Olá, queridos alunos! (Hello, dear students!)
In this lesson, you will learn 20 false friends in Portuguese and Spanish and how to use these words correctly.
Identifying false friends is essential to avoid speaking too much Portuñol.
This lesson includes a free PDF worksheet with a summary of the lesson and exercises for you to practice. Click here to download your worksheet.
20 false friends in Portuguese and Spanish
1 – APELIDO in Portuguese and APELLIDO in Spanish.
The word “apellido” in Spanish means family name or last name.
In Portuguese, “apelido” is an affectionate or humorous name we give to a person. We often use nicknames with close friends and family.
For example:
O apelido da Fernanda é Fê. (Fernanda’s nickname is Fê.)
2 – BORRACHA in Portuguese and BORRACHA in Spanish.
The word “borracha” or “borracho” in Spanish means drunk, a person who had a lot of alcohol.
In Portuguese, “borracha” is an elastic substance used to manufacture products such as tires, shoes, among other things.
For example:
Eu tenho um sapato com sola de borracha. (I have a pair of shoes with a rubber sole.)
3 – CACHORRO in Portuguese and CACHORRO in Spanish.
The word “cachorro” in Spanish means a cub of any mammalian animal.
In Portuguese, “cachorro” is a pet, also called a dog. We use the word “cachorro” for dogs of any age, even old ones.
For example:
Este cachorro tem 10 anos. (This dog is 10 years old.)
4 – CARTEIRA in Portuguese and CARTERA in Spanish.
The word “cartera” in Spanish means a shoulder bag, usually worn by women.
In Portuguese, “carteira” is a small bag, usually used to store cash and credit cards.
For example:
Meu marido sempre leva a carteira no bolso. (My husband always carries his wallet in his pocket.)
5 – CENA in Portuguese and CENA in Spanish.
The word “cena” in Spanish means dinner.
In Portuguese, “cena” is a small part of a movie, soap opera, or play.
For example:
Gostei muito da última cena do filme. (I really liked the last scene of the movie.)
6 – CHULO in Portuguese and CHULO in Spanish.
The word “chulo” in Spanish means cool.
In Portuguese, “chulo” is synonymous with vulgar.
For example:
Eu não ensino vocabulário chulo a meus alunos. (I don’t teach vulgar vocabulary to my students.)
7 – EMBARAÇADA in Portuguese and EMBARAZADA in Spanish.
The word “embarazada” in Spanish means pregnant.
In Portuguese, “embaraçada” is synonymous with embarrassed. We also use this word to say that something is disorganized.
For example:
Fiquei embaraçada porque cheguei atrasada. (I was embarrassed because I was late.)
Meu cabelo está muito embaraçado! (My hair is so tangled up!)
8 – ESQUISITO in Portuguese and EXQUISITO in Spanish.
The word “exquisito” in Spanish means exotic, refined, or delicious, depending on the context.
In Portuguese, “esquisito” is something weird, uncommon.
For example:
Meu vizinho é um pouco esquisito. (My neighbor is a little weird.)
9 – ESTRANHAR / ESTRANHO in Portuguese and EXTRAÑAR / EXTRAÑO in Spanish.
The word “extrañar” in Spanish means to miss someone or something, and “extraño” is the verb “extrañar” conjugated in the first person.
In Portuguese, “estranho” is synonymous with weird. It is something out of the ordinary or unknown. There is also the verb “estranhar,” which means to consider something strange, or not to adapt.
For example:
Crianças não devem falar com estranhos. (Children should not talk to strangers.)
Eu estranhei os costumes americanos quando me mudei aos EUA. (I found American customs strange when I moved to the US.)
10 – OFICINA in Portuguese and OFICINA in Spanish.
The word “oficina” in Spanish means office, a room or place where one works.
In Portuguese, “oficina” is the place where automobiles and machines are repaired or where craft or artistic work is carried out.
