Parents vs. Parentes: A Portuguese False Friend — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Use pais for your mother and father
The English word parents translates to pais in Portuguese. The singular pai means father, and mãe means mother. Parentes is a broader word for relatives or family members; it does not usually mean only someone’s parents.
The difference matters when you talk about family plans. If you say meus parentes, listeners may understand that you mean members of your extended family, such as aunts, uncles, or cousins.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Meus pais moram em outra cidade. | My parents live in another city. |
| Vou visitar meus parentes no domingo. | I’m going to visit my relatives on Sunday. |
| Meu pai e minha mãe chegam amanhã. | My father and mother arrive tomorrow. |
Choose the family word that matches your meaning
When a conversation is specifically about parents, choose pais or name the person: minha mãe, meu pai, meus pais. Use parentes when the group includes relatives more generally. The article and adjective agree with the Portuguese noun: meus pais, meus parentes, minha mãe.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Meus parentes vêm de várias partes do Brasil. | My relatives come from different parts of Brazil. |
| Falei com meus pais por telefone. | I spoke with my parents on the phone. |
Remember: Translate parents as pais; reserve parentes for relatives more broadly. Learn the pair in a complete sentence to avoid translating the similar-looking English word directly.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
My parents live in another city.
Show a Portuguese answer
Meus pais moram em outra cidade.
I’m going to visit my relatives on Sunday.
Show a Portuguese answer
Vou visitar meus parentes no domingo.
My father and mother arrive tomorrow.
Show a Portuguese answer
Meu pai e minha mãe chegam amanhã.
My relatives come from different parts of Brazil.
Show a Portuguese answer
Meus parentes vêm de várias partes do Brasil.
I spoke with my parents on the phone.
Show a Portuguese answer
Falei com meus pais por telefone.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Translate parents as pais; reserve parentes for relatives more broadly. Learn the pair in a complete sentence to avoid translating the similar-looking English word directly.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Parents vs. Parentes: A Portuguese False Friend lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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