The Top Cognates Portuguese-English

As a language learner, you have probably come across cognates before. These are words that establish a bridge between two languages. By understanding how cognates form, you can easily guess how a word in your mother tongue will sound in a foreign language.

Cognates are etymologically related. They have the same meaning and come from a common origin. Besides, they also have a similar form and sound. They might be exactly the same, like the word Capital, used in English and Portuguese. Conversely, they might show slight differences, like in the terms Attention and Atenção, in the same languages. Nevertheless, using them in context can help you sound more natural when speaking Portuguese.

In this article, discover a comprehensive list of Portuguese-English cognates. Explore the most common suffixes that allow you to convert English words into Portuguese. Plus, understand how to use cognates in everyday conversations and learn 500 new Portuguese words!

Understanding English-Portuguese Cognates

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English is an Indo-Germanic language, while Portuguese is a Romance language. Thus, although they are not part of the same immediate family, these languages have common roots. Both have elements that come from Latin. Besides, they developed simultaneously and had some shared influences.

A 2014 study based on 500 high-frequency words in both languages showed a 20.4% lexical similarity. Thus, you can expect to find many cognates between Portuguese and English. They are everyday words, like verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

Learning about these cognates is an incredible way to boost your vocabulary. After all, it allows you to convert words from the English language into Portuguese. This process will help you gain more confidence in speaking, writing, and even spelling in Portuguese. Start by getting to know the most common suffixes and learning to identify the corresponding patterns or rules.

Common Suffixes

One of the easiest ways to identify cognates is through their suffixes. You can identify conversion patterns that allow you to turn English words into Portuguese and vice versa. Consider the following examples of suffixes.

-tion = -ção

Words ending in -tion in English are usually cognates to words ending in -ção in Portuguese.

• Information – Informação
• Nation – Nação
• Communication – Comunicação
• Education – Educação
• Operation – Operação

-sion = -são

English terms in which the last syllable is -sion tend to be cognates to Portuguese terms in which the last syllable is -são.

• Conversion – Conversão
• Explosion – Explosão
• Invasion – Invasão
• Decision – Decisão
• Conclusion – Conclusão

-ty = -dade

English words that end in -ty often have Portuguese counterparts ending in -dade.

• City – Cidade
• Activity – Atividade
• University – Universidade
• Ability – Habilidade
• Reality – Realidade

-ly = -mente

English adverbs ending in -ly typically have Portuguese equivalents ending in -mente.

• Quickly – Rapidamente
• Happily – Felizmente
• Easily – Facilmente
• Exactly – Exatamente
• Finally – Finalmente

Noun, Adjective, and Verb Cognates

Nouns are often cognates in Portuguese and English. For example, Telephone in English becomes Telefone in Portuguese. Similarly, you have:

• Telephone – Telefone
• Radio – Rádio
• Hotel – Hotel
• Animal – Animal
• Hospital – Hospital

Oftentimes, you will also recognize patterns similar to the ones above in adjectives and verbs. Consider the following examples.

-ous = -oso (masculine) -osa (feminine)

English adjectives ending in -ous often have Portuguese counterparts ending in -oso or -osa.

• Dangerous – Perigoso/a
• Famous – Famoso/a
• Generous – Generoso/a
• Curious – Curioso/a
• Cautious – Cauteloso/a

-ble = -vel

English adjectives ending in -ble often have Portuguese equivalents ending in -vel.

• Possible – Possível
• Visible – Visível
• Flexible – Flexível
• Tangible – Tangível
• Accessible – Acessível

-ize = -izar

English verbs ending in -ize often have Portuguese counterparts ending in -izar.

• Realize – Realizar
• Organize – Organizar
• Modernize – Modernizar
• Visualize – Visualizar
• Authorize – Autorizar

Learn 500 Portuguese Words Today!

As shown above, you can learn many new words once you identify the patterns that form cognates between two languages. As you practice, your brain will assimilate those patterns and start working out new words by applying them. More often than not, this is a subconscious process that comes from your exposure to your target language.

In the video below, check out how to accelerate it and increase your vocabulary overnight. Learn hundreds of common Portuguese words by applying six simple rules!