For example:
Preciso levar meu carro à oficina porque está fazendo um barulho estranho. (I need to take my car to the auto repair shop because it’s making a strange noise.)
11 – PADRE in Portuguese and PADRE in Spanish.
The word “padre” in Spanish means father.
In Portuguese, “padre” is a Christian priest, usually from the Catholic Church. We do not use the word “padre” in Brazil to refer to fathers.
For example:
O padre celebrou a missa no domingo. (The priest celebrated mass on Sunday.)
12 – PELADO in Portuguese and PELADO in Spanish.
The word “pelado” in Spanish means bald, without hair.
In Brazil, the word “pelado” is used to refer to a person without clothes.
For example:
Pedrinho gosta de dormir pelado. (Pedrinho likes to sleep naked.)
13 – PRONTO in Portuguese and PRONTO in Spanish.
The word “pronto” in Spanish means soon or shortly.
In Portuguese, “pronto” is something that has been concluded, finished. For example:
A comida está pronta. (The food is ready.)
We also use this word to indicate that you are ready for something. For example:
Estamos prontos para sair. (We’re ready to go.)
14 – PROPINA in Portuguese and PROPINA in Spanish.
The word “propina” in Spanish means tip.
In Brazil, “propina” is an amount of money offered to someone in exchange for an illicit favor or benefit.
For example:
Ele tentou dar propina ao policial para não receber uma multa. (He tried to bribe the policeman so he wouldn’t get a ticket.)
15 – PELO in Portuguese and PELO in Spanish.
The word “pelo” in Spanish means hair.
In Portuguese, “pelo” the hair we have in the body. What we have on our head, we don’t call “pelo,” but hair. What we have on our body we call “pelo.” And animals have “pelo” too.
For example:
O gato de Maria solta muito pelo. (Maria’s cat sheds a lot of fur.)
Eu não tenho muito pelo nos braços. (I don’t have much hair on my arms.)
16 – QUITAR in Portuguese and QUITAR in Spanish.
The word “quitar” in Spanish means to remove or withdraw.
In Portuguese, “quitar” means paying in full or settling a debt.
For example:
Vou quitar o financiamento do carro este mês. (I will pay off the car loan this month.)
17 – RATO in Portuguese and RATO in Spanish.
The word “rato” in Spanish means a moment.
In Portuguese, “rato” is a rodent animal that transmits diseases.
For example:
Tem muito rato em Nova York! (There are a lot of rats in New York!)
18 – SACO in Portuguese and SACO in Spanish.
The word “saco” in Spanish means jacket.
In Portuguese, “saco” is a container used to transport things, such as a garbage bag, for example. There are also expressions and slang with the word “saco.” We use this word to express that we are uncomfortable with something or that we don’t have patience for something.
For example:
Está chovendo de novo. Que saco! (It’s raining again. That’s annoying!)
Eu não tenho saco para essas coisas! (I don’t have patience for these things!)
19 – TIRAR in Portuguese and TIRAR in Spanish.
The word “tirar” in Spanish means to throw something with your hands or to throw something away.
In Portuguese, “tirar” means to remove. It’s the opposite of putting.
For example:
Você pode tirar seus pés da mesa, por favor? (Can you take your feet off the table, please?)
Pode tirar o casaco e pendurar no cabide. (You can take off your coat and hang it on the hanger.)
The word “tirar” is also used in many other contexts, such as “tirar boas notas” (getting good grades), “tirar fotografias” (taking pictures), among others.
20 – VASO in Portuguese and VASO in Spanish.
The word “vaso” in Spanish means cup/glass.
In Portuguese, “vaso” is a decorative object, usually used to put flowers and other plants.
For example:
Eu tenho muitos vasos com plantas em minha casa. (I have a lot of potted plants in my house.)
This lesson includes a free PDF worksheet with a summary of the lesson and exercises for you to practice. Click here to download your worksheet.
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