Polvo

Meaning: Actually means 'octopus'. For powder, say pó.

Language: Portuguese

Literally: powder

Category: Food & Body

Origin: From Latin pulvus, 'dust' — the octopus connection came through regional seafaring vocabulary.

More false friends — Food & Body

• Sopa — Actually means 'soup'. Soap is jabón.
• Fame — Actually means 'hunger'. Ho fame = I'm hungry. For fame (renown), say fama.
• Vaso — Actually means 'a drinking glass'. A vase (for flowers) is un jarrón or florero.
• Constipado — Actually means 'having a head cold'. Estoy constipado = I have a cold.
• Pain — Actually means 'bread'. The hurting kind of pain is la douleur.
• Caldo — Actually means 'hot' (or a hot broth). Cold is freddo.

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.

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