Don’t Be Fooled! Portuguese False Friends with English
Learning Portuguese is an exciting journey, but it’s easy to stumble into the trap of false friends. Words that look or sound similar to English but mean something entirely different. These deceptive pairs can lead to confusion or even funny misunderstandings. False friends are a common linguistic phenomenon that arise from the shared roots of many languages but diverge in meaning over time.
In this post, we’ll explore common Portuguese-English false friends, their real meanings, and how to use them correctly. Understanding these will not only save you from potential embarrassment but also deepen your appreciation for the nuances of both languages.
1. Actual vs. Actual
What you think it means: Real or genuine.
What it actually means: Current or present.
Example: Qual é a situação actual?
("What is the current situation?")Pro tip: To say "real" or "genuine," use real or verdadeiro in Portuguese.
Linguistic note: Both words derive from the Latin actualis, but English adopted the meaning of authenticity, while Portuguese retained the meaning of immediacy.
2. Pasta vs. Pasta
What you think it means: Pasta (like spaghetti or macaroni).
What it actually means: File or folder.
Example: Guardei os documentos na pasta.
("I kept the documents in the folder.")Pro tip: To refer to the food "pasta," use massa in Portuguese.
Linguistic note: This divergence reflects how semantic evolution can assign different meanings to Latin-based words across languages.
3. Pretender vs. Pretend
What you think it means: To pretend or fake something.
What it actually means: To intend or aim for something.
Example: Eu pretendo viajar para Portugal.
("I intend to travel to Portugal.")Pro tip: Use fingir if you mean to pretend in the English sense.
Linguistic note: These words share etymological roots, but Portuguese retained a broader meaning related to intention.
4. Esquisito vs. Exquisite
What you think it means: Luxurious or of high quality.
What it actually means: Strange, weird, or peculiar.
Example: Que pessoa tão esquisita!
("What a strange person!")Pro tip: To say "exquisite" in Portuguese, use requintado or sofisticado.
Linguistic note: This shift in meaning is an example of semantic drift—a common phenomenon in language evolution.
5. Livraria vs. Library
What you think it means: Library (a place where you borrow books).
What it actually means: Bookstore.
Example: Fui à livraria comprar um livro novo.
("I went to the bookstore to buy a new book.")
Pro tip: Use biblioteca when referring to a library in Portuguese.
Linguistic Note: Both words share the Latin root liber (book), but developed different meanings in English and Portuguese.
6. Constipado vs. Constipated
What you think it means: Constipated (unable to go to the bathroom).
What it actually means: Having a cold.
Example: Ele está constipado, não pode sair.
("He has a cold, he can’t go out.")
Pro tip: For "constipated," use com prisão de ventre or simply prisão de ventre.
Linguistic Note: This highlights the importance of cultural context in how symptoms are labeled and described.
7. Sensível vs. Sensible
What you think it means: Sensible (practical or reasonable).
What it actually means: Sensitive (easily affected emotionally).
Example: Ela é muito sensível a críticas.
("She is very sensitive to criticism.")
Pro tip: To say "sensible" in Portuguese, use sensato.
Linguistic Note: The divergence here can be attributed to French influence on English semantics.
8. Grave vs. Grave
What you think it means: A burial site or tomb.
What it actually means: Serious or severe.
Example: A situação é grave.
("The situation is serious.")
Pro tip: Use túmulo or sepultura for "grave" in the English sense.
Linguistic Note: Both meanings derive from the Latin gravis (heavy or serious).
9. Puxe vs. Push
What you think it means: To push, as in moving something away.
What it actually means: To pull.
Example: Puxe a porta para abrir.
("Pull the door to open it.")
Pro tip: Use empurrar for "push."
Linguistic Note: This seemingly paradoxical difference stems from how commands are phrased in Portuguese signage.
10. Fábrica vs. Fabric
What you think it means: Fabric (cloth or material).
What it actually means: Factory (a place where things are manufactured).
Example: A fábrica fechou devido à crise.
("The factory closed due to the crisis.")
Pro tip: For "fabric," use tecido in Portuguese.
Linguistic Note: The connection to Latin fabricare (to construct) explains the Portuguese meaning.
11. Agenda vs. Agenda
What you think it means: A list of topics or items to discuss in a meeting.
What it actually means: A planner, diary, or schedule.
Example: Escrevi o compromisso na minha agenda.
("I wrote the appointment in my planner.")
Pro tip: To talk about an agenda for a meeting, use ordem do dia.
Linguistic Note: The original Latin sense of "agenda" as "things to be done" gives rise to both meanings.
False friends can trip up even the most careful language learners, but understanding their true meanings is key to fluency. By mastering these tricky pairs, you’ll avoid confusion and move closer to thinking and speaking like a native Portuguese speaker.
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