vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

Look up any Duolingo word — find out how it differs between Brazilian and European Portuguese

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

No

While the primary meanings of "capital" (referring to a city, financial assets, or something of great importance) are identical in both dialects, there is a difference in typical usage and pronunciation.

• Usage: In Brazil, when referring to uppercase letters, the word "capital" is much less common in natural speech; Brazilians almost exclusively use the term letra maiúscula. In Portugal, using letra capital is a standard, natural, and frequent way to refer to uppercase letters.
• Pronunciation: In Brazilian Portuguese, the final "l" is vocalized, making the word sound like capi-tau (/ka.pi.ˈtaw/). In Continental Portuguese, the "l" is more velarized or "dark," sounding more like a traditional "l" (/kɐ.pi.ˈtɐɫ/).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. Brasília é a capital do Brasil. (Brasília is the capital of Brazil.)
2. Precisamos de capital para o novo projeto. (We need capital for the new project.)
3. O erro foi de capital importância. (The error was of capital importance.)
4. O capital da empresa diminuiu este ano. (The company's capital decreased this year.)
5. O governo investiu muito capital na infraestrutura. (The government invested a lot of capital in infrastructure.)

Portuguese (Portugal) Examples

1. Lisboa é a capital de Portugal. (Lisbon is the capital of Portugal.)
2. É necessário reunir capital para o investimento. (It is necessary to gather capital for the investment.)
3. Use a letra capital no início de cada frase. (Use a capital letter at the beginning of each sentence.)
4. O erro cometido foi de capital importância. (The error committed was of capital importance.)
5. O fluxo de capital estrangeiro aumentou. (The flow of foreign capital increased.)