vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

Look up any Duolingo word — find out how it differs between Brazilian and European Portuguese

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

Yes

The word "cursos" is identical in spelling, meaning, and grammatical function in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. It refers to courses, tracks, flows, or currents. The only differences lie in pronunciation:

• Vowel Reduction: In Continental Portuguese, unstressed vowels (like the "o" in the final syllable) tend to be much more reduced or "swallowed" compared to Brazilian Portuguese, where vowels remain more open and clear.
• Sibilance: Depending on the region of Portugal, the "s" sound might be more noticeably sibilant, though in the specific position within "cur-sos" (between a consonant and a vowel), it remains a standard [s] in both dialects.
• Rhythm: Brazilian Portuguese follows a syllable-timed or stress-timed rhythm that sounds more "musical" and melodic, whereas Continental Portuguese is more stress-timed, leading to a more clipped, rapid-fire delivery.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. Eu me matriculei em dois cursos novos. (I enrolled in two new courses.)
2. Ele está fazendo vários cursos de informática. (He is taking several IT courses.)
3. Os cursos online são muito práticos. (Online courses are very practical.)
4. Preciso terminar meus cursos de especialização. (I need to finish my specialization courses.)
5. Ela adora fazer cursos de culinária. (She loves taking cooking courses.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

1. Eu inscrevi-me em dois cursos novos. (I signed up for two new courses.)
2. Ele está a fazer vários cursos de informática. (He is doing several IT courses.)
3. Os cursos online são muito práticos. (Online courses are very practical.)
4. Preciso de concluir os meus cursos de especialização. (I need to complete my specialization courses.)
5. Ela gosta muito de fazer cursos de culinária. (She likes doing cooking courses very much.)