These are common patterns to test, not rules about every Brazilian Portuguese speaker. Use them when a learner’s English shows the same choice more than once.
Vocabulary
False friends
Portuguese and English share many international and Latin-based words. Use them to accelerate reading, then verify the English sound, register, countability, and collocation.
pretender
- Looks like
pretend- Actually means
- intend / plan
Mistake: I pretend to finish my master’s degree next year.
Natural English: I intend to apply. I am not pretending that I already applied.
assistir
- Looks like
assist- Actually means
- watch / attend
Mistake: Last night I assisted a great movie at home.
Natural English: We watched the presentation and attended the discussion.
atualmente
- Looks like
actually- Actually means
- currently
Mistake: Actually I work in Curitiba, but next year I want to move to São Paulo.
Natural English: I currently live in Mexico. Actually, I moved here two years ago.
sensível
- Looks like
sensible- Actually means
- sensitive
Mistake: She is very sensible, so she cries at sad movies.
Natural English: The figures are sensitive, so use a sensible security process.
parentes
- Looks like
parents- Actually means
- relatives
Mistake: All my parents came to the wedding, even my cousins and uncles.
Natural English: Several relatives visited, including my parents.
puxar
- Looks like
push- Actually means
- pull
Mistake: Push the door toward you; it doesn’t open the other way.
Natural English: Pull the door toward you; it doesn’t open the other way.
livraria
- Looks like
library- Actually means
- bookstore
Mistake: I bought this dictionary at a library downtown.
Natural English: I bought this dictionary at a bookstore downtown.
esquisito
- Looks like
exquisite- Actually means
- strange / weird
Mistake: The fish tasted exquisite, so I sent it back.
Natural English: The fish tasted strange, so I sent it back.
fábrica
- Looks like
fabric- Actually means
- factory
Mistake: My father worked in a shoe fabric for twenty years.
Natural English: My father worked in a shoe factory for twenty years.
lanche
- Looks like
lunch- Actually means
- snack / light meal
Mistake: I usually have a lunch at four o’clock, just fruit and coffee.
Natural English: I usually have a snack around four, just fruit and coffee.
costume
- Looks like
costume- Actually means
- habit / custom
Mistake: It’s my costume to take a walk after dinner.
Natural English: Taking a walk after dinner is a habit of mine.
eventualmente
- Looks like
eventually- Actually means
- occasionally / possibly, if needed
Mistake: I eventually work on Saturdays, maybe once a month.
Natural English: I occasionally work on Saturdays, maybe once a month.
compromisso
- Looks like
compromise- Actually means
- appointment / prior commitment
Mistake: I can’t meet at three because I have a compromise.
Natural English: I can’t meet at three because I have an appointment.
propaganda
- Looks like
propaganda- Actually means
- advertising / an ad or commercial
Mistake: I saw a funny propaganda for a bank during the game.
Natural English: I saw a funny commercial for a bank during the game.
realizar
- Looks like
realize- Actually means
- carry out / hold / fulfill
Mistake: The company will realize a training session next week.
Natural English: The company will hold a training session next week.
resumo
- Looks like
resume- Actually means
- summary
Mistake: Can you send me a resume of the meeting?
Natural English: Can you send me a summary of the meeting?
legenda
- Looks like
legend- Actually means
- subtitles / caption
Mistake: I watch American shows with legends in English.
Natural English: I watch American shows with English subtitles.
romance
- Looks like
romance- Actually means
- novel
Mistake: I just finished a long romance about the history of Brazil.
Natural English: I just finished a long novel about the history of Brazil.
educado
- Looks like
educated- Actually means
- polite / well-mannered
Mistake: The waiter was very educated and brought us water right away.
Natural English: The waiter was very polite and brought us water right away.
ultimamente
- Looks like
ultimately- Actually means
- lately / recently
Mistake: Ultimately I’ve been sleeping badly because of work.
Natural English: Lately I’ve been sleeping badly because of work.
prejuízo
- Looks like
prejudice- Actually means
- financial loss / damage
Mistake: The store had a big prejudice last year.
Natural English: The store lost a lot of money last year.
faculdade
- Looks like
faculty- Actually means
- college / university studies
Mistake: I finished my faculty in 2019 and started working.
Natural English: I graduated from college in 2019 and started working.
dúvida
- Looks like
doubt- Actually means
- question (something to clarify)
Mistake: Teacher, I have a doubt about the homework.
Natural English: I have a question about the homework.
esperar
- Looks like
wait- Actually means
- wait / hope / expect, depending on meaning
Mistake: I wait you had a good weekend.
