Brazilian and European Portuguese stem from the same linguistic roots, but over time each dialect has developed its own unique features in grammar, spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary. For example, in Brazil, we say: Eu vou pegar o próximo trem, whereas in Portugal you may hear, Eu vou apanhar o próximo comboio meaning I’m going to take the next train instead. Here are some of the differences:
Brazilian and European Portuguese each have their own specific regional terms and expressions.
European Portuguese is generally considered to be more formal, whereas Brazilian Portuguese tends to be more relaxed and informal in both written and spoken contexts.
There are only minor differences between the dialects in terms of grammar. However, one of the few differences is that Brazilian Portuguese uses the pronoun você meaning you in informal situations, whereas European Portuguese uses the additional subject pronoun tu meaning you in informal situations, while the pronoun você is not commonly used.
Despite these distinctions, speakers from both variants can generally understand each other with no or little difficulty. Are you ready to know more about these and other differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese? Stay tuned!
Why are Brazilian and European Portuguese different?
The two major standard versions of Portuguese are Brazilian and European Portuguese. They have the same linguistic origins, remain mutually intelligible, and maintain a unified communication standard.
The Portuguese language first reached Brazil with the arrival of Portuguese-speaking colonists in the 16th century. In Brazil, Portuguese was strongly influenced by the presence of indigenous and African languages, along with other languages, like Italian, that were brought later by other European immigrants.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese spoken in Portugal underwent different changes, without these influences.
These historical, cultural, and geographical factors have generated some differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. Let’s see them in detail below.
What are the main differences in grammar between European and Brazilian Portuguese?
The differences in grammar between Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese are relatively minor, as the two share the same fundamental grammatical rules. Let's see the main distinctions in structures.
Use of the gerund in continuous tenses
In both Brazilian and European Portuguese, continuous tenses are used to talk about ongoing actions or events. In both languages, we use the verb estar meaning to be as the auxiliary verb to form continuous tenses. However, the form of the main verb is a bit different. Brazilian Portuguese uses estar + gerund, while European Portuguese uses estar + a + infinitive:
Brazilian Portuguese:
estar meaning to be + gerund -ndo
European Portuguese:
estar meaning to be + a + infinitive verb
This means that Brazilians would say, Você está entendendo essa diferença?, whereas the Portuguese would say, Está a perceber essa diferença? meaning Are you understanding these differences?.
Use of the verbs ‘ter’ and ‘haver’
The verbs ter meaning to have and haver meaning to be, there is/are are used in both European and Brazilian Portuguese. However, they are used differently in each variant. Let’s see these differences below.
‘Ter’ and ‘haver’ as auxiliary verbs
In Brazilian Portuguese, the verbs ter and haver are used as auxiliary verbs to form compound tenses. However, ter is more common in everyday language, whereas haver is more used in formal contexts and written language.
Informal:
Formal/written language:
In European Portuguese, there is no such a difference between the formal and informal auxiliary verbs. Ter is the standard auxiliary verb for both formal and informal contexts.
‘Ter’ and ‘haver’ meaning “there is/are”
Ter and haver can also convey the idea of existence or occurrence, and are translated as “there is/are.” The difference in the use of these verbs in European and Brazilian Portuguese is also very straightforward.
Brazilian Portuguese uses both ter and haver to indicate the existence or presence of something. However, ter is more common in everyday language, and haver normally appears in written language and it sounds very formal in spoken language.
Informal:
Formal/written language:
In European Portuguese, only the verb haver is normally used in both contexts.
‘Você’ or ‘tu’?: The use of subject pronouns in European vs Brazilian Portuguese
The personal pronouns tu and você both address someone as “you” in Portuguese. However, Brazilian Portuguese uses the subject pronoun você for both formal and informal “you.” European Portuguese uses tu for informal you, and doesn’t use the subject pronoun você to show formality. Instead, there are three different ways to use the formal “you” in European Portuguese. Let’s see these differences below, starting with the use of você in Brazilian Portuguese!
Brazilian Portuguese: você meaning you
In Brazil, você functions like the word “you” in English, used in both formal and informal contexts. So, Brazilians tend to use você most of the time.
Você está em casa?Translation: Are you home?formal or informalHowever, when Brazilians wish to be more formal, the following pronouns can be used:
Gender / Number Singular Plural Masculine o senhorTranslation: you, Siros senhoresTranslation: you, SirsFeminine a senhoraTranslation: you, Madamas senhorasTranslation: you, MadamsO senhor prefere café ou chá?Translation: Do you, Sir, prefer coffee or tea?Literally: Do you prefer coffee or tea?A senhora poderia me dar uma informação?Translation: Could you, Madam, give me some information?Literally: Could you give me some information?These formal pronouns are used in professional settings, public services, and, more often, with elderly people. Although Brazilians tend to be more informal, when in doubt, o senhor and a senhora are generally a safe and respectful choice, especially in the initial interactions with someone new.
