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Is the word ai acute the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

No

While the spelling and the primary definition (an adverb of place meaning "there," near the listener) are the same, there is a significant difference in typical usage. In Brazilian Portuguese, "aí" is frequently used as a discourse marker or a "filler word" to connect ideas, acting similarly to "and then," "so," or "in that case." In Continental Portuguese, this usage is much less common; a Portuguese person would typically use words like "então" (so) or "depois" (afterwards) to perform that same grammatical function.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. Deixa o livro aí na mesa. (Leave the book there on the table.)
  2. Aí é que você se engana. (That is where you are mistaken.)
  3. Eu cheguei na festa, aí todo mundo começou a dançar. (I arrived at the party, and then everyone started dancing.)
  4. O que você está fazendo aí? (What are you doing there?)
  5. Aí você me ajuda, né? (In that case/Then you help me, right?)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. Deixa o livro aí na mesa. (Leave the book there on the table.)
  2. Aí é que está o erro. (That is where the error is.)
  3. Eu cheguei à festa, depois toda a gente começou a dançar. (I arrived at the party, afterwards/then everyone started dancing.)
  4. O que é que estás a fazer aí? (What are you doing there?)
  5. Depois ajudas-me, não é? (Then/Afterwards you help me, right?)