Natural English: I hope you had a good weekend. We expect the results on Monday.
a gente
- Looks like
the people- Actually means
- we / us (informal)
Mistake: On Sunday the people went to the beach, me and my wife.
Natural English: On Sunday my wife and I went to the beach.
shopping (shopping center)
- Looks like
shopping- Actually means
- mall
Mistake: Let’s meet at the shopping at seven.
Natural English: Let’s meet at the mall at seven.
outdoor
- Looks like
outdoor- Actually means
- billboard
Mistake: There’s a huge outdoor with our ad on the highway.
Natural English: There’s a huge billboard with our ad on the highway.
home office
- Looks like
home office- Actually means
- working from home / remote work
Mistake: I do home office on Mondays and Fridays.
Natural English: I work from home on Mondays and Fridays.
notebook
- Looks like
notebook- Actually means
- laptop
Mistake: Can I borrow your notebook to check my email?
Natural English: Can I borrow your laptop to check my email?
Helpful cognates
importanteimportant
The central meaning is dependable; English stress and final sounds differ.
naturalnatural
A useful adjective connection with different pronunciation.
hospitalhospital
The place meaning transfers directly; notice English word stress.
diferentedifferent
Meaning is close; English normally uses different from.
problemaproblem
A strong everyday cognate; English has no final vowel.
informaçãoinformation
The -ção to -tion link helps with many nouns; in English, information is uncountable, so it takes no -s.
qualidadequality
The -dade to -ty link also connects sociedade and society, and universidade and university.
responsávelresponsible
The -vel to -ble link is reliable here; English uses responsible for, not responsible by.
Grammar and usage
Common transfer mistakes
Each card shows what you might hear, the natural English rebuild, why the transfer is logical, and a lesson that practices the decision. They are ordered from A0 to C1.
Use be, not have, for age
You might hearI have 25 years.
→Natural EnglishI’m 25.
Use be, not have, for age
I have 25 years.→Natural English
I’m 25.
Why the transfer is logical
Portuguese expresses age with ter, literally have. English makes age a description with be, so the verb agrees with the person: I am 25, he is 25, and they are 25.
Natural English
- My parents are both 62.
- How old were you when you moved?
Name the English subject
You might hearIs very important.
→Natural EnglishIt is very important.
Name the English subject
Is very important.→Natural English
It is very important.
Why the transfer is logical
Portuguese can omit a subject in contexts where the verb form or conversation makes it clear. Standard English usually needs the subject expressed, including dummy it for weather, time, distance, and evaluations.
Natural English
- It is raining again.
- She works with international clients.
Build the English question frame
You might hearYou like your job? / Where she went?
→Natural EnglishDo you like your job? / Where did she go?
Build the English question frame
You like your job? / Where she went?→Natural English
Do you like your job? / Where did she go?
Why the transfer is logical
Brazilian Portuguese can often mark a question through intonation while keeping statement order. English normally signals the question grammatically with do, be, have, or a modal before the subject.
Natural English
- Does this train stop downtown?
- Where did you buy that laptop?
Keep uncountable English nouns singular
You might hearCan you give me some informations? / She gave me good advices.
→Natural EnglishCan you give me some information? / She gave me good advice.
Keep uncountable English nouns singular
Can you give me some informations? / She gave me good advices.→Natural English
Can you give me some information? / She gave me good advice.
Why the transfer is logical
Portuguese counts informações, conselhos, móveis, and notícias as ordinary plurals. In English, information, advice, furniture, news, and equipment are uncountable: they take no -s, no a or an, and a singular verb. To count them, English adds a unit such as a piece of.
Natural English
- Thanks for the information about the new schedule.
- The news is better than we expected.
Use there is for what exists in a place
You might hearHas a pharmacy near my house. / In my city have many parks.
→Natural EnglishThere’s a pharmacy near my house. / There are many parks in my city.
Use there is for what exists in a place
Has a pharmacy near my house. / In my city have many parks.→Natural English
There’s a pharmacy near my house. / There are many parks in my city.
Why the transfer is logical
In everyday Brazilian Portuguese, tem, from ter, commonly states that something exists, as in Tem uma farmácia aqui perto; more formal Portuguese uses há. English uses there is or there are, with the verb agreeing with the noun that follows. English have describes something a subject possesses.
Natural English
- There’s a good bakery on the corner.
- Were there many people at the conference?
Map ficar by result, location, or arrangement
You might hearI stayed nervous. / The office stays downtown.
