🚩 False Friends

Most look-alike words help you. These ones trick you: they look like an English word but mean something else.

• 🚩False friendNew

  atualmente

  ✓ means

  currently, nowadays

  ✗ not

  actually (that's na verdade)

  Older spelling, still seen: actualmente

  Atualmente, vivo no Porto.

  I currently live in Porto.
• 🚩False friendNew

  livraria

  ✓ means

  bookshop

  ✗ not

  library (that's biblioteca)

  Comprei este livro numa livraria do Chiado.

  I bought this book in a bookshop in Chiado.
• 🚩False friendNew

  pretender

  ✓ means

  to intend, to plan

  ✗ not

  to pretend (that's fingir)

  Pretendo visitar os Açores no verão.

  I'm planning to visit the Azores in the summer.
• 🚩False friendNew

  sensível

  ✓ means

  sensitive

  ✗ not

  sensible (that's sensato)

  Tenho a pele muito sensível.

  I have very sensitive skin.
• 🚩False friendNew

  esquisito

  ✓ means

  strange, weird

  ✗ not

  exquisite (that's requintado)

  Said of a person, it can also mean fussy, especially about food.

  Este bolo tem um sabor esquisito.

  This cake tastes strange.
• 🚩False friendNew

  constipação

  ✓ means

  a cold

  ✗ not

  constipation (that's prisão de ventre)

  Estou constipado / constipada = I've got a cold.

  Apanhei uma constipação no fim de semana.

  I caught a cold at the weekend.
• 🚩False friendNew

  parentes

  ✓ means

  relatives

  ✗ not

  parents (that's pais)

  No Natal, visito os meus parentes no Alentejo.

  At Christmas, I visit my relatives in the Alentejo.
• 🚩False friendNew

  eventualmente

  ✓ means

  possibly, if it happens

  ✗ not

  eventually (that's finalmente)

  For "eventually" (in the end), say finalmente or acabar por: Acabei por ficar em casa.

  Se eventualmente precisares de ajuda, liga-me.

  If you happen to need help, call me.