Perfect: Is It Really the Same in Portuguese?

The word “perfect” feels reassuringly familiar when you come across its Portuguese twin: perfeito.

But as with many cognates, it pays to pause and ask - is it really the same?

What They Share

Yes, perfeito is indeed the standard Portuguese translation for perfect, and it comes from the same Latin root: perfectus, meaning “completed” or “done thoroughly”.

You can use it in many similar situations:

• Está perfeito! = It's perfect!
• Um jantar perfeito = A perfect dinner

So far, so good.

Subtle Differences in Use

Here’s where it gets interesting. In English, “perfect” is often used casually or exaggeratedly:

“This coffee is perfect.”
“She’s the perfect candidate.”

In Portuguese, perfeito can sound a bit more formal or strong in tone, depending on context.

A native speaker might choose a softer word like ótimo (great) or muito bom (very good) where an English speaker might use “perfect.”

The Grammar Angle

Also note that perfeito must agree in gender and number:

• perfeito (masculine singular)
• perfeita (feminine singular)
• perfeitos, perfeitas (plural forms)

Don’t forget the adjective agreement when using it to describe people or objects.

Final Thought

Perfeito is a friendly cognate, one of the ones you can trust, mostly. Just be aware of how often and how emotionally you use “perfect” in English, and dial it back if needed.

Portuguese may prefer sincerity over superlatives.