→Natural EnglishI got nervous. / The office is downtown.
Map ficar by result, location, or arrangement
I stayed nervous. / The office stays downtown.→Natural English
I got nervous. / The office is downtown.
Why the transfer is logical
Ficar can express remaining, becoming, location, a resulting state, or an arrangement. English distributes those meanings across stay, be, get, become, end up, and phrases such as be located or agree to meet.
Natural English
- We stayed at a small hotel.
- She became more confident after the course.
Learn make, do, and ask as chunks
You might hearI made my homework. / She did a question.
→Natural EnglishI did my homework. / She asked a question.
Learn make, do, and ask as chunks
I made my homework. / She did a question.→Natural English
I did my homework. / She asked a question.
Why the transfer is logical
Portuguese fazer covers work, creation, causation, weather, elapsed time, and many fixed expressions. English uses several verbs, and the most reliable unit is the whole collocation rather than an abstract make-versus-do rule.
Natural English
- We made a difficult decision.
- Could I ask you a quick question?
Store the English verb and preposition together
You might hearIt depends of the price. / I’m married with Ana.
→Natural EnglishIt depends on the price. / I’m married to Ana.
Store the English verb and preposition together
It depends of the price. / I’m married with Ana.→Natural English
It depends on the price. / I’m married to Ana.
Why the transfer is logical
Prepositions rarely align word for word across languages. In English, many choices belong to a lexical chunk (depend on, interested in, responsible for, married to), so the verb or adjective should be learned with its partner.
Natural English
- Who is responsible for this account?
- The result depends on the final interview.
Drop the for things in general
You might hearThe life is short. / The technology changes very fast.
→Natural EnglishLife is short. / Technology changes very fast.
Drop the for things in general
The life is short. / The technology changes very fast.→Natural English
Life is short. / Technology changes very fast.
Why the transfer is logical
Portuguese normally uses the definite article with abstract nouns and with nouns used in a general sense, as in A vida é curta. English uses no article when speaking about something in general, such as life, coffee, people, or technology, and keeps the for specific, identified things.
Natural English
- Coffee helps me focus in the morning.
- The coffee at this café is excellent.
Use the present perfect for duration up to now
You might hearI live here since 2019. / I work there for three years.
→Natural EnglishI’ve lived here since 2019. / I’ve worked there for three years.
Use the present perfect for duration up to now
I live here since 2019. / I work there for three years.→Natural English
I’ve lived here since 2019. / I’ve worked there for three years.
Why the transfer is logical
Portuguese uses the present tense for a situation that started in the past and continues now: Moro aqui desde 2019, or Trabalho lá há três anos. English connects the past starting point to the present with the present perfect or present perfect continuous, using since for the start and for for the length of time.
Natural English
- We’ve known each other since college.
- How long have you been working at the hospital?
Put the describing noun first in compounds
You might hearWe have a meeting of sales at ten. / I need a cable of the charger.
→Natural EnglishWe have a sales meeting at ten. / I need a charger cable.
Put the describing noun first in compounds
We have a meeting of sales at ten. / I need a cable of the charger.→Natural English
We have a sales meeting at ten. / I need a charger cable.
Why the transfer is logical
Portuguese places the main noun first and links a describing noun with de: reunião de vendas, cartão de crédito, dor de cabeça. English often reverses the order and puts the describing noun first with no preposition: sales meeting, credit card, headache. The last noun names the thing, and the first noun usually stays singular.
Natural English
- Can I pay with a credit card?
- Our team meeting moved to Thursday afternoon.
Choose what kind of absence miss expresses
You might hearI have saudade of home. / I lost the meeting.
→Natural EnglishI miss home. / I missed the meeting.
Choose what kind of absence miss expresses
I have saudade of home. / I lost the meeting.→Natural English
I miss home. / I missed the meeting.
Why the transfer is logical
English miss can express emotional absence, failure to attend or catch something, failure to notice, or narrowly avoiding an event. Miss out on adds the idea of losing an opportunity or experience.
Natural English
- I miss my friends back home.
- We missed out on the early-booking discount.
Use past form to signal present distance
You might hearIf I have more time, I would study more.
→Natural EnglishIf I had more time, I would study more.
Use past form to signal present distance
If I have more time, I would study more.→Natural English
If I had more time, I would study more.
Why the transfer is logical
Portuguese and English do not signal hypothetical distance in exactly the same way. In an English second conditional, the past form in the if-clause marks the situation as unreal or remote now; it does not locate the situation in past time.
Natural English
- If I worked remotely, I would travel more.
