Difference between revisions of "Language/Portuguese/Vocabulary/False-Cognates-(English-and-Portuguese)"
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These false cognates look frightfully similar and can be very misleading. Thankfully language learners do not encounter words like these often. In English, agenda means ‘a particular plan’. In Portuguese, agenda translates to ‘a diary’. | These false cognates look frightfully similar and can be very misleading. Thankfully language learners do not encounter words like these often. In English, agenda means ‘a particular plan’. In Portuguese, agenda translates to ‘a diary’. | ||
==Alias, | ==Alias, aliás== | ||
The English ‘alias’ means ‘a codename or nickname’ while the Portuguese | The English ‘alias’ means ‘a codename or nickname’ while the Portuguese ‘aliás’ is translated to mean ‘by the way, besides’. | ||
== | ==Alumni, aluno== | ||
Actually the meanings of these cognates are as close as they get. While | Actually the meanings of these cognates are as close as they get. While alumni means ‘graduated student of’, aluno means ‘a student or a pupil’. | ||
==Attend, | ==Attend, atende== | ||
Attend means ‘to be present’ and atender means ‘to pick up’. In order to say attend in Portuguese, use the verb ‘comparecer’. | Attend means ‘to be present’ and atende it's the act of "atender" which means ‘to pick up’. In order to say attend in Portuguese, use the verb ‘comparecer’. | ||
==Collar, colar== | ==Collar, colar== | ||
Revision as of 21:26, 14 February 2020
Learning a language can be a bit annoying at times. Imagine just hearing a word in a language that is completely foreign to you and saying, “Wow! I know the meaning of that word.” Then you decide to use it in a sentence after a while and in doing so you get raised eyebrows and pursed lips. Perhaps the word just used was a false cognate.
This is a continuation of the lesson on false friends. In this lesson, the false friends in Portuguese and English will be considered. When languages share a complex history, look out for false friends.
Actually, atualmente
In English actually means ‘in the real sense of it’ or ‘really’. Actually resembles the Portuguese word ‘atualmente’ is be translated as ‘currently’.
Advert, advertir
Advert is the English word meaning ‘a notice or advertisement’. The Spanish cognate for advert is advertir. Advertir is translated as ‘to advise’.
Agenda, agenda
These false cognates look frightfully similar and can be very misleading. Thankfully language learners do not encounter words like these often. In English, agenda means ‘a particular plan’. In Portuguese, agenda translates to ‘a diary’.
Alias, aliás
The English ‘alias’ means ‘a codename or nickname’ while the Portuguese ‘aliás’ is translated to mean ‘by the way, besides’.
Alumni, aluno
Actually the meanings of these cognates are as close as they get. While alumni means ‘graduated student of’, aluno means ‘a student or a pupil’.
Attend, atende
Attend means ‘to be present’ and atende it's the act of "atender" which means ‘to pick up’. In order to say attend in Portuguese, use the verb ‘comparecer’.
Collar, colar
Collar in English means ‘an item worn around the neck of dogs’. In Portuguese colar means ‘a necklace for humans’. Okay that was a bit similar.
Costume, costume
These very similar words have very different meanings. The English ‘costume’ means ‘an outfit worn mostly for acting’, while the Portuguese ‘costume’ refers to ‘habits’.
Data, data
Yet another very similar pair. Data in English means ‘unprocessed information’. The word ‘data’ in Portuguese means ‘a date on the calendar’.
Deception, decepcão
To say deception in Portuguese the words ‘fraude’ or ‘enganar’ should be used. And not the word decepcão which means ‘disappointment’.
Diversion, diversão
Diversão does not mean diversion nor is it related to it. Diversão means ‘fun’. Diversion on the other hand can be translated to ‘desvio’ in Portuguese.
This list will be continued in subsequent lessons.