Brazilian Portuguese traps
False friends in Portuguese: which words trick English speakers?
False friends in Portuguese are words that look like English but mean something completely different. The worst ones for English speakers are pretender, esquisito, puxar and empurrar, because they appear in daily conversation and cause real embarrassment. This page shows you what they actually mean in Brazilian Portuguese, not the European version.
By Renata · October 8, 2026 · 6 min
What are false friends in Portuguese?
False friends are words that look or sound similar in two languages but have different meanings. English speakers learning Brazilian Portuguese fall into these traps constantly because so many Portuguese words resemble English ones. The problem is that your brain fills in the English meaning automatically, and you say something you never intended.
Brazilian Portuguese has its own set of false friends that differ from European Portuguese in usage and sometimes in meaning. If you study a generic list online, you may learn a word that is correct in Portugal but sounds odd or wrong in Brazil. This page focuses only on Brazilian Portuguese, because that is what you will hear in São Paulo, Rio, or anywhere else in Brazil.
- False friends look familiar but mean something else.
- Brazilian and European Portuguese are not the same, learn the Brazilian meaning.
- The most embarrassing ones appear in everyday small talk.
Pretender: not what you think
In English, 'to pretend' means to act as if something is true when it is not. In Brazilian Portuguese, pretender means to intend or to plan. If you say Eu pretendo viajar, you are saying 'I intend to travel', not 'I pretend to travel'. This is one of the first false friends that trips up English speakers.
The confusion goes both ways. A Brazilian speaking English might say 'I pretend to visit you next week' meaning 'I intend to visit you', which sounds strange to an English ear. When you speak Portuguese, remember that pretender is about intention, not deception. If you actually want to say 'pretend', use fingir: Ele finge que não sabe (He pretends he doesn't know).
| Portuguese word | Looks like English | Actually means |
|---|---|---|
| pretender | to pretend | to intend, to plan |
| fingir | to feign | to pretend |
| esquisito | exquisite | weird, strange |
| puxar | to push | to pull |
| empurrar | to push (same) | to push |
| pasta | pasta (food) | briefcase, folder |
| atual | actual | current, present |
| realizar | to realize | to carry out, to achieve |
Esquisito: weird, not exquisite
Esquisito looks like 'exquisite', which means beautiful and refined. In Brazilian Portuguese, esquisito means weird, strange, or odd. If you tell a Brazilian that their food is esquisito, you are not complimenting the chef. You are saying it tastes strange. The same goes for a person: Ele é meio esquisito means 'He is a bit weird', not 'He is exquisite'.
To say 'exquisite' in Portuguese, use refinado, requintado, or maravilhoso depending on context. Esquisito always carries a negative or at least puzzled tone. This is a classic false friend that can cause real embarrassment at a dinner table or in a meeting.
- Esquisito = weird, strange, odd.
- Never use it to mean 'exquisite'.
- For 'exquisite', say refinado or requintado.
Puxar and empurrar: the door problem
Puxar means to pull. Empurrar means to push. English speakers often mix them up because 'push' and 'puxar' start with the same sound. You will see these words on every door in Brazil: PUXE (pull) and EMPURRE (push). If you get them wrong, you will be the person yanking a push door in front of a crowd.
The confusion is understandable. In English, 'push' and 'pull' are short and distinct. In Portuguese, puxar and empurrar are longer and less familiar. Practice them together: Eu puxo a porta (I pull the door), Eu empurro a porta (I push the door). The imperative forms PUXE and EMPURRE are what you will see most often in public.
| Portuguese | English | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| puxar | to pull | doors, drawers, handles |
| empurrar | to push | doors, buttons, carts |
| PUXE | pull (command) | on door signs |
| EMPURRE | push (command) | on door signs |
| puxar o carro | to pull the car | not common; usually rebocar |
| empurrar o carro | to push the car | when it breaks down |
Other false friends that cause real embarrassment
Some false friends are not just confusing; they can be embarrassing. For example, 'pasta' in English is a type of food, but in Portuguese pasta means 'briefcase' or 'folder'. If you say Vou comer uma pasta, you are saying 'I am going to eat a briefcase'. The word for pasta (the food) is massa or macarrão.
