Portuguese words that look like English words but mean something else. Learn them before they embarrass you.
pretender
to intend, plan (not "to pretend": fingir)
puxar
to pull (not "to push": empurrar)
assistir
to watch (not "to assist": ajudar)
atualmente
currently, nowadays (not "actually": na verdade)
eventualmente
occasionally, possibly (not "eventually": no fim)
realizar
to carry out, achieve (not "to realize": perceber)
perceber
to realize, notice
parentes
relatives (not "parents": pais)
livraria
bookshop (not "library": biblioteca)
biblioteca
library
data
date (not "data": dados)
compromisso
appointment, commitment (not "compromise": acordo)
costume
habit, custom (not "costume": fantasia)
fantasia
costume, fantasy
educado
polite, well-mannered (not "educated": instruído)
esquisito
weird, strange
balcão
counter (not "balcony": varanda)
cigarro
cigarette (not "cigar": charuto)
colégio
school, high school (not "college": faculdade)
faculdade
college, university
lanche
snack (not "lunch": almoço)
legenda
subtitle, caption (not "legend": lenda)
novela
soap opera (not "novel": romance)
romance
novel, also romance
pasta
folder, also toothpaste (not "pasta": massa)
massa
pasta, dough
preservativo
condom (not "preservative": conservante)
fábrica
factory (not "fabric": tecido)
resumir
to summarize (not "to resume": retomar)
retomar
to resume
sensível
sensitive (not "sensible": sensato)
sensato
sensible
injúria
insult (not "injury": lesão, ferimento)
luxúria
lust (not "luxury": luxo)
batom
lipstick (not "baton")
apontar
to point, sharpen (not "to appoint": nomear)
gripe
flu (not "gripe": reclamação)
tecido
fabric, cloth
constipado
constipated in Brazil, but "has a cold" in Portugal
propaganda
advertisement, ad (also propaganda)