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Is the word aprenda the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

No. While the spelling and fundamental meaning of "aprenda" are identical in both dialects, there is a difference in typical usage regarding how the word is used to address someone. In Brazil, "aprenda" is the standard form used to mean "you learn" (via the pronoun vocá). In Portugal, the second person is traditionally addressed using tu, which requires the conjugation "aprendas." There is also a difference in pronunciation, as the unstressed final "a" is much more heavily reduced or "clipped" in Continental Portuguese than in Brazilian Portuguese.

Brazilian Portuguese Usage

  1. Espero que você aprenda inglês rapidinho. (I hope you learn English very quickly.)
  2. Quero que você aprenda a dirigir o carro. (I want you to learn to drive the car.)
  3. É importante que você aprenda com seus erros. (It is important that you learn from your mistakes.)
  4. Não deixe que ela aprenda o segredo. (Don't let her learn the secret.)
  5. Tomara que a criança aprenda a ler logo. (I hope the child learns to read soon.)

Continental Portuguese Usage

  1. Espero que aprendas inglês depressa. (I hope you learn English quickly.)
  2. Quero que aprendas a conduzir o carro. (I want you to learn to drive the car.)
  3. É importante que aprendas com os teus erros. (It is important that you learn from your errors.)
  4. Não permitas que ela aprenda o segredo. (Do not permit her to learn the secret.)
  5. Espero que a criança aprenda a ler brevemente. (I hope the child learns to read shortly.)