Brazil vs Portugal
The two main varieties of Portuguese differ significantly.
Pronunciation
| Feature | Brazil | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Final vowels | Clear | Reduced/silent |
| "de"/"te" before "i" | "jee"/"chee" | "d"/"t" |
| Final "s" | "s" | "sh" |
| "r" at start | "h" sound | Rolled |
| Overall | Slower, open | Faster, closed |
Vocabulary differences
| English | Brazil | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| bus | 🔊 ônibus | 🔊 autocarro |
| train | 🔊 trem | 🔊 comboio |
| bathroom | 🔊 banheiro | 🔊 casa de banho |
| cell phone | 🔊 celular | 🔊 telemóvel |
| breakfast | 🔊 café da manhã | 🔊 pequeno-almoço |
| refrigerator | 🔊 geladeira | 🔊 frigorífico |
| brown | 🔊 marrom | 🔊 castanho |
| juice | 🔊 suco | 🔊 sumo |
| cup | 🔊 xícara | 🔊 chávena |
Grammar differences
Pronouns
- Brazil: você is standard informal
- Portugal: tu is standard informal
Gerund vs Infinitive
- Brazil: 🔊 Estou falando (I'm speaking)
- Portugal: 🔊 Estou a falar (I'm speaking)
Object pronouns
- Brazil: Often at start or middle of sentence
- Portugal: Usually after verb or at end
Which should I learn?
Brazilian Portuguese if you:
- Plan to visit/work in Brazil
- Want more learning resources
- Prefer clearer pronunciation for beginners
European Portuguese if you:
- Plan to visit/work in Portugal or Africa
- Want to understand all varieties (harder pronunciation = better ear)
Both are mutually intelligible. Brazilians and Portuguese understand each other well.