Pasta
Meaning: Actually means 'folder' or 'briefcase'. Pasta (the food) is massa.
Language: Portuguese
Looks like: pasta
Category: Everyday
Origin: From Late Latin pasta, 'dough/paste'; Portuguese extended it to flat, folder-shaped things.
More false friends — Everyday
- Big — Actually means 'piglet'. For big, say groot.
- Kind — Actually means 'child'. For kind (nice), say aardig or vriendelijk.
- Wet — Actually means 'law'. For wet, say nat.
- Elf — Actually means 'eleven'. Elf uur = eleven o'clock.
- Mening — Actually means 'opinion'. Mijn mening = my opinion. The meaning of a word is its betekeni…
- Puxe — Actually means 'pull' — the imperative of puxar. The door sign telling you to push says e…
More Portuguese false friends
- Esquisito — Actually means 'strange', 'weird' or 'odd'. For exquisite, say requintado.
- Livraria — Actually means 'bookshop'. A library is uma biblioteca.
- Costume — Actually means 'custom' or 'habit'. Como de costume = as usual. An outfit is um traje or…
- Educado — Actually means 'polite' or 'well-mannered'. For educated (schooled), say instruído.
- Balcão — Actually means 'counter' — in a shop, bar or bank. A balcony is uma varanda.
- Injúria — Actually means 'insult' or 'slander'. A physical injury is uma lesão or um ferimento.
From our proverbs
- The truth shall set you free — Honesty and truth lead to liberation.
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained — You must take risks to achieve rewards.
- United we stand, divided we fall — Strength comes from unity.