Original: A Word You Already Know

Some Portuguese words feel like old friends and original is one of them.

It’s spelled exactly like in English, and it means almost exactly the same thing.

That’s because both languages borrowed it from Latin: originalis, meaning originating, beginning, or inventive.

🧠 How It’s Used

Portuguese uses original in several of the same ways as English:

• É uma ideia muito original.
  → It's a very original idea.

• O documento original está arquivado.
  → The original document is filed.

• Gosto mais da versão original do filme.
  → I prefer the original version of the film.

Just like in English, it can describe something authentic, inventive, or first in sequence.

🗣️ Pronunciation Tip

Here’s where things differ: stress.

In English: OR-i-gin-al
In Portuguese: oh-ree-zhee-NAHL

Learn to pronounce it here.

It’s the same word, just wearing a different rhythm.

🧭 Final Thought

Words like original make Portuguese feel more approachable. You already know more than you think and when you learn where words come from, they stick.

Next time you spot a familiar face in a Portuguese sentence, trust your instincts. It might just be a word you already know.