Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.
Quick answer
Preconceito is the biased belief or attitude; discriminação is the unequal distinction or treatment.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
preconceito
prejudice or preconception
Use preconceito for a prior judgment, stereotype, or hostile attitude about a group or person.
discriminação
discrimination
Use discriminação for unfair distinction, exclusion, or treatment based on identity or status.
How to choose
- preconceito: Choose preconceito if the sentence points to a prior judgment, stereotype, or hostile attitude about a group or person.
- discriminação: Choose discriminação if the sentence points to unfair distinction, exclusion, or treatment based on identity or status.
Examples
O projeto combate o preconceito racial.
The project fights racial prejudice.
A lei proíbe a discriminação no trabalho.
The law prohibits workplace discrimination.
Common trap
They often appear together, but one is not proof of the other in every case. Describe the belief and the action precisely.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with preconceito, then once with discriminação. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.