Differences between Brazilian & European Portuguese

With so many speakers worldwide no wonder there are differences in

pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar! Brazilians speak slower, a bit more nasal and pronounce all the vowels.

The existence of Portuguese in Brazil is a legacy of Portuguese colonization of the Americas. Portuguese immigrants started settling in Brazil in the 16th century, and for some time Portuguese coexisted with Amerindian languages as well as with various African languages spoken by millions of slaves brought to the country between the 16th and 19th centuries.

The development of Brazilian Portuguese has been influenced by other languages with which it has come into contact: Tupi-Guarani (Amerindian

language), African languages, German, Italian, English and French. In the 20th Century, new technological words have been incorporated into the

Portuguese language and Brazilians were eager to adapt the new words and embraced the use of idiomatic expressions.

Sutiã

tchau

abajur

baguete

bijuteria fiasco

carnaval

Brazilian and European Portuguese differ from each other in phonology, intonation and spelling. But in 1990 an

was reached between all Portuguese-speaking countries, in order to make the language more uniform. The reform has been in force in Brazil and Portugal since 2009

Vocabulary differences in Brazil and Portugal

Portugal Brazil

Prego: steak sandwich Prego: nail

Garoto: boy Garoto: latte (in a tea cup)

Passadeira: runner Passadeira: crosswalk

Portugal Brazil

Casa de banho Banheiro

Fato de banho: one piece swimsuit

maiô