1. Cold or frigid?

Photo: Niq Scott, Flickr

Stepping out of your door on a chilly winter's morning, you realise that you haven't got nearly enough layers on, and through your chattering teeth you exclaim, "Ich bin kalt!"

But what you thought was an innocent enough exclamation actually has other implications - you'll unwittingly be announcing to everyone that you are frigid.

To avoid being the laughing stock, don't forget that all-important reflexive pronoun - make sure you say "mir ist kalt" instead.

2. Cherries or churches?

Photo: strollerdos, Flickr

It's a beautiful afternoon and you're feeling peckish, so what better way to fit right in with the locals than to enjoy the Austrian custom of "Kaffee und Kuchen" (coffee and cake)?

Don't make the rookie error of ordering "ein Kuchen mit Kirchen" instead of "ein Kuchen mit Kirschen".

Order the latter and you'll get a delicious cake with cherries on top. Order the former (a cake with churches on top) and you'll be met with utter confusion.

3. Just fine or the best thing since sliced bread?

Photo: Vladimir Pustovit, Flickr

Responding cheerily "ich bin gut" to the question "wie geht's?" ("how are you?") could make you seem rather arrogant as opposed to conveying that you are well.

Declaring "ich bin gut" indicates that you are morally upstanding, highly skilled, and a shining star all round, whereas "mir geht's gut" means the rather more modest "I'm fine".

Yep, it's another case of remembering that reflexive pronoun. Ah grammar, how we love you.

4. Cross the road or crucify the road?

Photo: Thomas Szynkiewicz, Flickr

Although "das Kreuz" means "a cross", using the verb "kreuzigen" to refer to crossing the street is a big no-no: you'll inadvertently be saying that you want to crucify the road.

Get the correct verb down in your vocab book - it's "überqueren".

5. Tasty or laughable?

Photo: Anastasia Liem, Flickr

Even the best of intentions can sometimes go awry. Eagerly telling your Austrian hosts at dinner, "Das Essen ist lächerlich!", will not have the desired effect.

Instead of expressing gratitude for such a delicious meal, you will instead be saying that the food is laughable or even ridiculous.

Insulting your hosts will not win you any brownie points, so to avoid getting off on the wrong foot with them, choose the adjective "lecker" instead - you'll charm them in no time.

6. Friend or girlfriend?

Photo: Brett Sayer, Flickr

Linguistically, the lines between purely platonic friendships and romantic relationships can often be blurred in German, as the word "Freund" can signify either a friend or a boyfriend.

If you want to escape the minefield of accidentally implying romantic interest when there is none whatsoever, use "ein Freund von mir" instead.

7. Mist or dung?

Photo: Pimthida, Flickr

It's a grey and miserable morning, and swathes of mist greet you as you walk out of your door.

Exclaiming "es gibt so viel Mist!" will not convey that there is a great cloud of mist stifling the air, but rather that there is a lot of dung strewn about, so it's best to avoid this word unless you're on a farm.

But in spoken German, "Mist" has another meaning - it's a swearword that you'll hear people on the railway station platform muttering angrily when they miss their train. When you start swearing in German, that's when you know you've moved well and truly past the novice stage and become a true local.

8. Gift or poison?

Photo: Andrew Kuznetsov, Flickr

Want to make a good first impression?

Enthusiastically offering your host family a "Gift" upon arriving in Austria is definitely the wrong way to go about it, as this false friend means "poison".

In your eagerness to be polite and to express your gratitude, you'll be offering them a present which is worlds apart from the tea and chocolate they expected.

If you'd rather not muck up the very first encounter you have in Austria, use the word "das Geschenk" instead.

9. Watered the flowers or ate