vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

No

While the spelling and fundamental meaning of "funcionário" remain the same, there is a difference in typical usage. In Brazil, "funcionário" is the standard, universal term used to describe anyone employed by a company, whether in retail, administration, or the public sector. In Portugal, while "funcionário" is used for administrative or official roles, it is much more natural to use "empregado" when referring to service or retail staff (e.g., empregado de loja or empregado de mesa) and "trabalhador" when referring to the general workforce or employees in a broader sense.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. O funcionário da loja foi muito atencioso. (The store employee was very attentive.)
2. A empresa tem mais de cem funcionários. (The company has more than one hundred employees.)
3. Ele é um funcionário muito dedicado. (He is a very dedicated employee.)
4. O funcionário do restaurante trouxe o cardápio. (The restaurant employee brought the menu.)
5. Ele é funcionário público há muitos anos. (He has been a civil servant for many years.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

1. O empregado da loja foi muito atencioso. (The shop assistant was very attentive.)
2. A empresa tem mais de cem trabalhadores. (The company has more than one hundred workers.)
3. Ele é um trabalhador muito dedicado. (He is a very dedicated worker.)
4. O empregado de mesa trouxe o menu. (The waiter brought the menu.)
5. Ele é funcionário do Estado há muitos anos. (He has been a state employee for many years.)