Common mistakes Brazilians make in English

Common mistakes Brazilians make in English

Learning English as a Brazilian presents some unique challenges. There are common mistakes that many Brazilians tend to make due to differences between Portuguese and English grammar, pronunciation, and usage. Understanding these errors can help learners improve their fluency and accuracy.

1. False Cognates (Falsos Cognatos)

False cognates are words that look similar in both languages but have different meanings. For example:

• Actual in English means “real” or “current,” but atual in Portuguese means “up-to-date.”
• Library means a place to borrow books, not “livraria” which means bookstore.

2. Pronunciation Challenges

English has sounds that do not exist in Portuguese, leading to mistakes such as:

• Mixing /ʃ/ (sh) and /s/ sounds.
• Difficulty pronouncing the “th” sound in words like “think” and “this.”
• Confusing vowel sounds, impacting word meaning and clarity.

3. Incorrect Use of Prepositions

Prepositions in English often don’t translate literally from Portuguese, which causes errors like:

• “Married with someone” instead of “married to someone.”
• Using “in” when “on” or “at” is correct.

4. Verb Tenses and Auxiliary Verbs

English verb conjugation and tense usage can be tricky, especially with auxiliary verbs:

• Omitting “do”/“does” in questions and negatives (e.g., “You like pizza?” instead of “Do you like pizza?”).
• Confusing past simple and present perfect tenses.

5. Word Order Differences

Portuguese and English have different sentence structures, leading to placement mistakes:

• Placing adjectives after nouns (e.g., “the car red” instead of “the red car”).
• Misordering adverbs and negatives.

6. Overusing Direct Translations

Brazilians often translate expressions word-for-word, which can sound unnatural:

• Translating “sair bem” as “exit well” instead of “go well.”
• Using “I have 20 years” instead of “I am 20 years old.”

Conclusion

By being aware of these common mistakes, Brazilian learners can focus on correcting them and improving their English skills more effectively. Practice, exposure to native English, and proper guidance are keys to overcoming these challenges.