| Brazilian Portuguese is a form of the Portuguese
language used mostly in Brazil. It is generally used in Brazil by its 180 million
inhabitants. Standard Brazilian Portuguese is strongly influenced by the dialects of São Paulo and Rio de
Janeiro. It is also spoken through immigrants and their descendants in Canada,
United States, Portugal,
and Japan — where it is spoken by Japanese-Brazilian settlers.
There are various differences between European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese, such as the dropping of the second person in everyday usage and the use of subject pronouns (ele, ela, eles,
elas) as direct objects. Portuguese people can understand Brazilian Portuguese well. However, Brazilians have some difficulty in
understanding European Portuguese. This is mainly due to the fact that there exists a vocalic sound exclusive to European
Portuguese (mute "e") quite used in such variant. That sound is also - especially in Lisbon - frequently left out and actually
reducing the number of syllables, which makes understanding even more complicated to Brazilian speakers. Open vowels are also
more frequent in Brazil. This is also why Portuguese speakers will usually find it easier to understand Spanish (which is
frequently not subtitled for short clips) than the reverse.
History
Portuguese was inherited due to the Portuguese colonization of the Americas. The first wave of Portuguese-speaking
immigrants was settled in Brazil in the 15th Century, yet the language was
not widely used then. By the end of the 18th century, it was already the
national language. It gained words from Amerindian languages such as Lingua Geral. Many
of those also reached Portugal, such as "Pipoca" (popcorn) or "Abacaxi" (pineapple). Some of these words have entered into the
colony's Portuguese dialects in a very early stage, even with the first Portuguese settlers.
Brazilian Portuguese was spread worldwide due to the popularity of the Brazilian music. Ever since Brazil entered Mercosul, the
Portuguese language is sometimes taught as a second language in the Spanish-speaking partner countries. A language mix of Portuguese and Spanish is sometimes named Portuñol or Portunhol.
Phonology
In many ways, compared to European Portuguese (EP), Brazilian Portuguese (BP) is conservative in its phonology. In some areas
of Brazil, the accent of the Portuguese spoken in the 16th and 17th centuries is maintained. This also occurs in São Tomean Portuguese.
The most important reason why Brazilians can have some difficulty understanding European Portuguese speakers is the
pronunciation (phonetics), especially because of the close central unrounded vowel (a sound that does not exist in BP and is
there replaced by
[i] or
[e]). The close central unrounded vowel is here represented by
[ɨ] in IPA. The
suppression of these vowels can occur in quick speech at the end of a word, but it may also occur in the middle. This kind of
speech causes many words to have their number of syllables reduced: a word like "quente" (heard to be
[kẽt]) or "Setembro" (usually
[s'tẽbɾu] in EP), sometimes confuses Brazilians who have never heard the European standard. The standard
European Portuguese accent for these words are
[kẽtɨ] (hot) and
[sɨtẽbɾu] (September), respectively.
While some syllables in EP may be left out in careless fast speech, in BP, syllables may be pronounced where they do not
exist. For instance, rítmico is usually pronounced
[ʀitʃimiku], creating a strange situation - the word becomes not oxitone, paroxitone nor proparoxitone. This
Brazilian pronunciation has origin in Portugal's dialects that lack prestige today.
Other changes occur in diphthongs —
[bẽj] becomes
[bɐ̃j] in many regions of Portugal, and in the north many people use
[b] where it should be
[v]. The town of Ermesinde
becomes
[eɾmɨzĩdɨ], while in Brazil it is pronounced
[eʀmezĩdʒi]. The word presidente (pronounced
[pɾɨzidẽtɨ]) is read in Brazil as
[pɾεzidẽtʃi], with the
[tʃi] sound (used mainly in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo). Another pronunciation that Brazilians are not prepared for
is the
[ʃi] sound in careless spoken Lisbon Portuguese for written "sc" (piscina--
[pɨʃinɐ].
Many vowels are opened in BP and not in EP - for instance the article a, which is pronounced the same way as the
contraction à in BP — that is the reason why it is more common to confuse the spelling of those words in Brazil.
