Cognates are useful, but false or misleading ones are troublesome. Here are several to watch out for.
| Spanish | Portuguese | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| exquisito | (exquisite) | esquisito | (rare, unusual) |
| rubio | (blond) | ruivo | (red head) |
| rojo | (red) | roxo | (purple) |
| largo | (long) | largo | (wide) |
| rato | (while, time) | rato | (rat) |
| escoba | (broom) | escôva | (brush) |
| cena | (supper) | cena | (scene) |
| apellido | (family name) | apelido | (nickname) |
| sobrenombre | (nickname) | sobrenome | (family name) |
| cuarto | (room) | quarto | (bedroom) |
| cadera | (hip) | cadeira | (chair) |
| escritorio | (desk) | escritório | (office) |
| traer | (to bring) | trair | (to betray) |
| reparar | (to repair) | reparar | (to notice) |
| acordar(se) | (to remember) | acordar | (to awake) |
| barata | (cheap) | barata | (cockroach) |
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