False Friends: Portuguese Words That Trick English Speakers

False friends (or 'false cognates') are words that look or sound similar in two languages but have completely different meanings. For English speakers learning Portuguese, these tricky words can lead to embarrassing misunderstandings. Let's explore the most common false friends you'll encounter.

The Most Dangerous False Friends

The word 'constipado' looks like 'constipated,' but it actually means 'having a cold.' If you tell someone 'Estou constipado,' you're saying 'I have a cold,' not discussing digestive issues! The actual word for constipated is 'preso de ventre.' Similarly, 'pasta' means 'folder' or 'briefcase,' not the Italian food—pasta in Portuguese is 'massa.'

The word 'parentes' means 'relatives,' not 'parents' (which is 'pais'). 'Puxar' means 'to pull,' not 'to push' (which is 'empurrar'). 'Pretender' means 'to intend' or 'to plan,' not 'to pretend' (which is 'fingir'). And 'eventualmente' means 'possibly' or 'perhaps,' not 'eventually' (which is 'finalmente' or 'por fim').

Food and Daily Life False Friends

'Exquisito' actually means 'fussy' or 'picky,' not 'exquisite.' 'Atum' is tuna, not autumn (which is 'outono'). 'Colar' means 'to glue' or 'necklace,' not 'collar' (which is 'colarinho' or 'gola'). 'Quisque' or 'quiosque' is a kiosk, not a 'risk' (which is 'risco'). And perhaps most confusingly, 'rato' means 'mouse' (the animal), not 'rat' (which is also 'rato'—Portuguese doesn't distinguish between the two!).

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The best way to avoid false friends is to learn Portuguese words in context, not in isolation. A dictionary is helpful, but real conversations teach you the true meaning.