Less commonly, some vowels are closed in BP — in EP, we have the word harmónico
[ɐɾm'ɔniku]; in BP, harmônico
[aɾm'oniku].
There are also regions of Brazil — certain areas of the Northeast
— where the locals, due to sociolinguistic factors, claim that they don't understand Standard Brazilian Portuguese and
Standard European Portuguese, but in reality comprehension is almost perfect. All this is due to lack of contact between the
different dialects in Brazil, while the Portuguese are used to various Portuguese dialects from the country or abroad.
Overall, the Brazilian variety is regarded as more perceptible.
Brazilian lexicon
Although most of the lexicon of Brazilian Portuguese is the same as that of Portugal, there are
differences, particularly in terminology referring to objects which have come into existence since the political separation of the two countries in the
19th century.
Spelling
Brazilian Portuguese has different spelling from European and African Portuguese, which usually consists on "simplified"
letter combinations. For example, the words for "action" and "actual" in Brazilian Portuguese are "ação" and "atual", whereas in
European Portuguese, they would be "acção" and "actual". Most of these differences in spelling are to be eliminated. For further
information on this, see Written varieties of
the Portuguese language.
Grammar
There are a few different grammatical possibilities between the two varieties discussed below. Those are seen as just
"possibilites" (or "varieties") by people because they are understood as correct in every variation, even if speakers from each
country have a tendency of choosing one way over the other. The difference is that Brazilians or Portuguese use them to a greater
or lesser degree, but that also depends on the dialect.
In BP people say, estou falando (I'm Speaking), estou escrevendo (I'm writing), vou rindo (i'm going
laughing), etc. There are exceptions in verbs where the infinitive can not be used in EP. The EP norm is to say "estou a falar",
"estou a escrever" and "vou rindo" ("vou a rir" is much used in the North of Portugal). Both variations are well understood in
both countries. The Brazilian form is also used in the southern regions of Portugal, and is considered fully correct in certain
situations. The infinitive is used in Brazil in other situations, such as "voltamos a apresentar" (we are back presenting). The
gerund is always used in all varieties in situations such as "vamos indo" (we are going).
Position of object
pronouns
Brazilians usually place the object pronoun before the verb (proclitic
position) -- "Ele me viu", while in Portugal it comes after the verb (enclitic
position) -- "Ele viu-me". The EP "me" becomes a schwa-like sound, while the Brazilian
"me" is pronounced [mi]. One almost disappears while the other is emphasized. There are several particles and constructions that
alter the position of the pronoun. The uses and positions of those pronouns is a very complex subject to be studied.
Moreover, in spoken BP, subject pronouns replacing object pronouns is common, but frequently regarded as a grammatically
incorrect. In Portugal, this does not occur. Examples taken from the Portuguese translation of Lituma nos Andes by
Mario Vargas Llosa: "Sei-o tão bem como sei que me chamo
Lituma."; ". . . estendeu-lhe Dionisio um macinho de tabaco negro"; "Perseguia-me por todos os Andes". Another difference is the combination of the direct
object pronoun with the indirect object pronoun to form one word.
Thus "me" + "o" becomes "mo", and "te" + "os" becomes "tos". This often occurs in spoken EP and always in the formal written
form. In Brazil it has disappeared entirely. Adolescent informants confirmed that these forms are used in spoken EP. Examples: "O
Bilhete? Eu dei-to ontem!"; "Não fale assim dela, rogo-lho eu, agora que ela é minha mulher". Some combinations are, however,
quite rare, even in EP, namely vo-lo, no-lo and their variants.
The final difference is in the mesoclitic position, that is in the middle of the verb. This is only possible with the simple future or
conditional forms. Thus, we see in the EP formal written language examples like "Calar-me-ei" and "Calar-me-ia". These forms are
rarely used in spoken EP. This construction is usually avoided because it is common to replace the future with present and the
conditional/future perfect tense with the imperfect tense in the spoken Portuguese.
