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!


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