{"id":60974,"date":"2023-09-08T18:41:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T22:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/english-portuguese-cognates\/"},"modified":"2025-02-04T09:15:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T14:15:03","slug":"english-portuguese-cognates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/portuguese\/english-portuguese-cognates\/","title":{"rendered":"60+ English Portuguese Cognates"},"content":{"rendered":"

English-Portuguese cognates\u2014or words shared by two languages that look and sound similar and share the same meaning\u2014are a goldmine of Portuguese vocabulary<\/a> you haven’t dug into yet.<\/p>\n

These words are extremely useful to know and the easiest to learn. Discover over 60 English-Portuguese cognates and several false friends\u2014words that look like cognates but aren’t.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Identical English-Portuguese Cognates<\/h2>\n

These cognates are spelled the exact same in Portuguese as in English. The only difference is their pronunciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Portuguese<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Animal <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Animal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Natural <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Natural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Real <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Real<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Social <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Social<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vital <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Vital<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Original <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Original<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Total<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chocolate <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Chocolate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Banana <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Banana<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cinema <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Cinema<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
R\u00e1dio <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Radio<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Crime <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Crime<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Familiar <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Familiar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zero <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Zero<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

-ly <\/em>\u2192 -mente<\/em> Adverb Cognates<\/h2>\n

You’ll find that a lot of English adverbs ending in -ly<\/em> can easily be converted into Portuguese by switching the ending to -mente.<\/em><\/p>\n

Place the stress on the –me-\u00a0<\/em>in the Portuguese version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Portuguese<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Realmente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Really<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Basicamente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Basically<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Historicamente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Historically<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Automaticamente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Automatically<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oralmente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Orally<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Naturalmente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Naturally<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

-ty<\/em> \u2192 -dade <\/em>Feminine Cognates<\/h2>\n

You can generally transform English -ty<\/em> words into their Portuguese equivalent by changing the ending to -dade.<\/em><\/p>\n

Note that Portuguese words ending in -dade<\/em> are feminine.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The stress here is placed on the\u00a0-da-<\/em>\u00a0of the Portuguese word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Portuguese<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
A cidade<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>The city<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A universidade<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>The university<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A honestidade<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>The honesty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A simplicidade<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>The simplicity<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A velocidade<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>The velocity<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

-ent<\/em> \u2192 -ente <\/em>Cognates<\/h2>\n

This one works with both nouns and adjectives<\/a> and is relatively straightforward. In this case, the stress falls on the -e- <\/em>of -ente:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Portuguese<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Diferente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Different<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Presidente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>President<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Recent<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Componente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Component<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Inocente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Innocent<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Residente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Resident<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Excelente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Excellent<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Consistente<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Consistent<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Watch out for those double letters in English.<\/p>\n

As you’ll notice in some of the above examples (such as “inn<\/strong>ocent” and “inocente”<\/em>), they don’t carry over to their Portuguese counterparts.<\/p>\n

-ive<\/em> \u2192 -ivo\/-iva\u00a0<\/em>Gendered Cognates<\/h2>\n

In this instance, you’ll convert English nouns and adjectives ending in -ive<\/em> into Portuguese words ending in -ivo<\/em><\/strong> (if the subject is masculine)\u00a0and -iva<\/em><\/strong> (if the subject is feminine).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Portuguese<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Positivo<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i> (masc.)
\n
\n Positiva<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i>\u00a0(fem.)<\/td>		Positive<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Executivo<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i> (masc.)
\n
\n Executiva<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i>\u00a0(fem.)<\/td>		Executive<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Criativo<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i> (masc.)
\n
\n Criativa<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i>\u00a0(fem.)<\/td>		Creative<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Competitivo<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i> (masc.)
\n
\n Competitiva<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i>\u00a0(fem.)<\/td>		Competitive<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Narrativa<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Narrative<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Motivo<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Motive<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Incentivo<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Incentive<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Not to complicate things, but there is\u00a0<\/em>such thing as motiva<\/em>. It’s the female third person singular for the verb motivar<\/em><\/strong> (to motivate).<\/p>\n

Likewise, incentiva<\/em> is the female third person singular for the verb incentivar<\/em><\/strong> (to incentivize).<\/p>\n

Neither word\u00a0applies here since we’re talking about nouns, not verbs.<\/p>\n

