vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

No

While the meaning and spelling of "exigir" are identical in both dialects, there are differences in regência verbal (the grammatical rule determining which preposition follows the verb) and typical usage regarding pronouns. In Brazilian Portuguese, it is standard to use the preposition de when demanding something from someone (e.g., exigir de alguém). In Continental Portuguese, the preposition a is much more common for the same context (e.g., exigir a alguém). Additionally, the way the second person is addressed differs, with Brazil using você and Portugal using tu.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. Eu não posso exigir que você faça isso. (I cannot demand that you do this.)
2. O professor exige muito dos alunos. (The professor demands a lot from the students.)
3. O cliente exige uma resposta de você. (The customer demands an answer from you.)
4. Não se pode exigir tanto de um iniciante. (One cannot demand so much from a beginner.)
5. O trabalho exige muito do funcionário. (The job requires a lot from the employee.)

Portuguese (Continental) Examples

1. Eu não posso exigir que tu faças isso. (I cannot demand that you do this.)
2. O professor exige muito aos alunos. (The professor demands a lot from the students.)
3. O cliente exige uma resposta a ti. (The customer demands an answer from you.)
4. Não se pode exigir tanto a um iniciante. (One cannot demand so much from a beginner.)
5. O trabalho exige muito ao funcionário. (The job requires a lot from the employee.)