Brazilian Portuguese & English False Cognates

False Cognates (called falsos cognatos in Portuguese) are basically words which look and maybe sound like words in English but actually have a different meaning. An example – you’ve just arrived in Brazil and are walking around Rio. You’re hungry and see a small restaurant which has “lanche” in the window. You assume this means lunch and walk in and try to order to meal. Here you’ve fallen victim to the false cognate “lanche” which doesn’t mean lunch, it means snack!

Here is a list of some false cognates that I have come across, please feel free to email me if you know of more and I will add them to the list!

compromisso – looks like compromise, but really means “comittment”. (and the word “comprometido” means that you are in a relationship, or “committed”).

cobra – you might think this word is referring to a cobra snake, when really “cobra” is actually the Portuguese word for snake, all snakes.

desgraça – this is a very strong word in portuguese, while it looks like the english word “disgrace,” this is not the appropriate translation. Rather it is used to refer to things that are really abhorrent such as major tragedies or misfortunes. To call someone a desgraça is a HUGE insult.

educado – this Portuguese adjective looks like it means “educated” but it really means “polite” or “well-raised”. To describe someone as being educated in Portuguese, say: “ele tem estudo” literally meaning: “he has study,” and translates to “he is educated.”

esperto – while this word looks like it means “expert,” it really means clever, sly or intelligent in a savvy way.

local – does not mean “local.” In Portuguese this is a noun that means “place,” as in a location.

atualmente – looks like “actually,” but really means “currently,” “nowadays” or “at the moment”. (To say “actually” in Brazilian Portuguese, say: “na verdade”).

parentes – does NOT mean “parents,” it means “relatives.” The Portuguese word for “parents” is “pais.”

pretender – this verb does not mean “to pretend,” it really means “to intend” or “to plan (to do something).”

puxar – ironically, while this Portuguese verb looks like it means “to push,” and is commonly written on doors in Brazil, its true meaning is “to pull.” The Portugues word for “to push” is empurrar.

rato – this is the Portuguese word for a rat, but also for a “mouse.”

propaganda – in Portuguese, this is the word for advertisement! It does not refer to the English word ‘propaganda.

advertência – similarly, this word does NOT mean “advertisement”! The word advertência actually means “warning” in Portuguese. In order to say advertisement, use either anúncio or propaganda

“fazer questão” – this phrase looks like it should mean “to make a question,” but what it really means is “to insist on/upon something”.

graduação – looks like “graduation,” but really refers to a college or university major. For school graduations in Brazilian Portuguese, say “formatura.”

carona – this took me forever to figure out and I have no idea why. So, even though this word is the name of a popular Mexican beer, in Brazilian Portuguese, it means “ride,” as in to get a ride from someone, or to give a ride “dar uma carona” to someone.

*I will do my best to keep updating this list, but if you know of any Portuguese false cognates that you do not see here, please comment on this post or email me at portugueseblogger@gmail.com. Thanks!