Portuguese is full of words that sound identical but mean completely different things. If you’ve ever confused 'cela' (cell) with 'sela' (saddle), you’re not alone - but you’re also not doing yourself any favours. Let’s clear up the confusion before you accidentally tell someone to sit on a prison cell.
Common Portuguese Homophones That Trip People Up
- Cela vs. Sela – One’s for prisoners, the other’s for horses. Guess which one you don’t want to mix up.
- Sessão vs. Seção vs. Cessão – A 'sessão' is a meeting, 'seção' is a section, and 'cessão' means surrender. Good luck explaining why you missed the 'seção' of the contract because you were at a 'cessão'.
- Concerto vs. Conserto – One’s a musical performance, the other’s a repair. If you ask for a 'concerto' on your broken fridge, you’ll get Beethoven instead of a handyman.
- Trás vs. Traz – 'Trás' means 'behind,' while 'traz' is the verb 'bring.' If you write 'Ele trás o livro,' you’re saying 'He behind the book,' which makes zero sense.
Why Do These Exist?
Because Portuguese enjoys messing with learners. Some homophones come from Latin roots that evolved differently, while others are the result of phonetic simplification over time. Either way, they’re here to stay, so you’d better learn them.
Homófono
/oˈmɔ.fo.nu/“Homophone”
More Tricky Pairs
| Word 1 | Meaning | Word 2 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aço | Steel | Aso | I soothe |
| Cerrar | To close (Spanish-influenced) | Serrar | To saw |
| Mal | Badly | Mau | Bad (masculine) |
Yes, 'mal' and 'mau' sound the same in many dialects. No, native speakers won’t cut you slack for mixing them up. If you say 'Ele é um mal homem,' you’re calling him an 'evil badly' instead of just 'bad.'
How Not to Embarrass Yourself
- Listen for context. If someone’s talking about music, they probably mean 'concerto,' not 'conserto.'
- Pay attention to spelling. 'Sessão' and 'seção' look different for a reason.
- When in doubt, ask. Brazilians and Portuguese speakers won’t bite (usually).
For more linguistic pitfalls, check out our guide on untranslatable Portuguese words or words that impress native speakers.
