vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

No.

While the fundamental meaning and spelling of "desanimar" are the same in both varieties of Portuguese, there are differences in grammar (specifically syntax) and typical usage.

In Brazil, it is much more common to use proclisis, which is placing the object pronoun before the verb (e.g., "me desanima"). In Portugal, enclisis (placing the pronoun after the verb, e.g., "desanima-me") is the standard grammatical rule for main clauses. Additionally, there are differences in how people are addressed: Brazilians frequently use "você" (often with third-person reflexive pronouns like "se"), whereas Portuguese people frequently use "tu" (with second-person pronouns like "te").

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. Não se desanime, vai dar tudo certo. (Don't lose heart, everything will work out.)
2. O barulho da rua me desanima muito. (The street noise discourages me a lot.)
3. O tempo chuvoso desanima qualquer um. (The rainy weather discourages anyone.)
4. Ela ficou desanimada com o resultado da prova. (She became discouraged with the test result.)
5. Isso me desanima muito. (That discourages me a lot.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

1. Não te desanimes, tudo vai correr bem. (Don't lose heart, everything will go well.)
2. O barulho da rua desanima-me muito. (The street noise discourages me a lot.)
3. O tempo chuvoso desanima qualquer um. (The rainy weather discourages anyone.)
4. Ela ficou desanimada com o resultado do exame. (She became discouraged with the exam result.)
5. Isso desanima-me imenso. (That discourages me immensely.)