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Is the word cima the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
Yes
The word "cima" is identical in meaning, spelling, and grammatical function in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. It serves as the foundation for locative expressions such as em cima (on top), para cima (upwards), and por cima (over/on top). The only difference between the two dialects is phonetic: European Portuguese features much more pronounced vowel reduction, where unstressed vowels are shortened or nearly silenced, whereas Brazilian Portuguese tends to maintain more open and clearly articulated vowels.
Brazilian Portuguese examples:
- Olhe para cima para ver as estrelas. (Look up to see the stars.)
- Deixe o celular em cima da mesa. (Leave the cell phone on top of the table.)
- Ele está subindo para cima. (He is going up.)
- Coloque a tampa por cima do pote. (Put the lid on top of the jar.)
- A parte de cima do bolo está deliciosa. (The top part of the cake is delicious.)
Continental Portuguese examples:
- Olha para cima para ver as estrelas. (Look up to see the stars.)
- Deixa o telemóvel em cima da mesa. (Leave the mobile phone on top of the table.)
- Ele está a subir para cima. (He is going up.)
- Põe a tampa por cima do frasco. (Put the lid on top of the jar.)
- A parte de cima do bolo está deliciosa. (The top part of the cake is delicious.)
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· BR vs PT Word Differences