Quick answer
Pleito contests or requests; preito pays homage.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
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What each word does
pleito
election, claim, or dispute
Use pleito for an electoral contest, a formal request, or a matter argued in court.
preito
homage or submission
Use preito for a formal demonstration of respect, loyalty, or tribute.
How to choose
- pleito: Choose pleito if the sentence points to an electoral contest, a formal request, or a matter argued in court.
- preito: Choose preito if the sentence points to a formal demonstration of respect, loyalty, or tribute.
Examples
O pleito municipal ocorrerá em outubro.
The municipal election will take place in October.
O escritor prestou preito ao antigo mestre.
The writer paid homage to his former mentor.
Common trap
The common formal expressions differ by one consonant: apresentar um pleito, but prestar preito a alguém.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with pleito, then once with preito. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
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