Common Portuguese Mistakes English Speakers Make
Avoid the most frequent Portuguese errors that English speakers make. Learn the correct forms and improve your Portuguese fluency.
Learning Portuguese as an English speaker comes with predictable challenges. Understanding these common mistakes will help you avoid them and sound more natural when speaking with your partner.
False Friends: Words That Trick You
False Friend
Eu preciso de uma pasta
I need a folder (NOT pasta the food)
[ EH-oo preh-SEE-zoo jee OO-mah PAHS-tah ]
In Portuguese, pasta means folder or file. If you mean the food, say massa.
Beware of Cognates
Many Portuguese words look like English words but have completely different meanings. These false cognates can lead to embarrassing misunderstandings. Always double-check words that seem too similar to English.
Pronunciation: ah-too-ahl-MEN-chee
"Atualmente, moro em Lisboa. (Currently, I live in Lisbon.) The word for 'actually' is 'na verdade.'"
Pronunciation: preh-ten-DEHR
"Pretendo viajar amanhã. (I intend to travel tomorrow.) The word for 'to pretend' is 'fingir.'"
Pronunciation: poo-SHAHR
"Puxe a porta. (Pull the door.) The word for 'to push' is 'empurrar.'"
Gender Agreement Errors
Everything Has a Gender
Unlike English, every Portuguese noun is either masculine or feminine. This affects articles, adjectives, and pronouns. Getting this right is essential for sounding natural.
Pronunciation: oo proh-BLEH-mah
"Correct form: O problema é sério. (The problem is serious.) Despite ending in 'a', problema is masculine."
Pronunciation: oo MAH-pah
"O mapa está na mesa. (The map is on the table.) Words ending in 'a' from Greek origin are often masculine."
Ser vs Estar Confusion
This is perhaps the biggest challenge for English speakers since both verbs translate to "to be."
ser
to be (permanent characteristics)
| eu | sou | |
| você/ele/ela | é | |
| nós | somos | |
| vocês/eles/elas | são |
estar
to be (temporary states, locations)
| eu | estou | |
| você/ele/ela | está | |
| nós | estamos | |
| vocês/eles/elas | estão |
Pronunciation: EH-oo soh feh-LEEZ
"Sou feliz means happiness is part of your personality. Estou feliz means you are currently experiencing happiness."
Pronunciation Pitfalls
Pronunciation: ah-VOH
"Meu avô é italiano. Minha avó é portuguesa. (My grandfather is Italian. My grandmother is Portuguese.)"
Word Order Mistakes
Pronunciation: EH-oo now SEH-ee
"Correct: Eu não sei onde está. The negation 'não' comes before the verb in Portuguese."
Pronunciation: oo kee voh-SEH kehr
"In questions with 'what,' Portuguese uses 'o que' not just 'que' at the start."
Missing Preposition Contractions
Contractions Are Mandatory
In Portuguese, when certain prepositions meet articles, they must contract. Saying them separately sounds unnatural and incorrect.
Pronunciation: noo, nah, noosh, nash
"Estou na casa. Not 'Estou em a casa.' (I am in the house.)"
Pronunciation: doo, dah, doosh, dash
"Venho do Brasil. Not 'Venho de o Brasil.' (I come from Brazil.)"
Practice and Patience
Making mistakes is a natural part of learning. The key is to recognize these patterns and practice the correct forms. Your Portuguese partner can be your best teacher. Ask them to gently correct you when you make these common errors.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I avoid using false friends in Portuguese?
Pay close attention to words that look similar to English but have different meanings. Create flashcards with the Portuguese word, its English translation, and a sentence example. For example, 'atualmente' means 'currently,' not 'actually.' Couples can quiz each other on false friends to reinforce learning and catch each other's mistakes.
What's the best way to remember gender agreement in Portuguese?
Practice associating nouns with their articles (o or a) from the beginning. When learning new vocabulary, always learn the article as well. For example, memorize 'o livro' (the book) and 'a mesa' (the table). Try creating a game where you and your partner identify the gender of objects around the house in Portuguese.
How do I know when to use 'ser' vs. 'estar' in Portuguese?
'Ser' is generally used for permanent characteristics, origin, and identity, while 'estar' is used for temporary states, location, and feelings. A helpful mnemonic is 'DOCTOR' for 'ser' (Description, Occupation, Characteristic, Time, Origin, Relationship) and 'PLACE' for 'estar' (Position, Location, Action, Condition, Emotion). Practicing with a partner by describing each other using both verbs can be very helpful.
Are there any resources for improving my Portuguese pronunciation?
Yes, there are many online resources such as Forvo for audio examples of words pronounced by native speakers. You can also watch Portuguese-language TV shows and movies, paying close attention to how words are pronounced. Try mimicking the actors and recording yourself to compare your pronunciation. Practicing tongue twisters in Portuguese with your partner can also be a fun and effective way to improve.
How can I practice word order in Portuguese?
Start by practicing simple sentences and gradually increase the complexity. Pay attention to how native speakers construct sentences in Portuguese. Read Portuguese books and articles, and analyze the sentence structure. One exercise for couples is to take a sentence and rearrange the words in different orders, then check if the new order is grammatically correct and sounds natural.