European Portuguese: tu meaning you
Tu , in Portugal, is the pronoun used for “you” in informal contexts, such as with family or friends.
Tu és o meu melhor amigo.Translation: You are my best friend.When the subject pronoun tu is used in Portugal, the verb form has a different conjugation (unlike when tu is used in parts of Brazil): a second person conjugation ending in -s is used.
In formal contexts, European Portuguese expresses formality in three different ways:
Using the typical third-person verb form for the pronoun você meaning you, but omitting the pronoun você itself.
VocêPrefere café ou chá?Translation: Do you prefer coffee or tea?Saying the name of the person you are addressing. Imagine you want to formally ask Catarina if she prefers coffee or tea. You could say:
A Catarina prefere café ou chá?Translation: Catarina, do you prefer coffee or tea?Using the pronouns o senhor, a senhora, os senhores, as senhoras, exactly like the formal way in Brazil.
A senhora prefere café ou chá?Translation: Do you prefer coffee or tea?
Possessive adjectives: the differences in European and Brazilian Portuguese
There are some differences in the use of possessive adjectives between European and Brazilian Portuguese. Let’s see them below.
The possessive adjectives for você and tu (informal you):
In Brazilian Portuguese, it’s more common to use the possessive adjective of the second person singular você: seu, sua, seus, suas meaning your, as in:
- A sua casa é linda!Translation: Your house is beautiful!
- O seu carro é muito confortável.Translation: Your car is very comfortable.
In informal European Portuguese, it's more common to use the possessive adjective of the second person singular tu: teu, tua, teus, tuas meaning your, as in:
- A tua casa é linda!Translation: Your house is beautiful!
- O teu carro é muito confortável.Translation: Your car is very comfortable.
However, in formal European Portuguese, you can use the possessive adjectives seu, sua, seus, suas, as they reflect the use of the formal subject pronouns o senhor, a senhora meaning formal you singular. If you say “A sua casa é linda!” in European Portuguese, you mean that “A casa da senhora é linda!” meaning Lady, your house is beautiful!.
The possessive adjectives for vocês meaning you, pl.:
In Brazilian Portuguese, the possessive adjective for vocês meaning you, pl. can be seus, suas or, more often, de vocês meaning your, pl.. This construction uses the preposition de meaning of followed by the pronoun vocês meaning you, pl. to indicate possession.
Essas malas são suas? / Essas malas são de vocês?Translation: Are these bags yours?Differently, in European Portuguese, the possessive adjective for the formal vocês or os senhores, as senhoras meaning formal you, pl. is vosso, vossa, vossos, vossas meaning your pl..
- Essas malas são vossas?Translation: Are these bags yours?
- Aquela mulher é a vossa mãe?Translation: Is that woman your mother?
The difference in object pronouns in European and Brazilian Portuguese
Brazilian and European Portuguese grammar share the same rules for object pronoun placement. Object pronouns in the Portuguese language can go before, within, or after the verb, depending on the sentence structure. However, Brazilian Portuguese is more flexible, and Brazilians typically use the object pronoun before the verb informally, instead of following all of the different grammar rules.
Brazilian Portuguese:
In informal contexts, Brazilian Portuguese generally places the object pronoun before the verb.
- O Pedro não te ligou?Translation: Pedro didn’t call you?
- Nós nos veríamos amanhã no trabalho, mas estarei de férias.Translation: We would see each other tomorrow at work, but I’ll be on vacation.
- Eu te espero na porta do cinema.Translation: I'll wait for you at the cinema door.
European Portuguese:
In sentences with negative words or interrogative words, for example, the object is placed before the verb.
O Pedro não te ligou?Translation: Pedro didn’t call you?In the future or conditional present tense, the object pronoun can also be placed within the verb.
Ver-nos-íamos amanhã no trabalho, mas estarei de férias.Translation: We would see each other tomorrow at work, but I’ll be on vacation.In affirmative sentences, the object pronoun is placed after the verb through a hyphen, as in:
Eu espero-te na porta do cinema.Translation: I'll wait for you at the cinema door.
