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

Yes

The word "contratasse" is identical in meaning, grammar, and spelling in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. It is the imperfect subjunctive (pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo) of the verb contratar. The only difference lies in pronunciation. In Brazilian Portuguese, the vowels tend to be more open and the rhythm is more syllable-timed, making the unstressed "e" at the end clearly audible. In Continental Portuguese, the rhythm is more stress-timed, and unstressed vowels are often more closed or even "swallowed" (reduced), making the final syllable sound much shorter or more subtle.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. Se ele contratasse mais gente, a empresa cresceria. (If he hired more people, the company would grow.)
  2. Se você contratasse um contador, ajudaria muito. (If you hired an accountant, it would help a lot.)
  3. Eu não saberia o que fazer se ela me contratasse. (I wouldn't know what to do if she hired me.)
  4. Se ele contratasse um motorista, chegaríamos rápido. (If he hired a driver, we would arrive quickly.)
  5. Se ele contratasse esse serviço, seria um gasto alto. (If he contracted this service, it would be a high expense.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. Se ele contratasse mais funcionários, a empresa cresceria. (If he hired more employees, the company would grow.)
  2. Se o senhor contratasse um contabilista, ajudaria muito. (If you [formal] hired an accountant, it would help a lot.)
  3. Eu não saberia o que fazer se ela me contratasse. (I wouldn't know what to do if she hired me.)
  4. Se ele contratasse um condutor, chegaríamos rápido. (If he hired a driver, we would arrive quickly.)
  5. Se ele contratasse esse serviço, seria uma despesa elevada. (If he contracted this service, it would be a high expense.)