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Is the word acusaram the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
Yes.
The word "acusaram" is identical in Brazilian and Continental Portuguese in terms of spelling, morphology (it is the third-person plural, preterite indicative of the verb acusar), and meaning (to accuse or blame). The differences between the two dialects regarding this word are:
- Pronunciation: In Continental Portuguese, unstressed vowels are more heavily reduced (often sounding almost silent), and the "s" may have a more pronounced sibilant "sh" sound depending on the region. In Brazilian Portuguese, vowels are generally more open and clearly articulated.
- Syntax (Clitic Placement): While the word itself is the same, its "typical usage" in a sentence differs regarding pronoun placement. Brazilians frequently use proclisis (placing the object pronoun before the verb, e.g., "me acusaram"), whereas the standard in Portugal is enclisis (placing the pronoun after the verb, e.g., "acusaram-me").
Brazilian Portuguese Examples
- Eles me acusaram de mentira. (They accused me of lying.)
- Os vizinhos acusaram o rapaz de ter quebrado o vidro. (The neighbors accused the boy of having broken the glass.)
- Eles acusaram o político de corrupção. (They accused the politician of corruption.)
- Os colegas me acusaram de não fazer nada. (My colleagues accused me of doing nothing.)
- As testemunhas acusaram o réu de agressão. (The witnesses accused the defendant of assault.)
Continental Portuguese Examples
- Eles acusaram-me de mentira. (They accused me of lying.)
- Os vizinhos acusaram o rapaz de ter partido o vidro. (The neighbors accused the boy of having broken the glass.)
- Eles acusaram o político de corrupção. (They accused the politician of corruption.)
- Os colegas acusaram-me de não fazer nada. (My colleagues accused me of doing nothing.)
- As testemunhas acusaram o arguido de agressão. (The witnesses accused the defendant of assault.)