What Are the Differences Between Brazilian and European Portuguese?

What is Portuguese?

The Portuguese language originated from Latin in the Western Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Galicia (Spain) and northern Portugal. Roman soldiers and colonists introduced Latin in 216 BCE, and the language evolved over time due to influences from other languages spoken prior to the Roman domination. The Portuguese language spread worldwide in the 15th and 16th century as Portugal set up a vast colonial and commercial empire, spanning from Brazil in the Americas to Macau in China. Today, Portuguese is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe, and co-official with Chinese in the Chinese S.A.R. of Macau and Tetum in East Timor.

Perhaps the most well-known Portuguese-country is Brazil, overshadowing it's older brother, Portugal. The question is: even if Brazilians and Portuguese speak "Portuguese", how similar is the language spoken in each place?

The History of Brazilian Portuguese

The Portuguese arrived in Brazil in the 16th century and established colonies. The Portuguese language was introduced as the main language spoken in Colonial Brazil. With time, this evolved into the General Language, a mix of Portuguese spoken by colonizers and natives, became the dominant language in Colonial Brazil for around two centuries. Today, Brazilian Portuguese is the official language of Brazil and is spoken by the majority of the population. It has been influenced by other languages introduced by immigrants, such as German and Italian, over the past century. Despite these influences, Brazilian Portuguese retains its distinct characteristics and continues to evolve as a vibrant and dynamic language.

The Differences Between the Dialects

One of the most noticeable differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese is the accent. Brazilian Portuguese has a strong cadence and lift, making it easier to learn and understand. European Portuguese accents vary between northern, central, and southern dialects, with differences in vowel stresses. The pronunciation of words is also different between the two variants. Brazilian Portuguese has more open vowels, giving the language a more pronounced and stressed syllable sound. European Portuguese pronounces words with a more closed mouth, resulting in less pronounced vowels.

Another difference between the two variants is vocabulary. There are differences in vocabulary between Brazilian and European Portuguese. For example, the words for "train," "bus," and "suit" are different. Brazilian Portuguese sometimes incorporates words from American English, while European Portuguese tends to adopt words from Latin roots. This difference in vocabulary can sometimes lead to confusion or misunderstandings between speakers of the two variants.

Here are some quick examples of differences between the dialects:

1. Train:

• Brazilian Portuguese: Trem

• European Portuguese: Comboio

2. Bus:

• Brazilian Portuguese: Ônibus

• European Portuguese: Autocarro

3. Suit:

• Brazilian Portuguese: Terno

• European Portuguese: Fato

4. Buttocks:

• Brazilian Portuguese: Bunda

• European Portuguese: Rabo

5. Ice Cream:

• Brazilian Portuguese: Sorvete

• European Portuguese: Gelado

Intonation is another area where there are differences between the two variants. Brazilian Portuguese has a more melodic and musical intonation, while European Portuguese can sound somewhat garbled. This difference in intonation can sometimes make it difficult for speakers of one variant to understand speakers of the other.

Despite these differences, European and Brazilian Portuguese are mutually intelligible, meaning speakers of one variant can generally understand speakers of the other. This is due to the fact that the two variants share a common linguistic foundation. However, there are still differences in formal and informal speech between the two variants, including variations in vocabulary and expressions.

Idiomatic USA has over 25 years of experience in providing translations from Portuguese to English, and English to Portuguese. Our translators are all native speakers, and understand the complexities of the Portuguese language.

Get in touch with Idiomatic USA today for a free quote for your upcoming project.