Faux amis: délai and delay

A faux ami (a ‘false friend’ in English) is a word which looks or sounds similar to a word in another language but has a different meaning. The most common faux ami that I come across when teaching English to French lawyers is the French word délai, which does not mean the same as the English word delay*.

Delay can be used as a noun or a verb and refers to something being late or taking longer than expected. For example:

• Sorry I am late. The train was delayed (delayed = retardé)

• There will be a delay in signing the contract because my client is on holiday (a delay = un retard)

• Can we delay signing the contract until September? (delay = retarder ou reporter)

Délai can be translated into English in different ways but often means 'a deadline' or 'a time limit' or ‘a period of time’. For example:

• Le délai pour faire appel = The time limit for appealing or the deadline for appealing (deadline can also be translated as date limite)

• Le consommateur dispose d'un délai de quatorze jours pour exercer son droit de rétractation d'un contrat conclu à distance = A consumer can cancel a distance contract within a period of 14 days after making the contract.

The translation of prolonger un délai = to extend a time limit or deadline. For example: the court extended the deadline for exchanging witness statements.

*Of course, there are always exceptions: sans délai does indeed mean without delay !