vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

Yes

The word "estimar" is identical in meaning, grammar, and spelling in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. It carries the same two primary meanings: to calculate or approximate a value (to estimate) and to hold someone in high regard (to esteem/respect). The differences are strictly phonetic. In Brazilian Portuguese, the pronunciation of the "e" can be more open, and the final "r" varies significantly by region (ranging from a retroflex "r" in the interior to an aspirated "r" in Rio de Janeiro). In Continental Portuguese, unstressed vowels are more frequently reduced or "closed," and the "r" is typically a more standard, crisp alveolar sound.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. Eu estimo muito o meu chefe. (I esteem my boss very much.)
2. Eles estimam que o lucro seja alto. (They estimate that the profit will be high.)
3. É difícil estimar o tempo de viagem. (It is difficult to estimate the travel time.)
4. A gente estima o valor em cem reais. (We estimate the value at one hundred reais.)
5. Ela é uma profissional muito estimada pela equipe. (She is a professional very highly regarded by the team.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

1. Eu estimo muito o meu chefe. (I esteem my boss very much.)
2. Estima-se que o lucro seja elevado. (It is estimated that the profit will be high.)
3. É difícil estimar o tempo de viagem. (It is difficult to estimate the travel time.)
4. Nós estimamos o valor em cem euros. (We estimate the value at one hundred euros.)
5. Ela é uma profissional muito estimada pela equipa. (She is a professional very highly regarded by the team.)