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Is the word brincarem the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
Yes
The word "brincarem" is the third-person plural of the personal infinitive of the verb brincar (to play). There are no differences in meaning, grammar, or spelling between Brazilian and European Portuguese. The only differences are:
- Pronunciation: In Brazilian Portuguese, vowels are generally more open, whereas in European Portuguese, unstressed vowels (like the 'e' in brincarem) are often reduced or almost swallowed.
- Usage Frequency: While grammatically correct in both dialects, the use of the personal infinitive (brincarem) is much more frequent and natural in European Portuguese. In colloquial Brazilian Portuguese, speakers often prefer the impersonal infinitive (brincar) even when a subject is present (e.g., "para eles brincar" instead of "para eles brincarem").
Brazilian Portuguese Examples
- Para eles brincarem de esconde-esconde, precisam de um lugar escuro. (For them to play hide-and-seek, they need a dark place.)
- O fato de eles brincarem muito no celular me preocupa. (The fact that they play a lot on the cellphone worries me.)
- Para eles brincarem de carrinho, precisam de espaço. (For them to play with toy cars, they need space.)
- O problema é eles brincarem com a comida. (The problem is them playing with the food.)
- É bom ver os netos brincarem no jardim. (It is good to see the grandchildren playing in the garden.)
European Portuguese Examples
- Para os cães brincarem no parque, é preciso levar a trela. (For the dogs to play in the park, you must take the leash.)
- A ideia de eles brincarem com o telemóvel é preocupante. (The idea of them playing with the mobile phone is worrying.)
- É proibido os miúdos brincarem perto da estrada. (It is forbidden for the kids to play near the road.)
- O risco de eles brincarem com fósforos é enorme. (The risk of them playing with matches is huge.)
- O perigo de eles brincarem sozinhos é muito grande. (The danger of them playing alone is very great.)
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· BR vs PT Word Differences