Portuguese False Friends for Spanish Speakers: 8 Words to Check
A familiar spelling can hide a different meaning: compare apelido, oficina, rato, and other Portuguese–Spanish look-alikes in full sentences.
Real Life Portuguese · 6 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
Apelido usually means nickname in Brazilian Portuguese; sobrenome is the usual word for a family name. Spanish apellido means family name, so do not use apelido for that meaning without checking the context.
Check the words for names, places, and time
Oficina commonly means a workshop or repair shop in Brazil, while Spanish oficina is an office. For a workplace office, Brazilian Portuguese usually uses escritório. Portuguese rato means a mouse; Spanish rato often refers to a while or short period of time.
Qual é o seu apelido?
What is your nickname?
Meu sobrenome é García.
My family name is García.
O carro está na oficina.
The car is at the repair shop.
Esperei um rato aparecer no quintal.
I waited for a mouse to appear in the yard.
Watch for words whose everyday meanings split
Esquisito usually means strange or odd in Brazilian Portuguese. Spanish exquisito often means delicious or excellent, so the similar spelling can reverse the impression you intend to give.
In Brazil, pasta may mean a folder, paste, or dough depending on the phrase; Spanish pasta can refer to pasta as food and also has other regional meanings. Name the object or setting when the context is not obvious.
Achei o barulho esquisito.
I thought the noise was strange.
Guardei o contrato nesta pasta.
I saved the contract in this folder.
A massa da torta está pronta.
The pie dough is ready.
Avoid translating pregnancy, illness, and restaurant tips literally
Spanish embarazada means pregnant; Portuguese embaraçada can describe being tangled, awkward, or embarrassed in context. The ordinary word for pregnant in Brazilian Portuguese is grávida. If you mean embarrassed, fiquei sem graça is often a natural everyday choice.
Spanish constipado may mean having a cold in some varieties, especially in Spain. Portuguese constipado refers to constipation; resfriado is the usual Brazilian word for a cold. Spanish propina means a tip, while in Brazil gorjeta is the ordinary restaurant word. Propina is commonly understood as a bribe in Brazilian usage.
Ela está grávida de cinco meses.
She is five months pregnant.
Fiquei sem graça quando esqueci o nome dele.
I felt embarrassed when I forgot his name.
Deixamos uma gorjeta para a equipe.
We left a tip for the staff.
Use a three-step check when a word looks familiar
First, ask whether the Portuguese sentence still makes sense if you use the Spanish meaning. If the scene feels odd, check a Portuguese dictionary or ask a speaker for an example rather than relying on a bilingual word pair alone.
Then save the complete sentence and its situation. A note such as oficina = repair shop in this sentence is easier to recall than a context-free translation, and it leaves room for other meanings in other settings.
Vou ao escritório depois do almoço.
I’m going to the office after lunch.
A oficina fecha às seis.
The repair shop closes at six.
Ela ganhou um apelido na escola.
She got a nickname at school.
Put it into practice
When Portuguese and Spanish words look alike, use context to confirm the meaning before you speak.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The car is at the repair shop”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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