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

No. While the word "cumprir" has the same meaning, spelling, and grammatical classification in both dialects, there are differences in its typical usage and pronunciation.

In terms of pronunciation, European Portuguese features much more significant vowel reduction, meaning unstressed vowels are often shortened or nearly silent, whereas Brazilian Portuguese tends to have more open and clear vowel sounds. In terms of typical usage, the way the verb is used in continuous actions differs: Brazilians primarily use the gerund (cumprindo), while Portuguese people typically use the preposition "a" followed by the infinitive (a cumprir).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. Eu estou cumprindo o meu dever. (I am fulfilling my duty.)
  2. A equipe precisa cumprir o prazo. (The team needs to meet the deadline.)
  3. Ele sempre cumpre o que promete. (He always fulfills what he promises.)
  4. Você tem que cumprir as ordens. (You have to follow the orders.)
  5. Nós vamos cumprir a nossa parte no projeto. (We are going to do our part in the project.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. Eu estou a cumprir o meu dever. (I am fulfilling my duty.)
  2. A equipa precisa de cumprir o prazo. (The team needs to meet the deadline.)
  3. Ele sempre cumpre o que promete. (He always fulfills what he promises.)
  4. Tu tens de cumprir as ordens. (You have to follow the orders.)
  5. Nós vamos cumprir a nossa parte no projeto. (We are going to do our part in the project.)