Is the word cidades the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
Yes
The only differences between the word "cidades" in Brazilian Portuguese and Continental Portuguese are in pronunciation.
In Brazilian Portuguese, the pronunciation is more "syllable-timed," meaning the vowels are clearly articulated and the "i" is pronounced distinctly. Additionally, in many Brazilian regions, the "d" is palatalized, meaning it sounds like the "dj" in "juice" (e.g., see-DA-djis).
In Continental Portuguese, the pronunciation is more "stress-timed." This causes unstressed vowels to be reduced or almost swallowed, meaning the "i" in "cidades" is very short and nearly silent. The "d" also remains a dental sound, where the tongue touches the teeth, rather than being palatalized.
Brazilian Portuguese Examples
- Eu gosto de visitar cidades históricas. (I like to visit historical cities.)
- O ônibus passa por várias cidades. (The bus passes through several cities.)
- Eu moro em cidades pequenas. (I live in small cities.)
- As cidades do interior são muito legais. (The countryside cities are very cool.)
- Eu viajo de trem entre as cidades. (I travel by train between cities.)
Portuguese (Portugal) Examples
- Eu gosto de visitar cidades históricas. (I like to visit historical cities.)
- O autocarro passa por várias cidades. (The bus passes through several cities.)
- Eu vivo em cidades pequenas. (I live in small cities.)
- As cidades do interior são muito fixes. (The countryside cities are very cool.)
- Eu viajo de comboio entre as cidades. (I travel by train between cities.)
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· BR vs PT Word Differences