Top Mistakes English Speakers Make When Learning Portuguese

Learning Portuguese comes with some predictable traps, especially if your first language is English. Knowing what to look out for can save you time and frustration.

Here are some of the most common mistakes English speakers make when learning Portuguese and how to avoid them.

1. Pronouncing the Letter 'R' Like in English

In European Portuguese, the letter 'r' at the beginning of a word sounds more like the French or Spanish 'r', or even a bit like an English 'h'.

Ex: Rua (street) is pronounced a bit like “hoo-a”, not “roo-a.”

2. Forgetting That the 'H' is Silent

Portuguese words starting with 'h' don’t pronounce the 'h' sound at all.

Ex: hotel is pronounced “oh-TEL”, not “ho-tel”.

3. Assuming Cognates Sound the Same

Words like animal, hospital, and hotel look the same in English, but the pronunciation is usually different in Portuguese. Don’t assume they sound the same.

4. Using False Friends Without Checking

Some words look familiar but mean something else. One classic example is pasta, (see our last post)[https://learnportuguese.guide/posts/pasta-its-not-what-you-think] it usually means folder, not pasta as in food.

Check new words carefully before using them!

5. Translating Directly from English

Portuguese sentence structure isn’t always a direct match to English. For example, adjectives often come after the noun:

Ex: carro vermelho (red car), not vermelho carro.

Direct translation can lead to awkward or incorrect sentences.

6. Ignoring Verb Conjugations

Portuguese has a rich verb system and it changes based on who is speaking. Ignoring this will make your sentences sound strange and can cause confusion.

Take time to learn the common conjugation patterns.

Final Thought

Making mistakes is part of learning, but being aware of these common traps can help you move forward faster.

If you know where English habits can mislead you, you’ll build better Portuguese from the start.

Stay tuned for more language tips and pitfalls to watch out for!