The difference in the use of indirect object pronoun
Brazilian and European Portuguese also share the same grammar rules for the use of the indirect object pronouns lhe, lhes meaning you (sing.), him, her, it, you (pl.), them. However, like with object pronoun placement, Brazilian Portuguese does not always follow the strict grammatical rules for indirect object pronouns, while European Portuguese does:
As per grammar rules, European Portuguese uses the indirect object pronouns lhe, lhes to indicate the recipient of the action, which means that speakers may say:
Instead, Brazilian Portuguese tends to use the preposition para meaning to, for followed by a personal pronoun to avoid using the indirect object pronoun. So the same sentence as above would be said slightly differently in Brazilian Portuguese, as below:
The difference in the use of demonstratives
Brazilian and European Portuguese share the same grammar rules to determine the use of demonstrative adjectives and pronouns:
este(s), esta(s) meaning this, these: indicates proximity to the speaker
esse(s), essa(s) meaning this, these: indicates proximity to the person to whom one speaks
aquele(s), aquela(s) meaning that, those: indicates distance from the two interlocutors
However, in everyday language, Brazilian Portuguese usually doesn’t differentiate between este(s), esta(s) and esse(s), essa(s). Brazilians tend to use only esse(s), essa(s) to determine both spatial distances.
Per the grammar rules, the demonstrative adjective esta should be used in the sentence above, since the child is close to the speaker. But, Brazilians normally would use essa instead of esta.
European Portuguese, on the other hand, distinguishes the demonstratives este(s), esta(s) and esse(s), essa(s). So the sentence above would be said:
The use of the definite article
The use of definite articles in Brazilian and European Portuguese is generally similar, but European Portuguese tends to use the definite article more often than Brazilian Portuguese, especially before possessive adjectives and names.
Brazilian Portuguese:
- Eu não conheço sua família.Translation: I don’t know your family.
- Camila é minha irmã.Translation: Camila is my sister.
European Portuguese:
- Eu não conheço a sua família.Translation: I don’t know your family.
- A Camila é minha irmã.Translation: Camila is my sister.
However, it's important to remember that both variants follow the same fundamental rules for article usage. These differences are more a matter of regional variations and preferences rather than strict grammatical distinctions.
Preposition of movement ‘a’ (to)
Brazilian and European Portuguese grammar also share the same rules for the use of the preposition a. However, Brazilian Portuguese often uses the preposition em meaning in, on, at and its contractions no, na, no, nas meaning in the instead of a in those sentences.
Brazilian Portuguese:
- Eu vou na padaria.Translation: I’m going to the bakery.em meaning to + a meaning the ⇒ na
- Você foi no supermercado?Translation: Did you go to the supermarket?em meaning to + o meaning the ⇒ no
European Portuguese is more likely to follow the grammar rules for the use of the preposition of movement a meaning to and its contractions à, às, ao, aos meaning to the.
European Portuguese:
- Eu vou a padaria.Translation: I’m going to the bakery.a meaning to + a meaning the ⇒ à
- Você foi ao supermercado?Translation: Did you go to the supermarket?a meaning to + o meaning the ⇒ ao
What are the main differences in vocabulary?
The vocabulary differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese can be quite significant, as they have developed independently over time due to historical, cultural, and regional influences. See below how some sentences may sound very different in Brazilian and European Portuguese.
Brazilian Portuguese: | Quero um café com leite e um sanduíche de queijo. |
European Portuguese: | Quero uma meia de leite e um sandes de queijo. |
English: | I want a coffee with milk and a cheese sandwich. |
In this example, the word leite meaning milk remains the same in both variants, but the full term for “coffee with milk” is different. Additionally, the word for “sandwich” is sanduíche in Brazilian Portuguese, while in European Portuguese, it is sandes.
Brazilian Portuguese: | Você assistiu ao filme “A garota no trem”? |
European Portuguese: | Você assistiu ao filme “A rapariga no comboio”? |
English: | Have you seen the movie “The Girl on the Train”? |
In the second example, the word for “girl” in Brazilian Portuguese is garota, whereas in European Portuguese, it is rapariga. And the word for “train” in Brazilian Portuguese is trem, whereas in European Portuguese, it is comboio.
The differences in vocabulary can vary a lot, so see our list to get to know more vocabulary words that are different in Brazilian and European Portuguese!
Differences in pronunciation
One of the biggest differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese certainly lies in their pronunciation. When learning Portuguese as a second language, people tend to say that it's easier to understand Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation, probably due to its slower speech pace, and the pronunciation of the vowels. Let’s talk about these differences below.
Vowels
In both Brazilian and European Portuguese, the sound of stressed vowels is clear, but the sounds of unstressed vowels are different: Brazilian Portuguese has a more open and longer sound of unstressed vowels, whereas European Portuguese tends to omit this sound.
| Word | Brazilian Portuguese | European Portuguese |
|---|---|---|
menino meaning boy | transcribed meeneenoo | transcribed m’neenoo |
palavra meaning word | transcribed pahlahvrah | transcribed p’lahvrah |
importante meaning important | transcribed impohrtahumchee | transcribed imp’rtahumtee |
Portugal meaning Portugal | transcribed portoogahoo | transcribed p’r’tgahl |
There’s a reduction in the sound of the unstressed vowels “a,” “e,” “o,” and “u” in the words above, when pronounced in European Portuguese, which does not occur in Brazilian Portuguese.
