vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

Yes

The word "desligar" is identical in meaning, spelling, and grammatical conjugation in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. The differences lie in pronunciation and the syntactic environment (how the word is used in a sentence). In Brazilian Portuguese, unstressed vowels are often much more reduced or even elided (the "e" in "des-" can sound like a very short "i"), and the rhythm is more syllable-timed. In Continental Portuguese, the vowels are more closed and the rhythm is more stress-timed, making the syllables sound more distinct. Additionally, while the verb remains the same, the objects it acts upon often differ due to regional vocabulary (e.g., celular vs. telemóvel), and the placement of reflexive pronouns changes (e.g., me desliguei vs. desliguei-me).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

• Desliga o celular, por favor. (Turn off the cell phone, please.)
• Eu esqueci de desligar o computador. (I forgot to turn off the computer.)
• Ele desligou o som muito alto. (He turned off the music very loud.)
• Você pode desligar o ar-condicionado? (Can you turn off the air conditioning?)
• Eu me desliguei da aula porque estava cansado. (I tuned out during class because I was tired.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

• Desliga o telemóvel, por favor. (Turn off the mobile phone, please.)
• Eu esqueci de desligar o computador. (I forgot to turn off the computer.)
• Ele desligou o rádio muito alto. (He turned off the radio very loud.)
• Podes desligar o ar condicionado? (Can you turn off the air conditioning?)
• Eu desliguei-me da aula porque estava cansado. (I tuned out during class because I was tired.)