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

No.

While the spelling, grammar, and literal meaning of "fofocar" are identical in both dialects, there is a difference in typical usage regarding frequency and linguistic preference. In Brazil, "fofocar" is the ubiquitous and standard term for gossiping. In Portugal, while "fofocar" is perfectly understood, speakers much more frequently rely on synonyms like "mexericar" or "cuscar," or the phrase "falar da vida alheia," to convey the same idea. Additionally, the pronunciation differs significantly: Brazilian Portuguese uses more open vowels, whereas Continental Portuguese uses more reduced, closed vowels.

Brazilian Portuguese Usage

  1. "Vem aqui, vamos fofocar um pouco!" (Come here, let's gossip a bit!)
  2. "Ela vive fofocando da vida de todo mundo." (She is always gossiping about everyone's lives.)
  3. "Eu detesto gente que gosta de fofocar." (I hate people who like to gossip.)
  4. "A gente estava só fofocando sobre a festa." (We were just gossiping about the party.)
  5. "Não gosto de fofocar pelas costas dos meus amigos." (I don't like gossiping behind my friends' backs.)

Continental Portuguese Usage

  1. "Vem cá, vamos mexericar um pouco!" (Come here, let's gossip/meddle a bit!)
  2. "Ela não para de cuscar a vida dos outros." (She doesn't stop snooping/gossiping about others' lives.)
  3. "Não gosto de falar mal da vida alheia." (I don't like speaking ill of other people's lives.)
  4. "Andam aí a mexericar sobre o que aconteceu no trabalho." (They are going around gossiping about what happened at work.)
  5. "Toda a gente gosta de cuscar a vida dos vizinhos." (Everyone likes to snoop/gossip about the neighbors' lives.)