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

No

While the fundamental meaning of "hospedar" (to lodge or to stay) is the same, there is a difference in typical usage. In Brazil, "hospedar" is used more broadly and can be used transitively to mean hosting guests in one's own home (e.g., "Vou hospedar meu primo"). In Portugal, "hospedar" is more specialized and is primarily associated with professional accommodations like hotels or inns. When talking about guests in a private home, a Portuguese person would more naturally use verbs like "receber" (to receive) or "acolher" (to welcome). Furthermore, in casual conversation, Portuguese people much more frequently use the verb "ficar" (to stay) to describe staying at a hotel, whereas Brazilians use both "ficar" and "se hospedar" with similar frequency.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. Eu vou me hospedar em um hotel cinco estrelas. (I am going to stay in a five-star hotel.)
  2. A minha casa é pequena, mas posso hospedar um amigo. (My house is small, but I can host/put up a friend.)
  3. Onde você pretende se hospedar em São Paulo? (Where do you intend to stay in São Paulo?)
  4. O site ajuda você a encontrar o melhor lugar para se hospedar. (The website helps you find the best place to stay.)
  5. Nós nos hospedamos em uma pousada muito aconchegante. (We stayed in a very cozy inn.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. Eu vou ficar num hotel de cinco estrelas. (I am going to stay in a five-star hotel.)
  2. A minha casa é pequena, mas posso receber um amigo. (My house is small, but I can receive/host a friend.)
  3. Onde é que vais ficar em Lisboa? (Where are you going to stay in Lisbon?)
  4. O site ajuda-te a encontrar o melhor alojamento. (The website helps you find the best accommodation.)
  5. Nós ficámos numa pousada muito aconchegante. (We stayed in a very cozy inn.)