To learn another 20 rules and have free access to a PDF with over 1100 Portuguese Common words, click HERE!

Using Cognates in Context

Cognates are easier to apply than most other words since they have the same meaning as words you already know and use. Still, you must get their usage and placement right to make yourself understood when speaking.

You can use exposure to improve your use of cognates in the correct context and position. Listening to books and podcasts in Portuguese, reading, and watching videos or shows are good strategies. As your brain gets exposed to how natives use these words, it will absorb them naturally. You can also use flashcards and other exercises to learn and practice cognate usage.

Then, when the opportunity comes, you will not have to think about what to say. Instead, you will know what word to use and how to apply it to convey the right message. This process will also enhance your pronunciation and comprehension of the language.

A Note on False Friends

Just like there are words with a common root, sound, and meaning, some words only appear identical. They might seem related, but their origin and definition are completely different. For instance, the Portuguese word Sopa (Soup) seems closer to the English term Soap. However, using them in similar situations will lead to misunderstandings. Consider these ten common examples.

10 False Cognates Between Portuguese and English

• Actual: Real, existing; and Atual: Current, present
• Assist: Help, aid; and Assistir: Watch, attend
• Library: A place where you borrow books; and Livraria: A bookstore
• Fabric: Cloth, textile; and Fábrica: Factory
• College: Higher education institution; and Colégio: Private school (usually for younger students)
• Parent: Mother or father; and Parente: Relative, family member
• Legend: Myth, famous story; and Legenda: Subtitle (in movies)
• Pretend: To act as if something is true; and Pretender: To intend, to plan
• Record: To capture (e.g., audio, video); and Recordar: To remember
• Resume: Continue after a pause; and Resumir: Summarize

Thus, you must know how to identify a false cognate or false friend. But how can you do it? Read 18 European Portuguese False Cognates You Should Know.

Tips for Learning Portuguese Words

When it comes to vocabulary learning, there are many solutions available online. A simple search will bring up dozens of apps, games, and programs that promise to improve your knowledge overnight. But are those the best solutions for you?

After all, most of these methods focus on memorization. Yet, few of them actually teach how to apply what you learn in conversation. No doubt, it will be incredible for you to know hundreds of words in another language. But how will you hold a dialogue if you can not construct sentences with them?

That is why, at Portuguese With Carla, we focus on immersion, exposure, and practice. These are the keys to becoming a fluent and confident speaker. Thus, we include them in every chapter of our online Portuguese course – The Journey. In it, you will get exposed to real-life interactions created and re-enacted by natives.

The program includes many interactive exercises that use specific techniques, like shadowing. This way, you can acquire the language instinctively. We also touch on all language skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. To learn more about it, click the button below!

If you are not ready to commit to a complete solution toward fluency, there are other things you can do. For example, you can include regular listening and speaking practices in your routine. Watch native shows with subtitles in your target language. Doing so will help your brain connect the sounds with the right mouth movements.

Another helpful tip involves creating a vocabulary notebook. In it, you can write the terms and expressions you learn and their definitions, and construct connections between them. This way, you will be able to remember them better and use them in your conversations with native speakers.

Want more tips to expand your European Portuguese knowledge? Check out our article: How to Improve Your Portuguese Vocabulary Quickly and Effectively.

Your List of Portuguese-English Cognates

Learning about cognates and how they form is one of the best techniques to expand your vocabulary. Knowing the Portuguese counterparts of English nouns helps you make sense of your new language. It also gives more confidence and freedom of speech when interacting with the natives.

Learning common prefixes and suffixes can help you recognize cognates. When you understand how to identify the patterns, you can use cognates in everyday situations. Doing so will help you become a more natural speaker and improve your language skills.

But, as you have seen, you must also be aware of false cognates. Despite seeming related, these words have different origins and meanings. They can generate misunderstandings and lead to confusion. Thus, knowing how to use these terms is another step toward improving your language skills.

Remember that with practice and dedication, you can conquer these and other aspects of Portuguese. What are your favorite Portuguese-English cognates? Leave your comment in the section below!