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

No. While the word is identical in the present tense, there are differences in spelling, pronunciation, and typical usage.

  1. Spelling: In the past tense (preterite), European Portuguese uses an acute accent to distinguish the past from the present (fundámos), whereas Brazilian Portuguese does not use an accent (fundamos).
  2. Pronunciation: In Brazil, the "s" at the end of the word is typically pronounced as a soft /s/ or /z/. In Portugal, it is almost always pronounced as a "sh" sound (/ʃ/). Additionally, Brazilian Portuguese vowels tend to be more open, while European Portuguese vowels are more closed or reduced.
  3. Usage: While both versions are grammatically correct, Brazilians frequently use the expression "a gente" (meaning "we") followed by the singular verb "fundou" in informal speech, whereas "nós fundámos" is more common in Portugal.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. Nós fundamos a empresa no ano passado. (We founded the company last year.)
  2. Nós fundamos esse projeto para ajudar as crianças. (We founded this project to help the children.)
  3. Nós fundamos o nosso clube de leitura mês passado. (We founded our reading club last month.)
  4. Nós fundamos a ONG para proteger a floresta. (We founded the NGO to protect the forest.)
  5. Nós fundamos esse grupo de estudos ontem. (We founded this study group yesterday.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. Nós fundámos a empresa no ano passado. (We founded the company last year.)
  2. Nós fundámos a nossa associação em 2010. (We founded our association in 2010.)
  3. Nós fundamos a nova empresa hoje. (We are founding the new company today.)
  4. Nós fundámos o clube de leitura com entusiasmo. (We founded the reading club with enthusiasm.)
  5. Nós fundámos o grupo para promover a arte. (We founded the group to promote art.)