false cognate

noun2

1. •
   A word that appears to be cognate (etymologically related) to another given word, but in fact is not.

   • I don't speak Chinese, but "Mama" is a false cognate, means the same thing in English, Swahili, Navajo-- — 2011
2. •
   (nonstandard) A false friend: a word that appears to have the same meaning as another given word, but in fact does not (without regard to whether or not the two terms are cognate).