- What would you change if you were the manager?
Use the -ing form after a preposition
You might hearBefore to leave, call me. / I’m interested in learn Python.
→Natural EnglishBefore leaving, call me. / I’m interested in learning Python.
Use the -ing form after a preposition
Before to leave, call me. / I’m interested in learn Python.→Natural English
Before leaving, call me. / I’m interested in learning Python.
Why the transfer is logical
After a preposition, Portuguese uses the infinitive: antes de sair, depois de comer, interessado em aprender, obrigado por vir. In English, a verb that follows a preposition takes the -ing form. This includes chunks such as look forward to, where to is a preposition: I look forward to meeting you.
Natural English
- Thanks for coming on such short notice.
- I’m looking forward to working with your team.
Check the intended action behind a cognate
You might hearI pretend to apply next month.
→Natural EnglishI intend to apply next month.
Check the intended action behind a cognate
I pretend to apply next month.→Natural English
I intend to apply next month.
Why the transfer is logical
Portuguese and English share many recognizable roots, but a familiar form may have developed a different meaning. English pretend means act as if something false were true; intend describes a real plan or purpose.
Natural English
- We intend to expand the service next year.
- He pretended not to recognize the reporter.
Show when someone else does the job for you
You might hearI’m going to cut my hair on Saturday. (at a salon)
→Natural EnglishI’m going to get my hair cut on Saturday.
Show when someone else does the job for you
I’m going to cut my hair on Saturday. (at a salon)→Natural English
I’m going to get my hair cut on Saturday.
Why the transfer is logical
Portuguese commonly uses an active verb for services that a professional performs: Vou cortar o cabelo, Preciso consertar o carro. In English, I cut my hair suggests that I did it myself. The causative have or get something done shows that another person performed the service.
Natural English
- I need to get my car fixed before the trip.
- We had the apartment painted last month.
Frame the topic with natural English signposts
You might hearIn what concerns the budget, we need more time. / In what refers to the contract, I have a doubt.
→Natural EnglishRegarding the budget, we need more time. / I have a question about the contract.
Frame the topic with natural English signposts
In what concerns the budget, we need more time. / In what refers to the contract, I have a doubt.→Natural English
Regarding the budget, we need more time. / I have a question about the contract.
Why the transfer is logical
Portuguese formal speech often opens with a topic frame such as no que diz respeito a, no que se refere a, or quanto a. Literal versions such as in what concerns or in what refers to are not English frames. Regarding, as for, when it comes to, and in terms of work well, and in conversation a simple about phrase is often enough.
Natural English
- As for the timeline, we can discuss it next week.
- When it comes to hiring, we prefer internal candidates.
Pronunciation
Sounds, stress, and rhythm to watch
Each point shows what a listener may hear, why the first language makes it likely, and how to fix it. Press any 🔊 word to hear it in your browser’s U.S. English voice, then say it yourself.
/ɪ/ vs /iː/
Keep ship and sheep different
You might hear I live here can sound like I leave here, and fill like feel.
Portuguese has one i vowel, close to the vowel in English sheep. English adds a second, shorter and more relaxed vowel in ship, so learners often use the same i sound for both words.
Try this For sheep, smile slightly and hold the vowel a little longer. For ship, relax the lips and jaw, drop the tongue a little, and keep the vowel short. Say each pair slowly, then at normal speed.
/æ/ vs /ɛ/
Open the jaw for the vowel in bad
You might hear The man can sound like the men, and bad like bed.
Portuguese has an open e, as in café, and an a, as in casa, but no vowel between them like the one in English bad. Learners often replace it with the open e, so man and men can merge.
Try this Start from the vowel in bed, then drop the jaw further, spread the lips, and keep the tongue low and forward. A mirror helps: the mouth should look clearly more open for bad than for bed.
/θ/ and /ð/
Put the tongue between the teeth for th
You might hear Three can sound like tree, and they like day.
Portuguese has no th sounds, so learners commonly use the nearest familiar sounds, usually t and d, and sometimes f or s. The result can turn one word into another, such as thought into taught.
Try this Rest the tip of the tongue lightly between the front teeth and blow air through gently. For think and three, there is no voice; for they and this, add a buzz. Hold the sound for a second before the vowel.
initial /r/ vs /h/
Make the American r without the throat
You might hear Red can sound like head, and right like height.
In most Brazilian accents, an r at the start of a word, as in rio or rato, is pronounced in the throat with a sound close to English h. Learners may carry this into English words that begin with r.
