Learning European Portuguese vs. Brazilian Portuguese

Portuguese is a beautiful language spoken by millions of people worldwide. If you’ve decided to learn Portuguese, you might be wondering whether to choose European or Brazilian Portuguese.

While the two variants are to a great extent mutually intelligible among native speakers, there are nonetheless differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and even grammar. 

In this short article, I will introduce you* to a few differences between the two standards and explore key factors to consider when choosing one or the other. Read on.

* If you want a detailed comparison, read this other article: European vs. Brazilian Portuguese – How Different Are They?

If you’re learning Brazilian Portuguese, I highly recommend checking out Eli’s podcast and Street Smart Brazil for lessons and online courses.

Differences between European and Brazilian Portuguese

Pronunciation and Accent

The most noticeable difference between European and Brazilian Portuguese is by far pronunciation and accent. 

Brazilian Portuguese tends to have a softer and more melodious sound. In contrast, European Portuguese is known for its closed vowel sounds and somewhat harsher tone.

Feel free to browse European Portuguese TV shows, podcasts, and YouTube channels to appreciate its phonetic qualities.

Vocabulary 

While the core vocabulary of both variants is largely the same, there are differences reflecting different cultures (not least colloquialisms and idiomatic expressions) that learners should be aware of. Here are a few examples:

	Portugal	Brazil
hi everyone!	olá pessoal!	oi galera!
bathroom	quarto de banho	banheiro
breakfast	pequeno-almoço	café da manhã
juice	sumo	suco
fridge	frigorífico	geladeira
train	comboio	trem
bus	autocarro	ônibus
hot dog	cachorro	cachorro quente
ice cream	gelado	sorvete
to chat (informal)	pôr-se à treta	bater um papo
something	uma coisa	um negócio
awesome/nice	fixe	legal
dog	cão	cachorro
mobile phone	telemóvel	celular
draught beer	imperial	chope
brandy	aguardente	cachaça
screen	ecrã	tela
computer mouse	rato	mouse
football team	equipa de futebol	time de futebol
goalkeeper	guarda-redes	goleiro
goal	golo	gol
tram	elétrico	bonde
grass	relva	grama
block (neighbourhood)	quarteirão	quadra
	. . .	. . .

Also, you’ll come across false friends – words that look the same but mean different things. Here are a few examples:

	PT	BR
propina	tuition fee	brive
apelido	last name	nickname
rapariga	girl	prostitute
fato	suit	fact
pele	leather	skin
bicha	queue	gay
peão	pedestrian	pawn
	. . .	. . .

Grammar

Though nothing substantial, there are a few nuances in grammar between Brazilian and European Portuguese.  

For instance, European Portuguese often puts definite articles before proper nouns and possessive pronouns. In Brazilian Portuguese, though, those articles are for the most part left out:

(pt) O meu irmão chama-se Paulo.
(br) Meu irmão se chama Paulo.
My brother is called Paulo.

In the example above, you can also observe that the reflexive pronoun se takes different positions in the sentence in European and Brazilian Portuguese. The same would apply to object pronouns.

Another noticeable difference is the way each variant forms the equivalent of the Present Continuous in English:

(pt) Eu estou a falar agora.
(br) Eu estou falando agora.
I am speaking now.

Factors to Consider when Deciding between European and Brazilian Portuguese

Your Goals

The choice between European and Brazilian Portuguese should align with your specific goals. If you plan to visit, work, or live in Portugal, European Portuguese is your pick. Conversely, Brazilian Portuguese is the obvious choice if you are planning to travel to or settle in Brazil.

Resources and Accessibility

Consider the availability of learning resources for each standard. Brazilian Portuguese resources are more abundant due to Brazil’s larger population and global presence. However, quality resources in European Portuguese have become more available over the last few years, which may sway your decision.

Personal Preference

Ultimately, your personal preferences play a significant role in your final decision. For instance, some learners are drawn to the musicality of Brazilian Portuguese, while others appreciate the austere tonality of European Portuguese. Try listening to both accents and see which one resonates with you. 

Also, figure out which standard feels easier on your ears and tongue. Keep in mind that language learners tend to find the accent of the European standard a tad more challenging; that alone could tip the balance in favor of the Brazilian variant.

On the other hand, those embracing European Portuguese find it easier to understand and adapt to the Brazilian standard than the other way around. If you want to become fluent in both standards, consider starting with European Portuguese. 

Conclusion

While there are differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar between European and Brazilian Portuguese, pronunciation is by and large where those differences are most salient.

If you are on the fence trying to decide between European or Brazilian Portuguese, take your goals, available resources, and personal preferences into consideration. Whatever your final pick is, remember that you can always embrace the other standard at a later stage. Usually, for those of you planning to become fluent in both variants, European Portuguese may be the most sensible choice to get started.

Finally, if you want a detailed comparison between Brazilian and European Portuguese pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary, read this other article: European vs. Brazilian Portuguese – How Different Are They?