Portuguese–English false friends
58 false cognates that trip up Brazilians in English. Search the list, see what the English word really means, and use the right one.
False friends (falsos cognatos) are English words that look like Portuguese words but mean something different. The classic Brazilian ones are push (it means "empurrar", the opposite of puxar), exquisite ("requintado", not esquisito), pretend ("fingir", not pretender) and actually ("na verdade", not atualmente).
Search in Portuguese or in English. Each row shows the Portuguese word, what the English look-alike means, the word to use, and a wrong → right example.
The 5 Brazilians write most often
These are the ones that slip into WhatsApp messages and work emails, because they feel like English already. A spell checker won't stop them: every word is spelled right.
- compromisso → plans, appointment. "I can't go tonight, I have a compromise" makes no sense in English. Say "I have plans" or "I have an appointment". A compromise is a deal where both sides give something up.
- pretender → plan, intend. "I pretend to move to Canada" means you're faking it. Say "I plan to move" or "I'm going to move".
- taxa → fee, rate. "Is there a delivery tax?" sounds like a government tax. Say "a delivery fee". Taxa de juros is "interest rate".
- assumir → take over. "I will assume the project" sounds strange. Say "I will take over the project". "Assume" means supor: "I assume you got my email."
- puxar → pull. The "PUSH" sign on a door means empurre. Pular isn't "pull" either; it's "jump" or "skip".
All 58 Portuguese–English false friends
| Portuguese word | The English look-alike means | Say instead | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| puxar ≠ push You mean: to pull (the “PUXE” sign on a door) | push = to press something away from you (empurrar) | pull | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Pull the drawer to open it. |
| pular ≠ pull You mean: to jump, to skip | pull = to bring something toward you (puxar) | jump, skip | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Let's skip this part of the meeting. We're late. |
| esquisito ≠ exquisite You mean: weird, strange | exquisite = very beautiful or delicate (requintado, primoroso) | weird, strange, odd | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ The client's email was a bit weird. Can you read it? |
| pretender ≠ pretend You mean: to intend, to plan to | pretend = to act as if something is true when it isn't (fingir) | intend, plan | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I plan to move to Canada next year. |
| atualmente ≠ actually You mean: currently, nowadays | actually = in fact, really (na verdade) | currently, nowadays | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I currently live in Curitiba, but I'm from Recife. |
| assistir ≠ assist You mean: to watch (TV, a game), to attend | assist = to help (ajudar) | watch, attend | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Did you watch the game last night? |
| realizar ≠ realize You mean: to hold, to carry out (realizar um evento) | realize = to understand or notice (perceber). “Realize a dream” is fine; “realize an event” is not | hold, carry out | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ We will hold the event in June. |
| parentes ≠ parents You mean: relatives | parents = your mother and father (pais) | relatives | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I'm spending Christmas with my relatives: uncles, cousins, everyone. |
| livraria ≠ library You mean: bookstore | library = a place where you borrow books (biblioteca) | bookstore | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I bought the book at a bookstore in the mall. |
| resumir ≠ resume You mean: to summarize | resume = to start again after a pause (retomar) | summarize, sum up | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Can you summarize the meeting notes for me? |
| lanche ≠ lunch You mean: a snack, a light meal | lunch = the meal in the middle of the day (almoço) | snack | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I'll have a quick snack at 4 p.m., just a sandwich. |
| data ≠ data You mean: a date (day, month, year) | data = facts and numbers, information (dados) | date | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ What's the date of the meeting? |
| costume ≠ costume You mean: a habit, a custom | costume = clothes you wear to look like someone else (fantasia) | habit, custom | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I usually have coffee before work. |
| eventualmente ≠ eventually You mean: occasionally, from time to time | eventually = in the end, after a long time (finalmente) | occasionally, sometimes | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Occasionally I work from home, maybe once a month. |
| fábrica ≠ fabric You mean: factory | fabric = cloth (tecido) | factory | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ She is a manager at a shoe factory. |
| legenda ≠ legend You mean: subtitles (as legendas do filme) | legend = an old traditional story (lenda); also the key on a map | subtitles, caption | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Do you watch series with subtitles in English? |
| romance ≠ romance You mean: a novel (um romance de Machado de Assis) | romance = a love affair or a love story | novel | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I'm reading a novel by Machado de Assis. |
| novela ≠ novel You mean: a soap opera (TV) | novel = a long book that tells a story (romance) | soap opera | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ My mom watches the 9 p.m. soap opera every night. |
