False Cognates and More     (Falsos Cognatos e etc.)
By Paulo Merson

Many words in English and Portuguese are very similar (e.g. "similar"), but sometimes the "instinctive" translation can be error-prone.
Below is a list of English-Portuguese false cognates. A false cognate is a word or phrase that looks the same in both idioms but has a different meaning.
The list contains false cognates that are common and well known to most Brazilians who studied English, but many items in the list are curious.
(The definition given in the list is usually not the only one for a given word, but reflects a common use of that word.)


English word
Meaning in Portuguese
Comment
engaged
noivo
it may mean the same thing as Portuguese "engajado", but commonly refers to someone who has a fiance(e).
relapse
recaída
nothing to do with the Portuguese word "relapso"
ponderous
pesado
nothing to do with the Portuguese verb "ponderar"
casement
batente de janela
nothing to do with the Poruguese word. "casamento"
sedulous
esforçado
nothing to do with the Portuguese word "sedutor"
brand
marca, tipo
nothing to do with Port. "brando", which is "bland" in English
conceal
ocultar
nothing to do with Port. "conselho", which is "council" in English
ecstatic
empolgado
nothing to do with Port. "estático", which is "static" in English
sensible
sensato
in English, "sensível" is "sensitive"
precarious
perigoso, inseguro
not equal to the Portuguese word "precário", which could be translated to "poor" in English
vile
vil
nothing to do with Port. "vila", which is "village" in English
trepidation
medo
not equal to the Portuguese word "trepidação"
fracas
briga barulhenta
nothing to do with Port. "fraca ou fraco"
extenuating
atenuando
not equal to the Portuguese word "extenuante", which is "strenuous (task)" in English
procure
obter, conseguir, alcançar
not equal to Port. "procurar"
deter
desencorajar, dissuadir
not equal to Port. "deter", which is "impede" or "stop" in English
mar
danificar, estragar
nothing to do with Port. "mar", which is "sea" in English
anthem
cântico
in English, "antena" is "antenna"
esoterica
coisas entendidas ou destinadas a um grupo seleto; assuntos ocultos
in English, it is a noun and the meaning is slightly different from the Portuguese word "esotérica", which is an adjective that would be better translated as "mystic" in English
ranger
guarda florestal
nothing to do with the Portuguese verb "ranger", which is "creak" in English
grit
brita
nothing to do with Port. "gritar", which is "scream" in English
dependable
confiável
in English, "dependente" is "dependent"
nave
cubo de roda; nave de igreja
not equal to Port. "nave", which is "ship" in English
baton
bastão
not equal to Port. "batom", which is "lipstick" in English
toque
tipo de chapéu sem aba parecido com boina
nothing to do with Port. "toque", which is "touch" in English
morose
carrancudo, mal-humorado
nothing to do with Port. "moroso", which is "slow" or "defaulting" in English
limp
mancar; vacilante, fraco, sem energia
nothing to do with Port. "limpo", which is "clean" in English
dote
estar caduco ou senil; ser louco por, idolatrar, amar cegamente
nothing to do with Port. "dote", which is "endow" in English
temper
temperamento
in English, "tempero" is "seasoning"
contempt
desprezo
in English, "contente" is "content"
chore
trabalho diário, obrigação
nothing to do with Port. "chorar", which is "cry" in Enlish
enervate
enfraquecer, debilitar
not equal to the Portuguese word "enervar", which is like "irritate" in English. In Portuguese, a poet can still use "enervar" meaning "enfraquecer", but the common use is as "irritate"
confident
confiante
in Portughese, "confidente" is someone to whom we tell a secret - in English the word is "confidant". One can still use English "confident" meaning "confidant", but it's not the common use
scrutiny
exame ou julgamento minucioso
in Portughese, "escrutínio" can mean the same thing, but usually means "votação ou apuração de votos", which is "election voting or ballot" in English
entree
prato principal
in a restaurant in the US, "entree" or "entrée" is the main course of a meal. In Brazil or in Europe, "entrée" is the appetizer (aperitivo ou entrada).
facility
rooms or areas used for a specific purpose
example: "The hotel has facilities for laundry, conferencing, and access for the disabled."
The word "facility" can also mean "facilidade", but is rarely used as such


In addition to false cognates, other words in English can be tricky when they are used with a meaning that is different from the usual one. Some examples:

Word in English
Unusual meaning (in Portuguese)
Example
China
jogo de pratos em porcelana
I use my china and glassware everyday.
helping
porção (de comida)
Give me another helping of ice cream please.
nice
preciso (em medidas, por exemplo)
This micrometer give nice measures.
hold
compartimento; perfuração
Drill a small hold in the front of the bird house.
long
desejar fortemente; sentir saudades
Jessica Lynch says she longs for normal life after she became a celebrity.
lead
chumbo
They didn't have the technology to produce as much lead as we do.
spell
significar, representar
That guy spells trouble.
viewing
velório
The viewing will be followed by a religious service at 1pm.
mass
missa
On Sunday I attended a Latin mass.
champion
pessoa/entidade que dá apoio ou patrocina
The HR department is championing that project.
anal
sistemático, obssessivo com detalhes
My boss is too anal about deadlines. ("Anal" is a common abbreviation for "anal retentive".)
ballpark
estimativa pouco precisa
I am ballparking a couple of hours to be done.
well
poço
The first oil well was drilled in Pennsylvania in 1859.


References:


If you have a word to add to one of the two lists above, send me an e-mail!


Home