Portugal vs Brazil: everyday vocabulary
Last updated 28 October 2026
Speakers of European and Brazilian Portuguese understand each other without trouble, but a handful of everyday words are different, and a few of them mean something else on the other side of the Atlantic. This page groups the words by topic. Each group has a European list and a Brazilian list in the same order, so you can read across and hear both.
Pick one variety to speak and learn the other for listening. Which one you choose usually depends on who you will talk to, and you can change your mind later.
Technology and the home
Portugal
- telemóvel m mobile phone
- ecrã m screen
- rato m computer mouse
- frigorífico m fridge
- casa de banho f bathroom, toilet
- duche m shower
Brazil
- celular m mobile phone
- tela f screen
- mouse m computer mouse
- geladeira f fridge
- banheiro m bathroom, toilet
- chuveiro m shower
Food and shopping
Portugal
- pequeno-almoço m breakfast
- sumo m juice
- gelado m ice cream
- sandes f sandwich
- talho m butcher's shop
- carne picada f minced meat
Brazil
- café da manhã m breakfast
- suco m juice
- sorvete m ice cream
- sanduíche m sandwich
- açougue m butcher's shop
- carne moída f minced meat
People, clothes and getting around
Portugal
- miúdo m child, kid
- fato m suit
- camisola f jumper, sweater
- autocarro m bus
- comboio m train
- carta de condução f driving licence
Brazil
- criança f child
- terno m suit
- suéter m jumper, sweater
- ônibus m bus
- trem m train
- carteira de motorista f driving licence
False friends
Some words exist on both sides but mean different things. These are the ones that catch learners out.
Portugal
- Vou comprar uma camisola. I am going to buy a jumper.
- Ele vestiu o fato. He put on his suit.
- A rapariga está na escola. The girl is at school.
Brazil
- Ela comprou uma camisola. She bought a nightdress.
- Ele comprou um terno novo. He bought a new suit.
- Isso é um fato. That is a fact.
- A menina está na escola. The girl is at school.
- Camisola is a jumper in Portugal. In Brazil it is a nightdress, so use suéter or blusa there.
- Fato means a suit in Portugal. In Brazil fato means a fact (spelled facto in Portugal), and the usual word for a suit is terno.
- Rapariga is a normal word for a girl in Portugal. In parts of Brazil it can sound rude or old-fashioned, so menina or garota is the safer choice.
Listen to the two camisola sentences. It is the same word in two accents, with two different meanings.
Same word, different spelling
Since the 1990 spelling agreement, the two countries share most spellings. A few words still differ, usually because the sound differs too.
| English | Portugal | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| fact | o facto | o fato |
| reception | a receção | a recepção |
| team | a equipa | a equipe |
| contact | o contacto | o contato |
| travel ticket | o bilhete | a passagem |
Everyday expressions
Portugal
- Está bem. All right.
- Pois é. That is right. (agreeing)
- Se faz favor. Please.
- Faz favor? Can I help you? (said by a shop assistant)
Brazil
- Beleza. All right.
- É isso aí. That is right. (agreeing)
- Por gentileza. Please. (polite)
- Pois não? Can I help you? (said by a shop assistant)
Practice
You are in Brazil and want to ask for a fridge. Which word do you use?
Continue with the pronunciation guide to hear why these two varieties sound so different.
More in Phrases and vocabulary
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