Quick answer
Flagrante is obvious or caught in the act. Fragrante smells good.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
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What each word does
flagrante
flagrant or caught in the act
Use flagrante for obvious violation, legal flagrante, or someone caught in the act.
fragrante
fragrant
Use fragrante for pleasant smell or aroma.
How to choose
- flagrante: Choose flagrante if the sentence points to obvious violation, legal flagrante, or someone caught in the act.
- fragrante: Choose fragrante if the sentence points to pleasant smell or aroma.
Examples
O erro foi flagrante.
The mistake was flagrant.
O jardim estava fragrante.
The garden was fragrant.
Common trap
Most news and legal contexts need flagrante, not fragrante.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with flagrante, then once with fragrante. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Learn Brazilian Portuguese step by step
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