Try this Pull the tongue tip up and slightly back without touching the roof of the mouth, and round the lips a little. Keep the throat relaxed with no friction. Start from a long err sound, then glide into the word: err, red.
/t/ and /d/ before /i/ and /ɪ/
Keep t and d clean before an ee sound
You might hear Tip can sound like chip, and deep like jeep.
In most Brazilian accents, t and d change to the sounds at the start of chip and jeep before an i sound, as in tia, dia, and leite. English keeps a plain t and d in words like team, tip, and deep.
Try this Touch the tongue tip just behind the top teeth, keep the tongue flat, and release it quickly with a small puff of air. Say top, then tip, keeping the same t. Compare each pair and feel the difference.
final and pre-consonant /l/
Touch the tongue up for a final l
You might hear Goal can sound like go, and cold like code.
In most Brazilian accents, an l at the end of a syllable is pronounced like a w sound, as in Brasil, Natal, and alto. In English, the tongue tip still touches the roof of the mouth, so dropping that contact can hide the l.
Try this At the end of the word, raise the tongue tip to the ridge behind the top teeth and hold it there for a moment while the voice continues. Do not round the lips. Try feel, then feel it, linking the l to the next vowel.
final /m/, /n/, /ŋ/
Close the final m, n, and ng
You might hear Seem, seen, and sing can blur together because the final sound is not closed.
In Portuguese, a nasal at the end of a syllable usually colors the vowel, as in sim, bem, and som, rather than being a full consonant. English needs a clear final m, n, or ng, and these sounds separate words.
Try this For m, close the lips completely and hum. For n, press the tongue tip to the ridge behind the top teeth. For ng, raise the back of the tongue to the soft palate. Hold each final sound briefly before stopping.
final consonants
End words on the consonant
You might hear Cook can sound like cookie, and bag like baggy.
Portuguese words rarely end in consonants such as b, d, g, k, p, or t. When they do, as in loanwords like Facebook or hot dog, a short i sound is commonly added. Learners may add the same vowel to English words.
Try this Finish the consonant and then stop the voice: keep the lips closed after p and b, and the tongue in place after t, d, k, and g. Let silence follow. When the next word starts with a vowel, link straight into it: big apple.
initial /s/ clusters
Start words directly with s plus a consonant
You might hear State can sound like estate, and speak can seem to start with an extra e.
Portuguese words do not begin with s followed by a consonant. The matching words start with es-, as in escola, estudante, and especial, so learners often add a short vowel before English words like school and student.
Try this Begin with a long hiss, then move straight into the next consonant with no vowel in between: ssss, school. Shorten the hiss gradually until the word sounds natural. Linking from the word before also helps: my school.
past tense -ed
Add a syllable for -ed only after t or d
You might hear Worked and played can sound like two-syllable words.
Portuguese spelling is quite regular, so learners often pronounce every written vowel. In English, -ed adds a syllable only after a t or d sound, as in wanted. Otherwise, it is a single t or d sound attached to the verb.
Try this Sort verbs into three groups: a t sound (walked, watched), a d sound (played, lived), and an extra syllable (wanted, needed). Say the base verb, then add only the final sound: walk, walked.
word stress
Move the stress on familiar cognates
You might hear Hospital or chocolate stressed near the end, which makes a familiar word hard to recognize.
Many Portuguese cognates carry stress on a different syllable, often a later one, as in hospital, chocolate, confortável, and fotografia. Learners naturally keep the Portuguese stress, and English listeners rely on stress to recognize words.
Try this Clap or tap on the stressed syllable and make it longer and louder: HOS-pi-tal, PHO-to-graph, de-VEL-op. Let the other syllables become short and soft. Check new cognates in a dictionary for the stress mark.
sentence stress and weak forms
Let small words go weak in a sentence
You might hear I can swim can sound like I can’t swim when can is said fully and stressed.
Portuguese does not reduce short grammar words like de, para, and com in the same way English reduces to, for, and can. Learners often give every word a full vowel and equal weight, which blurs English rhythm.
Try this Stress the content words and say small words quickly with a soft uh vowel: I can SWIM, with a short, soft can, but I CAN’T DRIVE. Tap the table on stressed words only. Keep can’t long and clear, with a full vowel and a final t.
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Practice
Check yourself
Two quick games built from this guide. Each one checks itself, and Start again reshuffles.
Brazilian Portuguese false friends
Tap a Brazilian Portuguese word, then what it really means in English.
Brazilian Portuguese
What it really means
Natural English or transfer mistake?
Tap a sentence, then the box it belongs in. Press Check when the tray is empty.