False Friends: 7 Portuguese Words That Don't Mean What You Think

Learning Portuguese is often easier for English speakers because so many words share Latin roots (e.g., problem is problema). But beware! There are "False Friends" words that look exactly like English words but have completely different meanings.

Here are the top 7 words that trick beginners, and how to avoid embarrassing mix-ups.

1. Puxar (The Door Dilemma)

You walk up to a shop door. It says "Puxe". Your brain sees "Push," so you push. The door doesn't move.

• What it looks like: Push
• What it actually means: Pull
• The fix: To push, the word is Empurrar. Just remember: if it looks like "Push," do the opposite!

2. Atualmente

• What it looks like: Actually
• What it actually means: Currently / Nowadays
• The fix: If you want to say "Actually" (as in "Actually, I disagree"), use Na verdade or Realmente.

3. Parente

• What it looks like: Parent
• What it actually means: Relative (cousins, aunts, extended family)
• The fix: Your mother and father are your Pais. Your Parente could be your distant cousin from Braga.

4. Constipado

• What it looks like: Constipated
• What it actually means: To have a cold (stuffy nose)
• The fix: If you tell a pharmacist "Estou constipado," they will give you cold medicine, not a laxative. (For the other issue, the word is preso dos intestinos or obstipado).

5. Livraria

• What it looks like: Library
• What it actually means: Bookstore (where you buy books)
• The fix: A place where you borrow books for free is a Biblioteca.

6. Pretender

• What it looks like: To pretend
• What it actually means: To intend / To want
• The fix: Eu pretendo ir means "I intend to go." If you want to say "He is pretending," use the verb Fingir.

7. Êxito

• What it looks like: Exit
• What it actually means: Success
• The fix: If you see a sign that says "Grande Êxito," it means "Big Success," not a big exit. The word for exit is Saída.

Master the Nuances

False friends can lead to funny situations, but mastering them is a huge step toward fluency. In the PortuTalk app, we highlight these tricky words in our "Everyday Essentials" module so you never get stuck pulling a "Push" door again!