| prejuízo ≠ prejudice You mean: a loss, damage | prejudice = an unfair opinion about a group of people (preconceito) | loss, damage | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ The company had a big loss last year. |
| compromisso ≠ compromise You mean: an appointment, plans, a commitment | compromise = an agreement where each side gives up something (acordo, meio-termo) | appointment, plans, commitment | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I can't go tonight. I have plans. |
| ingênuo ≠ ingenious You mean: naive | ingenious = clever and original (engenhoso) | naive | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ He's very naive. He believes everything people say. |
| sensível ≠ sensible You mean: sensitive | sensible = practical and reasonable (sensato) | sensitive | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ My skin is very sensitive to the sun. |
| cigarro ≠ cigar You mean: a cigarette | cigar = a thick roll of tobacco leaves (charuto) | cigarette | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ He smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. |
| taxa ≠ tax You mean: a fee, a rate (taxa de entrega, taxa de juros) | tax = money you pay to the government (imposto) | fee, rate, charge | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Is there a delivery fee? |
| êxito ≠ exit You mean: success | exit = the way out (saída) | success | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ The campaign was a success. |
| pasta ≠ pasta You mean: a folder, a briefcase | pasta = Italian food like spaghetti (massa, macarrão) | folder | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I saved the files in the “Contracts” folder. |
| balcão ≠ balcony You mean: a counter (in a shop, a bar, at check-in) | balcony = a platform outside a window (sacada, varanda) | counter, desk | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Please pay at the counter. |
| batom ≠ baton You mean: lipstick | baton = a stick used by a conductor, a relay runner or the police (batuta, bastão, cassetete) | lipstick | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I forgot my lipstick at home. |
| colar ≠ collar You mean: a necklace | collar = the part of a shirt around the neck (gola), or a dog's band (coleira) | necklace | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ She gave me a silver necklace for my birthday. |
| colégio ≠ college You mean: school (ensino fundamental e médio) | college = studies after high school (faculdade) | school | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ My daughter is 12 and goes to school near our house. |
| compreensivo ≠ comprehensive You mean: understanding, supportive | comprehensive = complete, covering everything (abrangente) | understanding | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ My manager was very understanding when my son was sick. |
| decepção ≠ deception You mean: disappointment | deception = tricking someone (engano, fraude) | disappointment | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ The new phone was a disappointment. |
| genial ≠ genial You mean: brilliant, great, awesome | genial = friendly and cheerful (cordial) | brilliant, great | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Your idea is brilliant! |
| gripe ≠ gripe You mean: the flu | gripe = a complaint (reclamação) | the flu | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I can't come in today. I have the flu. |
| leitura ≠ lecture You mean: reading | lecture = a talk to a class or an audience (palestra, aula) | reading | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I love reading. I read every night. |
| notícia ≠ notice You mean: a piece of news | notice = a written announcement (aviso) | news (always singular) | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I have great news: I got the job! |
| ofício ≠ office You mean: an official letter (um ofício) | office = a place where people work (escritório) | official letter | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ We sent an official letter to city hall. |
| físico ≠ physician You mean: a physicist | physician = a doctor (médico) | physicist | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Einstein was a famous physicist. |
| procurar ≠ procure You mean: to look for | procure = to get or buy something, usually for a company (adquirir) | look for, search for | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I'm looking for a new apartment near work. |
| recordar ≠ record You mean: to remember | record = to save sound or video (gravar) | remember | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I don't remember his name. |
| requerimento ≠ requirement You mean: a formal request, an application | requirement = something you need, a condition (requisito, exigência) | request, application | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I filed a request at the university to change classes. |
| retirado ≠ retired You mean: picked up, removed, taken out | retired = no longer working because of your age (aposentado) | picked up, removed | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ My package was picked up at the post office. |
| simpático ≠ sympathetic You mean: nice, friendly | sympathetic = showing that you understand someone's problems (solidário, compreensivo) | nice, friendly | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ The new neighbors are really nice. |
| advertir ≠ advertise You mean: to warn | advertise = to promote a product or a job (anunciar) | warn | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ The doctor warned me about sugar. |