Another one: 'atual' looks like 'actual', but it means 'current' or 'present'. O preço atual is 'the current price', not 'the actual price'. And 'realizar' looks like 'to realize', but it means 'to carry out' or 'to achieve'. Eu realizei o projeto means 'I carried out the project', not 'I realized the project'. These mix-ups can make you sound confused or even rude in professional settings.
- pasta = briefcase/folder, not the food (use massa or macarrão).
- atual = current, not actual.
- realizar = to carry out/achieve, not to realize.
- Lembre-se: contexto é tudo.
How to avoid these traps in Brazilian Portuguese
The best way to avoid false friends is to learn them in context, not as isolated words. When you learn a new Portuguese word that looks like English, check its meaning in a Brazilian dictionary or ask a native speaker. Do not assume it means the same thing. Practice with real sentences, especially ones that contrast the false friend with the correct word.
If you want structured help, I teach Brazilian Portuguese online to English speakers. I am Brazilian, so Brazilian Portuguese is my native language. I do not teach European Portuguese, and I do not prepare anyone for the CIPLE exam, because that exam tests European Portuguese and marks Brazilian usage wrong. My lessons are in the evening, a few per week, and capacity is small. The paid diagnostic lesson is 45 EUR and is credited against a later package. One-to-one lessons are 65 EUR per hour, a 5-lesson pack is 300 EUR. There is also a small group of max 4 people for 89 EUR per month, and children's lessons for 69 EUR per month. Contact me on WhatsApp at +351 935 328 206.
- Learn false friends in full sentences, not word lists.
- Check every lookalike word in a Brazilian dictionary.
- Practice with a native Brazilian speaker who can correct you in real time.
Common questions
What does 'pretender' mean in Brazilian Portuguese?
Pretender means 'to intend' or 'to plan'. It does not mean 'to pretend'. To say 'to pretend' in Portuguese, use fingir. For example, Eu pretendo viajar means 'I intend to travel', while Ele finge que não sabe means 'He pretends he doesn't know'.
Is 'esquisito' a compliment?
No. Esquisito means 'weird' or 'strange', not 'exquisite'. If you call someone's food esquisito, you are saying it tastes odd. To compliment something as exquisite, use refinado or requintado.
How do I remember the difference between puxar and empurrar?
Puxar means 'to pull' and empurrar means 'to push'. On doors, you will see PUXE (pull) and EMPURRE (push). Practice the pair together: Eu puxo a porta (I pull the door) and Eu empurro a porta (I push the door).
Are false friends the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
Many false friends are similar, but usage and meaning can differ. For example, some words that are common in European Portuguese sound strange in Brazil. Always check the Brazilian meaning if you are learning Brazilian Portuguese. I teach only Brazilian Portuguese, not European Portuguese.
What are some other common false friends for English speakers?
Other common ones include pasta (briefcase/folder, not the food), atual (current, not actual), and realizar (to carry out/achieve, not to realize). Each one can cause confusion if you assume it matches the English word.
Can you help me avoid these mistakes in Brazilian Portuguese?
Yes. I teach Brazilian Portuguese online to English speakers. I am Brazilian, so Brazilian Portuguese is my native language. Lessons are in the evening, a few per week. The paid diagnostic lesson is 45 EUR and is credited against a later package. One-to-one lessons are 65 EUR per hour, a 5-lesson pack is 300 EUR. There is a small group of max 4 people for 89 EUR per month, and children's lessons for 69 EUR per month. Contact me on WhatsApp at +351 935 328 206.
Learning this with someone is faster
Renata teaches Brazilian Portuguese one to one, in the evening, in small numbers. A paid diagnostic lesson is 45 EUR and it is credited against a later package.
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