vs 
· BR vs PT Word Differences← Back to searchWord Index →
Is the word costumávamos the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
No.
Differences:
- Typical Usage: In Brazil, while "costumávamos" is grammat'ically perfect, it is often perceived as formal, literary, or even slightly "bookish" in casual conversation. In everyday spoken Brazilian Portuguese, people much more naturally use the expression "a gente costumava" to convey the same idea. In Portugal, "costumávamos" remains a standard, natural, and common way to express habitual past actions in both spoken and written language.
- Pronunciation: There is a significant difference in vowel articulation. Brazilian Portuguese features "open" and clearly articulated unstressed vowels. In Continental Portuguese, these unstressed vowels undergo heavy "reduction," meaning they are pronounced much more "closed" or often become nearly silent, making the word sound much more compressed to a Brazilian ear.
Brazilian Examples (using the word in its natural, slightly more formal or narrative context):
- Nós costumávamos viajar para a praia todo verão. (We used to travel to the beach every summer.)
- Costumávamos jogar futebol no parque após a escola. (We used to play soccer in the park after school.)
- Nós costumávamos comer muito doce na infância. (We used to eat a lot of sweets in childhood.)
- Costumávamos visitar nossos avós nas férias de julho. (We used to visit our grandparents during the July holidays.)
- Nós costumávamos ler muitos livros de aventura. (We used to read many adventure books.)
Portuguese Examples (expressing the same idea naturally):
- Nós costumávamos almoçar em casa da avó. (We used to have lunch at grandma's house.)
- Era costume irmos ao cinema aos sábados. (It was customary for us to go to the cinema on Saturdays.)
- Costumávamos passear pelo jardim todas as manhãs. (We used to stroll through the garden every morning.)
- Era o nosso costume ler antes de dormir. (It was our custom to read before sleeping.)
- Nós costumávamos visitar Lisboa com frequência. (We used to visit Lisbon frequently.)