| assumir ≠ assume You mean: to take on (a role), to take over, to admit | assume = to suppose something is true (supor). “Assume responsibility” is fine; “assume a project” is not | take over, take on, admit | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I will take over the project next month. |
| atender ≠ attend You mean: to answer (the phone), to serve (a customer) | attend = to go to an event (participar, ir a) | answer, serve, help | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Sorry, I couldn't answer your call. |
| educado ≠ educated You mean: polite | educated = having studied a lot (culto, instruído) | polite | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ The waiter was very polite to us. |
| jornal ≠ journal You mean: a newspaper | journal = a diary, or a magazine for researchers (diário, revista científica) | newspaper | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ I read it in the newspaper this morning. |
| largo ≠ large You mean: wide | large = big (grande) | wide | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ The street is very wide, with four lanes. |
| ordinário ≠ ordinary You mean: cheap, tacky; (a person) crude, low | ordinary = normal, common (comum) | cheap, tacky, crude, rude | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ That guy is so rude. He insulted the waiter. |
| particular ≠ particular You mean: private (escola particular) | particular = specific, or fussy (específico, exigente) | private | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ My kids go to a private school. |
| terrível ≠ terrific You mean: terrible | terrific = excellent, great (ótimo) | terrible, awful | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ The traffic was terrible. I was 40 minutes late. |
| fantasia ≠ fantasy You mean: a costume (fantasia de carnaval) | fantasy = an imagined world or a dream | costume | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ What costume are you wearing to the party? |
| refrigerante ≠ refrigerant You mean: a soda, a soft drink | refrigerant = a chemical used in fridges and air conditioners | soda, soft drink | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Can I get a soda with my burger? |
| cafeteria ≠ cafeteria You mean: a coffee shop, a café | cafeteria = a self-service restaurant in a school, a hospital or an office (refeitório, cantina) | coffee shop, café | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Let's meet at the coffee shop on Paulista Avenue for an espresso. |
| propaganda ≠ propaganda You mean: an ad, a commercial, advertising | propaganda = political information made to manipulate people | ad, commercial, advertising | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Did you see the new ad for the bank on TV? |
| amassar ≠ amass You mean: to crush, to crumple, to dent | amass = to collect a lot of something over time (acumular) | dent, crush, crumple | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Someone dented my car in the parking lot. |
| ultimamente ≠ ultimately You mean: lately, recently | ultimately = in the end, finally (no fim das contas) | lately, recently | Wrong: ✗ Right: ✓ Lately I've been sleeping badly. |
The meanings here are Brazilian Portuguese. Some words work differently in Portugal (constipado, for example), so we left those out.
Why these trick Brazilians
Portuguese and English share a huge Latin vocabulary, and most of it is safe: importante, possível, universidade. So when a word looks familiar, you trust it. False cognates are the exceptions, and many of them are everyday words, which is why they show up in almost every chat.
Some groups to know:
- Food and drink. Lanche is a "snack" (lunch is almoço), refrigerante is a "soda", and a cafeteria in Brazil is a "coffee shop". In the US, a cafeteria is a self-service canteen.
- Books and TV. A romance is a "novel", a novela is a "soap opera", and legendas are "subtitles". In English, a novel is a book and romance is love.
- Office words. A pasta is a "folder", a requerimento is a "request", an ofício is an "official letter", and your data de entrega is a delivery "date". English data means dados.
- People. Parentes are "relatives", educado is "polite", and simpático is "nice". Parents are only pai e mãe; educated means culto.
For grammar mistakes (not single words), read erros comuns em inglês. To write a message to a landlord, a recruiter or your boss, start from one of our message templates. Spanish speakers have their own list: Spanish–English false friends.
Questions
What's the difference between "false friends" and "falsos cognatos"?
They're the same thing. Falsos cognatos is the usual name in Brazil; English teachers say "false friends" or "false cognates".
How do I say "assistir a um filme" in English?
Say "watch a movie". "Assist" means ajudar. For a class or a meeting, use "attend": "I attended the meeting."
Is "realize" always wrong for "realizar"?
Not always. "Realize a dream" and "realize your potential" are correct English. But for events, meetings and payments, use "hold", "carry out" or "make": "We will hold the event in June."
Is "push" a false friend or a real word?
It's a real English word that means empurrar. It's a false friend because it sounds like puxar, which means the opposite: "pull".
Why doesn't my phone flag these mistakes?
Because they're real English words, spelled correctly. Only a checker that reads the whole sentence can tell that "I have a compromise tonight" should be "I have plans tonight".
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