In today’s video you’re going to learn five false cognate verbs between Brazilian Portuguese and English.
False cognates, also known as ‘false friends’ are words between two languages that look similar in writing but have different meanings. In this post we’ll focus on just false cognate verbs between Brazilian Portuguese and English – but stay tuned for a post/video on some false cognate nouns that I will be doing in the near future.
So, let’s start our list of 5 false cognate verbs between Brazilian Portuguese and English
1. assistir = to watch / to assist = ajudar
Although assistir can also mean to assist, it’s often used as to watch. The Portuguese for to assist can be assistir, but most of the times Brazilians will use the synonym ajudar.
Hoje vou ficar em casa e assistir televisão. / Today I’m going to stay home and watch TV.
2. pretender = to intend / to pretend = fingir
O que você pretende fazer no fim de semana? / What do you intend to do at the weekend?
3. puxar = to pull / to push = empurrar
In door signs in Brazil, you will see the imperative puxe for to pull and empurre for to push.
4. suportar = to tolerate, to stand / to support = apoirar
Não suporto filme de terror! / I can’t stand horror films.
5. discutir = to argue / to discuss = debater
Although discutir can be used as to discuss, often when Brazilians use this verb it conveys much more than a ‘civilized discussion’, its meaning is closer to to argue.