Balcão

Meaning: Actually means 'counter' — in a shop, bar or bank. A balcony is uma varanda.

Looks like: Balcony

Origin: From Italian balcone; Portuguese brought the word indoors and fixed it to the counter you're served at.

More Portuguese false friends

Injúria Actually means 'insult' or 'slander'. A physical injury is uma lesão or um ferimento.
Polvo Actually means 'octopus'. For powder, say pó.
Jornal Actually means 'newspaper'. For a personal journal (diary), say diário.
Pasta Actually means 'folder' or 'briefcase'. Pasta (the food) is massa.
Puxe Actually means 'pull' — the imperative of puxar. The door sign telling you to push says e…
Esquisito Actually means 'strange', 'weird' or 'odd'. For exquisite, say requintado.

Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.

A aranha arranha a rã. A rã arranha a aranha. Contrasts the soft single r of aranha against the hard rolled rr of arranha — one letter…
O rato roeu a roupa do rei de Roma; a rainha com raiva roeu o resto. An unstoppable 'r' trill drill — every key word begins or ends with the Portuguese r.
Um tigre, dois tigres, três tigres tristes triscam trigo num trigal. A 'tr' cluster drill that adds a sad adjective to make the alliteration worse.

Keep exploring