➣ Syllables de, di, te, and ti:
In Brazilian Portuguese, the syllables de / di and te / ti are pronounced like transcribed jee and transcribed chee, respectively. European Portuguese, on the contrary, pronounces these syllables like transcribed dee and transcribed tee, similar to what the English pronunciation would be.
Brazilian Portuguese:
- quente transcribed kencheemeaning hot
- unidade transcribed ooneedahjeemeaning unit
European Portuguese:
- quente transcribed kenteemeaning hot
- unidade transcribed ooneedahdeemeaning unit
If we compare the pronunciation of the word quente, for example, the sound of “t” in Brazilian Portuguese, it's similar to the “ch” sound in the English word “chunk,” whereas the same “t” in European Portuguese sounds more like the “t” sound in the English word “tea.”
Consonants
There are some differences in the pronunciation of the consonants “l,” “r,” and “s” in Brazilian and European Portuguese.
Consonant -l:
In Brazilian Portuguese, the consonant “l” has the sound of transcribed oo when it's before another consonant or at the end of a word. In European Portuguese, on the other hand, the “l” has the sound of transcribed l, which is more similar to the sound of “l” in English.
Brazilian Portuguese:
- Brasil transcribed Brazeeoomeaning Brazil
- palco transcribed pahookoomeaning stage
European Portuguese:
- Brasil transcribed Brazeelmeaning Brazil
- palco transcribed pahlkoomeaning stage
Consonant -r:
In Brazilian Portuguese, the consonant “r” at the end of the word is usually not strongly pronounced. European Portuguese, on the other hand, has a stronger pronunciation of “r” when it’s placed at the end of the word, which means that we can clearly hear the “r” sound.
Brazilian Portuguese:
- abrir transcribed ahbreemeaning to open
- fechar transcribed fayshahmeaning to close
European Portuguese:
- abrir transcribed ahbreermeaning to open
- fechar transcribed fayshahrmeaning to close
Consonant -s:
In European Portuguese, an “s” at the end of a syllable, as in cos·tas meaning back, is pronounced transcribed sh, just like the sound in the English word “show.” The same transcribed sh sound also occurs when “s” appears in front of the voiceless consonants “p,” “t,” “c,” and “f,” and in European Portuguese, even a “z” at the end of a word is pronounced transcribed sh.
In Brazilian Portuguese, on the other hand, the “s” usually has the classic transcribed s sound in all of these places, just like the “s” in the English “sign.”
Brazilian Portuguese:
- casas transcribed kahzhasmeaning houses
European Portuguese:
- casash transcribed kahzhasmeaning houses
Differences in spelling and accents
Despite the standardization of Portuguese spelling after the Orthographic Agreement of the Portuguese Language, there are still minor differences in spelling and the use of accents between Brazilian and European Portuguese that can also affect the pronunciation of certain words.
Silent consonants “c” and “p”:
In Brazilian Portuguese, the consonants “p” and “c” are clearly pronounced in words where they are present, while in European Portuguese, when they are followed by another consonant, they are omitted in both speech and writing.
Brazilian Portuguese:
- recepção meaning reception
European Portuguese:
- receção meaning reception
On the other hand, European Portuguese tends to keep the “c” when the following syllable starts with “t” or “ç,” which does not happen in Brazilian Portuguese.
Brazilian Portuguese:
- fato meaning fact
- ação meaning action
European Portuguese:
- facto meaning fact
- acção meaning action
The accent circumflex ^:
Brazilian Portuguese uses the accent circumflex ( ^ ) more often than European Portuguese does, particularly when a vowel comes before nasal sounds, due to its stronger nasal pronunciation. See in the examples above, that, when the accent circumflex comes before a nasal sound, the acute accent ( ´ ) is used in European Portuguese.
Brazilian Portuguese:
- bônus meaning bonus
- gênero meaning gender
- tênis meaning tennis
European Portuguese:
- bónus meaning bonus
- género meaning gender
- ténis meaning tennis
To sum up
In this post we saw that, although Brazilian and European Portuguese are mutually intelligible and maintain a unified communication standard, each language has developed some particularities over the time. These differences are reflected in some aspects of grammar, spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary. Take a look at our chart and see the main differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese at a glance!
Why don’t you practice the differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese with these activities?
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