For instance, one would say in Portugal "Amanhã deito-me cedo" in place of "Amanhã deitar-me-ei cedo", and "Nesse caso
tinha-me deitado" instead of "Nesse caso ter-me-ia deitado". In Brazilian Portuguese, the first example does not use the "me"
pronoun — it would be "Amanhã deito cedo" (Tomorrow I'll sleep early). The second example is not used in Brazil either, so
the sentence would be: "Nesse caso teria me deitado". This pronominal usage is not common in Brazil in spoken or written form.
The form is preserved in archaic texts such as the Bible and in highly formal spoken
discourse. The construction can also be avoided by using particles that attract the pronoun, for instance: "Nesse caso já
teria me deitado". Two examples of mesoclitic pronoun use from Lituma nos Andes (Portugal): ". . .deitar-lhe-iam a mão e
levá-lo-iam à mina abandonada para o atirarem ao poço." These forms are usually written, being uncommon in spoken language.
Use of subject pronouns
(pronomes de tratamento)
Tu
"Tu" means "you" (informal and singular). In BP, although tu and the verb inflexion in the second person singular are
now rare, some pronouns such as te, ti, contigo and teu are not, and are used in colloquial contexts.
Verbal inflections in the second person of singular for the imperative are also common in BP (except for some verbs, such as
ser and its inflection sê). Sometimes, it's not very hard to see people having mistakes and ending up using mixes
that might be considered solecisms. For example, "eu te disse para você ir".
In most of Brazilian dialects it has been replaced by the pronoun "você" (formal). Some regions still usually use "tu" as
subject pronoun:
In the South and the city of Santos, "você" is somewhat formal, and therefore, "tu" is preferred among friends, relatives etc,
just like in Portugal. In Rio, parts of Northeast and North, both "tu" and "você" are used, with no difference. Most Brazilians
who use "tu", use it with the 3rd person verb: "tu falou isso" ("You saids it", literally). "Tu" accompanied by the
2nd-person verb can still be found in Maranhão (Northeast of Brazil). The correct use for these verbs is taught in schools, but
nowadays, the Portuguese language in Brazil is taking different turns, thus getting distant even from grammatical standards that
fail on evolving.
Most people from the Brazilian regions where "tu" is used use word "teu" for "your", "contigo" for "with you" and "para ti"
for "for you". In regions where both "tu" and "você" are used as informal addressing forms, "seu" can be used for "your" as well.
Same is true with "com você", meaning "with you", and "para você", meaning "for you".
In regions where "tu" is hardly used (such as Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, parts of the São Paulo state and parts of Northeast), the words "teu", "contigo" and "(para) ti" are normally not
used. "Seu", "com você" and "(para) você" are usually preferred. Still, the word "te" (unstressed object form of "tu") is used
throughout Brazil. A speaker from Minas Gerais may end up saying "I love you" in two ways: "Eu amo você" and/or "eu te amo".
In standard European Portuguese, the pronoun "tu" is used as the most intimate form, between friends, brothers and sisters, or
between workmates of an equal or close age. Also, in EP, teachers will usually treat their students with "tu", although in
college and high school it widely varies according to the theacher's personality and style. Such pronoun is also used in
commercials, TV/radio shows, political campaigns, and shows aimed at young audiences, to give the sense of intimacy. For
instance, the political party Bloco de Esquerda (whose majority of supporters are less than 30 years old) say "A tua
resposta" (your answer).
Você
Equivalent to the "tu" pronoun is "você", which in its simplicity is gaining ground. For example, it is often used in radio
ads or conversations with listeners. However, depending on the situation and the region is question, it might be considered to be
a little impolite. While "tu" has been substituted for "você" in several regions of Brazil (as an intimate treatment form, a term
for "equal to equal" treatment, or for "superior to inferior" interactions), in Portugal, "você" doesn't have as many values.
Equal treatment or "superior to inferior" treatment (such as in age, social class, or hierarchy) are the common uses in Portugal.
Mainly only among certain high social classes in Portugal is that "você" may be seen used as a loving form of intimacy.
The usual form of treatment regarding someone, with whom one doesn't have intimacy, is "o senhor" or "a senhora". However,
specially since the 25th April Revolution, the form "você"
has gained popularity in commercials, TV shows and other contexts. In EP, "você" is also used between some friends, especially
between those who are not very intimate, belong to a higher social class, and/or whose ages range from middle-age to old.
