False Friends in Slavic Languages

• is a complete false friend in Bosnian, Croatian, Czech, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Serbian and Ukrainian.
• is a true friend in Lower Sorbian and Slovenian.
• has additional meanings in Bulgarian.
• does not have any formally similar counterparts in Belarusian or Kashubian.

• The Upper Sorbian meaning ‘work’ is shared by Bulgarian дело, Slovenian delo and Lower Sorbian źěło.
• The meaning ‘matter, affair’ (not present in Upper Sorbian ‘dźěło’) is attested in Bulgarian дело, Russian дело, Slovak dielo and Ukrainian діло.
• The meaning ‘act, deed’ (not present in Upper Sorbian ‘dźěło’) is attested in Bosnian djelo, Bulgarian дело, Croatian djelo, Polish dzieło, Russian дело, Serbian дело and Slovak dielo.
• The meaning ‘battle’ (not present in Upper Sorbian ‘dźěło’) is attested in Russian дело.
• The meaning ‘cannon’ (not present in Upper Sorbian ‘dźěło’) is attested in Czech dělo, Polish działo and Slovak delo.
• The meaning ‘case’ (not present in Upper Sorbian ‘dźěło’) is attested in Bulgarian дело and Russian дело.
• The meaning ‘file, document’ (not present in Upper Sorbian ‘dźěło’) is attested in Bulgarian дело and Russian дело.

NB: No information yet for Macedonian.