These words may sound like swear words, but they are not.

Have you ever come across an unfamiliar word in a book and linked it to a foul word? This usually happens in several languages, and Portuguese would be no different. In the Portuguese language there are several words that sound like swear words, that end up deceiving many people who misunderstand a statement or phrase. However, so you don't get scared anymore, we've chosen here some words that frighten, but are harmless.

Read more: Check out some strange words and their meanings in the dictionary.

Words that sound like swear words

• shit

No thinking that it is a colloquial word or that it only walks in "dirty mouths", since cagaço means extreme fear, according to the dictionary. Thus, it is possible to make statements such as “That street is so dark that it gives me shit”, and this will only mean that you are too afraid to take such a route. Therefore, it is a legitimate expression of our language.

• impute

Perhaps, when you read that word somewhere, you immediately imagine that it is a curse word or a derivative of a certain curse word. However, to impute is a word in the Portuguese language that is even very present in the legal environment. After all, it means “to make responsible” in the sense of blaming, condemning or criminalizing. Therefore, it can be used at the time of conviction of a defendant.

• traveler

Some people haven't even heard that word before, but they soon associate it with a swear word. However, the original meaning of this word means “traveller”, in the sense of a wanderer, a wanderer with no destination. In addition, it is possible that it is used to indicate the queen's commissioner, an official of the monarchy. However, in no sense is this a bad word.

• Putative

Finally, we have one more word that looks like a bad word, but is relatively common in the legal environment. In this case, putative means what is suspected, the hypothesis that is placed on someone. At the same time, it can indicate something illegitimate that is considered legitimate because it was done in good faith or out of ignorance. For example, a “marriage” in which there is no official bond, or even an authoritarian government that was not elected through the political procedures of that country. In both cases, these are putative situations.