Nowadays, "você" is also frequently used as an object pronoun, specially in spoken BP, and is usually regarded as
grammatically incorrect (e.g. saying "Amanhã trago vocês cá" instead of "Amanhã trago-vos/trago-os cá" or "Indiquei a vocês onde
era" instead of "Indiquei-vos/Indiquei-lhes onde era").
O senhor
"O senhor", "a senhora", "você" and "o/a menino/a" are the European variants of the forms of respect and courtesy. In Brazil,
você is replacing the other forms. In Portugal, when a person talks to someone who has a certain professional title or
occupies a specific position, the forms of "o senhor" and "a senhora" are usually accompanied by the respective title or
position: "O senhor doutor", "a senhora doutora", "o senhor engenheiro", etc. In Brazil these forms are not used.
The word "senhor" can be roughly translated as "sir", while "senhora" translates as "lady". Even though those translations are
close enough to their real denotative meanings in Portuguese, they don't reflect the reality of Portugal and Brazil, since
they're only approximated adaptations. The English words "sir" and "lady" used here to represent them are seen as extremely
archaic and non-practical, while the Portuguese versions are freely used in lusophone countries.
The imperative
When referring to someone with "tu", EP speakers will conjugate the verb in the second person singular of the Imperative Mode
for affirmative orders, requests, etc, and in the Present Tense of the Subjunctive Mode for the negative (sometimes referred to
as Negative Imperative). The same will happen for the grammatical second person plural in regions or contexts wherein it
is used. Examples:
- "Passa-me (tu) o sal, se fazes favor." (Hand me the salt, please).
- "Não me digas (not não me diz) nada!" (Don't say anything to me).
Examples with "vós":
- "Fazei (vós) como quiserdes.", "Nunca me deixeis (vós) cair em tentação."
When treating someone by "você"/"o senhor", or a group of people by "vocês"/"os senhores", an EP speaker will usually use the
verbal inflections in the grammatical third person of the subjunctive, since the Imperative only has forms for the second
person.
BP speakers, as already stated, will usually adopt the forms "você"/"vocês"/"o senhor"/"os senhores". However, contrary to the
consistent use of the EP, which employs the third person in those cases, it is common in spoken BP to, for the singular,
conjugate the verb in either the second person or the third person, according to the formality of the context. Examples:
- "Cala a boca, você é o próximo!" (Shut up, you're next; ocurrs only in BP).
- "Corra, você tem apenas até amanhã." (Hurry up, you have only until tomorrow; ocurrs both in EP and BP).
Moreover, wherein the grammatical second person is concerned, rarely will BP speakers use the subjunctive for the Negative
Imperative; instead they will employ the Imperative inflexion. This never occurs in EP, except for some jocular contexts or when
scolding or giving incisive orders to a child. This used to be true for both the singular and plural, but nowadays no one uses
the grammatical second person plural in Brazil. Examples:
"Não faz nada, eu te ajudo!" (Do not do anything, I'll help you; ocurrs mainly in spoken BP).
"Não faças nada, eu ajudo-te!" (same meaning; ocurrs mainly in EP. Compare also the colocation of the pronoun "te").
Borrowings and loan words
Many words of Brazilian origin (also used in other Portuguese-language countries) have also entered into English: samba, bossa nova, cruzeiro, milreis, capoeira. While originally Angolan, the words "capoeira" and "samba" only became worldwide famous because of their
popularity in Brazil.
Brazilian Portuguese has borrowed words from many sources. From South
America, words deriving from the Tupi-Guaraní family of languages are
particularly prevalent in place names (Itaquaquecetuba, Pindamonhangaba, Caruaru) and names of flora and
fauna (abacaxi "pineapple", mandioca, "manioc"; jacaré "South American alligator", jaguar).
There are also borrowings from other European languages such as German and Italian, and, to a lesser extent, from Asian languages such as Japanese.
Regardless of these borrowings, it must kept in mind that is not literally a Portuguese creole, since both grammar and vocabulary remain real Portuguese.
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