False friendFood & Body
Portuguese
Polvo
Meaning: Actually means 'octopus'. For powder, say pó.
Looks like: Powder
Origin: From Latin polypus, via Greek polypous, 'many-footed' — no relation to Spanish polvo, 'dust' (Latin pulvis). Portuguese for powder is pó.
More Portuguese false friends
- 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.
- 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…
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Quando um não quer, dois não brigam A quarrel needs two willing sides; one person can always refuse it.
- Quem não arrisca não petisca If you don't take risks, you won't gain anything.
- Faz o que eu digo, não faças o que eu faço Said, often ironically, of people who give advice they don't follow.
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