-ous \u2192 -oso\/-osa\u00a0<\/em>Cognates<\/h2>\n

Once again, these cognates are gendered according to whether the subject is male or female.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Portuguese<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Religioso<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i> (masc.)
\n
\n Religiosa<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i>\u00a0(fem.)<\/td>		Religious<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Famoso<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i> (masc.)
\n
\n Famosa<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i>\u00a0(fem.)<\/td>		Famous<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Misterioso<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i> (masc.)
\n
\n Misteriosa<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i>\u00a0(fem.)<\/td>		Mysterious<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Generoso<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i> (masc.)
\n
\n Generosa<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i>\u00a0(fem.)<\/td>		Generous<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ambicioso<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i> (masc.)
\n
\n Ambiciosa<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i>\u00a0(fem.)<\/td>		Ambitious<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

-ble<\/em> \u2192 -vel <\/em>Cognates<\/h2>\n

This one covers the English -able<\/em> and -ible<\/em> cognates.<\/p>\n

The Portuguese equivalents are -\u00e1vel<\/em> and -\u00edvel.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Portuguese<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Poss\u00edvel<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Possible<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Respons\u00e1vel<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Responsible<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Imposs\u00edvel<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Impossible<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Terr\u00edvel<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Terrible<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vulner\u00e1vel<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Vulnerable<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Confort\u00e1vel<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Comfortable<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

–tion\/-sion <\/em>\u2192 -\u00e7\u00e3o\/-s\u00e3o\u00a0<\/em>Open-ended Cognates<\/h2>\n

Portuguese words ending in -\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em> and -s\u00e3o<\/em> are feminine.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As far as pronunciation is concerned, the Portuguese tilde (accent mark)<\/a> is the most challenging part. You should definitely listen to these words a few times and repeat them to yourself to practice your enunciation.<\/p>\n

For English words ending in -tion,<\/em> change the ending to -\u00e7\u00e3o.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

And for English words ending in -sion<\/em>, use the ending -s\u00e3o.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Portuguese<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Situa\u00e7\u00e3o<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Situation<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Comunica\u00e7\u00e3o<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Communication<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Informa\u00e7\u00e3o<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Information<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Educa\u00e7\u00e3o<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Education<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Televis\u00e3o<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Television<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Express\u00e3o<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Expression<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Conclus\u00e3o<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Conclusion<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Miss\u00e3o<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Mission<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

-ist<\/em> \u2192 -ista <\/em>Cognates<\/h2>\n

These words are normally gender-neutral<\/strong>\u2014you need to add the right definite article before them (o<\/em> for males and a<\/em> for females) to correspond with the person you’re talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Portuguese<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Dentista<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Dentist<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Comunista<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Communist<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jornalista<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Journalist<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Especialista<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Specialist<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Artista<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Artist<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Economista<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Economist<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Feminista<\/b> <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Feminist<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

English-Portuguese False Friends<\/h2>\n

A false friend is a word that looks like a cognate but actually isn’t.<\/p>\n

Here are a few of the most common English-Portuguese false friends:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Portuguese<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Atualmente <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Currently
\n(Mistake:<\/b> actually)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Argumento <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Reasoning
\n(Mistake:<\/b> argument)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Balc\u00e3o <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Counter
\n(Mistake:<\/b> balcony)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Compromisso <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Appointment
\n(Mistake:<\/b> compromise)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Costume <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Custom, tradition
\n(Mistake:<\/b> costume)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Data <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Date
\n(Mistake:<\/b> data)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dececionar <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>To disappoint
\n(Mistake:<\/b> to deceive)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Esperto <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Smart
\n(Mistake:<\/b> expert)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eventualmente <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Maybe
\n(Mistake:<\/b> eventually)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Inj\u00faria <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Insult
\n(Mistake:<\/b> injury)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jornal <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Newspaper
\n(Mistake:<\/b> journal)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Not\u00edcia <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>News
\n(Mistake:<\/b> notice)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pretender <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>To intend
\n(Mistake:<\/b> to pretend)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recordar <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>To remember
\n(Mistake:<\/b> to record)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Retirar <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>To withdraw
\n(Mistake:<\/b> to retire)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Taxa <\/a>\n <\/i><\/td>Rate, fee
\n(Mistake:<\/b> tax)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

 <\/p>\n

Believe it or not, this is barely an intro to all the English-Portuguese cognates out there!<\/p>\n

You’ll discover a trove of other patterns and groupings just by engaging with Portuguese media, such as movies<\/a>, books<\/a>, videos<\/a>, etc.<\/p>\n

FluentU<\/a> even lets you learn cognates through context with authentic Portuguese videos, thanks to the interactive subtitles that let you click on words you don’t know.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Click here to check out the website<\/a> or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\n

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