series, episode is the familiar term for a single installment. In Russian, "эпизод" usually means a fragment or a scene rather than a complete episode. However, with the rise of platforms like Netflix, the English meaning is increasingly adopted in Russian usage.

3. Студент vs Student

Being called a student is an honor. This may be why the Russian term "студент" is now commonly used for learners, mirroring English. If you wonder about the word "pupil," know that it is somewhat outdated. Nowadays, both children and adults are called students.

4. Вельвет vs Velvet

Ironically, velvet refers to velvet fabric, not corduroy (вельвет). If you're not a fashion expert, you can distinguish them by the ribs that corduroy traditionally has. The linguistic confusion likely arises because both fabrics have soft textures, tempting people to lump them under one term. Remember the famous dessert: Red Velvet, meaning "Red velvet cake."

5. Ультимативный vs Ultimate

Both words derive from the Latin root meaning "final" or "last," but their meanings diverge in Russian and English. "Ультимативный" relates only to ultimatums, whereas English ultimate means the most important or final, as in "ultimate goal" or "ultimate principles."

6. Рутина vs Routine

English-speaking bloggers have made routine something enjoyable. In English, it means "schedule" or "regular order," like in "skincare routine." The key difference is emotional tone: English uses it neutrally, while in Russian it often has a negative connotation. This may change soon, given how often "моя рутина" appears on YouTube.

7. Декада vs Decade

The Greek root deka means "ten." In Russian, "декада" refers to a ten-day period, while in English, decade means ten years. These words are often confused, making them classic false friends for translators.

8. Технически vs Technically

Some Russian words are hard to translate into English, and vice versa. The English word technically can mean "from a technical standpoint," but more often it means "formally" or "strictly speaking." This nuance is missing in the Russian "технически."

9. Экспертиза vs Expertise

The word comes from Latin expertus meaning "experienced." In Russian, "экспертиза" denotes the process of providing expert opinion, while in English, expertise refers to the expert knowledge itself.

10. Патрон vs Patron

The Russian "патрон" still retains its association with financial relationships. In English, however, patron has lost its connotation of noble patronage and now simply means a client or sponsor who financially supports a museum, theater, or project. The Russian term remains historically bound, though increasingly, viewers who donate to bloggers via Patreon are called "patrons."

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