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

No

While the spelling, conjugation, and core meaning of "funcionar" are identical in both dialects, there is a significant difference in typical usage regarding the continuous aspect (how the word is used to describe an ongoing action). In Brazil, the gerund is used (está funcionando), whereas in Portugal, the preposition "a" followed by the infinitive is the standard (está a funcionar). Additionally, the vocabulary surrounding the word often differs (e.g., celular in Brazil vs. telemóvel in Portugal). There are also differences in pronunciation, specifically in how vowels are articulated (Brazilian Portuguese tends to have more open vowels, while European Portuguese has more reduced or "closed" unstressed vowels).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples:

  1. Meu celular não está funcionando. (My cell phone is not working.)
  2. Esse remédio funciona muito bem para dor de cabeça. (This medicine works very well for headaches.)
  3. A internet está funcionando muito devagar hoje. (The internet is working very slowly today.)
  4. O plano de negócios vai funcionar se tivermos apoio. (The business plan will work if we have support.)
  5. A máquina de lavar parou de funcionar ontem. (The washing machine stopped working yesterday.)

European Portuguese Examples:

  1. O meu telemóvel não está a funcionar. (My mobile phone is not working.)
  2. Este medicamento funciona muito bem para a dor de cabeça. (This medicine works very well for headaches.)
  3. A internet está a funcionar muito devagar hoje. (The internet is working very slowly today.)
  4. O plano de negócios irá funcionar se tivermos apoio. (The business plan will work if we have support.)
  5. A máquina de lavar roupa deixou de funcionar ontem. (The washing machine stopped working yesterday.)