January 23, 2025 / by the SimulTrans Team Estimated read time: 8 minutes
Portuguese is a Romance language and the official language of Portugal, Brazil, and several other countries. While Portuguese speakers in Portugal and Brazil share the same language, there are significant differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
Historical and Geographical Factors
Portuguese is an ancient language that evolved from Latin, just like Spanish, Italian, French, and Romanian. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal established a vast colonial empire that included territories in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The Portuguese language spread to these territories, where it mixed with local languages, giving rise to new dialects.
Brazil was the largest and most populous of Portugal’s American colonies. Portuguese colonizers first arrived in Brazil in 1500 and established settlements along the coast. Over the centuries, Brazil became a melting pot of European, African, and Indigenous cultures, resulting in a distinct national identity.
Portugal, on the other hand, remained a small and isolated country on the Iberian Peninsula. Portuguese society was heavily influenced by the Catholic Church and had a strong literary tradition. Portuguese literature flourished during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, producing great writers like Luís de Camões, Fernando Pessoa, and José Saramago.
Vocabulary
One of the most noticeable differences between Portuguese in Portugal and Brazil is vocabulary. While the two variants share many words and phrases, there are significant differences in the meaning and usage of some terms. For example:
Vocabulary differences can create confusion and misunderstanding, especially in written communication. Therefore, it’s essential to use the correct variant of Portuguese depending on the target audience.
Pronunciation
Another significant difference between Portuguese in Portugal and Brazil is pronunciation. While both variants use the same alphabet and have similar phonetic rules, there are some differences in intonation, accentuation, and vowel pronunciation. For example:
- In Brazil, the final “r” sound is often dropped or pronounced as an “h” sound, while in Portugal, it’s pronounced as a guttural “r.”
- In Brazil, the vowel “e” is pronounced as “e” or “ei,” while in Portugal, it’s pronounced as “e” or “ê.”
- In Brazil, the vowel “o” is pronounced as “o” or “u,” while in Portugal, it’s pronounced as “o” or “ô.”
These differences can make it difficult for speakers of one variant to understand the other. Therefore, it’s crucial to use voiceover talent for the correct dialect for audio and video recording.
Grammar
Portuguese grammar is relatively uniform across all variants, but there are some differences in syntax and usage. For example:
- In Brazil, the gerund form of verbs is commonly used in place of the infinitive, while in Portugal, the infinitive is used more frequently. For example, in Brazil, one would say “estou comendo” (I am eating), while in Portugal, one would say “estou a comer.”
- In Portugal, the pronoun “tu” is commonly used to address friends and family members, while in Brazil, the pronoun “você” is more common. In Portugal, the verb conjugation for “tu” is different from “você,” while in Brazil, the verb conjugation for “você” is the same as “ele/ela” (he/she).
These differences in grammar can lead to misunderstanding if you do not create customized translations for each region.
Expectations for Regional Variants
Users of Portuguese in different regions typically expect content in their regional variant. For example, Portuguese speakers in Brazil would expect content in Brazilian Portuguese, while Portuguese speakers in Portugal would expect content in European Portuguese. This is particularly important for businesses, organizations, and individuals who wish to communicate effectively with their target audiences.
However, it’s worth noting that both variants of Portuguese are mutually intelligible, meaning that speakers of one variant can generally understand speakers of the other variant with some effort. Therefore, it’s possible to use a more neutral form of Portuguese that can be understood by both audiences.
Translation Adaptation
In conclusion, Portuguese in Portugal and Portuguese in Brazil have several differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. With about a 30% difference between the variants, SimulTrans recommends adapting translations for each region.
The adaptation process is typically less expensive than a separate translation into the two languages but requires additional time since it can only be completed after the initial translation has been completed. It is usually most effective to translate into the variant with the largest market for your content and then adapt the translation into the secondary market.
For accurate adaptation costs, please request a quote from SimulTrans.
