← Back to searchWord Index →
Is the word funcionando the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
No
While the spelling and the core meaning of "funcionando" are identical in both varieties, there is a significant difference in typical usage regarding the continuous aspect of the verb. In Brazil, the gerund (funcionando) is the standard way to express an action currently in progress. In Portugal, the standard way to express the same idea is by using the preposition a followed by the infinitive (a funcionar). While a Portuguese person would understand "funcionando," it sounds distinctly Brazilian and is rarely used in natural conversation to describe ongoing actions.
Brazilian Portuguese
- O computador está funcionando. (The computer is working.)
- A internet está funcionando muito mal. (The internet is working very poorly.)
- A loja está funcionando hoje? (Is the store working/open today?)
- Meu coração não está funcionando direito. (My heart is not working properly.)
- O novo sistema está funcionando bem. (The new system is working well.)
European Portuguese
- O computador está a funcionar. (The computer is working.)
- A internet está a funcionar muito mal. (The internet is working very poorly.)
- A loja está a funcionar hoje? (Is the store working/open today?)
- O meu coração não está a funcionar direito. (My heart is not working properly.)
- O novo sistema está a funcionar bem. (The new system is working well.)
vs
· BR vs PT Word Differences