Is the word lustre the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
No
While the spelling of "lustre" is identical in both varieties, there is a difference in meaning and typical usage.
In Brazilian Portuguese, the word "lustre" refers almost exclusively to an ornamental, hanging light fixture (a chandelier). To express the concept of "shine," "gloss," or "luster" on a surface, Brazilians use the word brilho.
In Continental Portuguese, "lustre" has a broader usage. It is the standard, generic term for any ceiling light (not just ornate chandeliers), and it is also frequently used to mean the "shine," "luster," or "gloss" of an object (e.g., the shine on a polished shoe or a varnished table).
Brazilian Portuguese Examples
- O lustre de cristal é muito caro. (The crystal chandelier is very expensive.)
- Vamos instalar um lustre novo na sala. (We are going to install a new chandelier in the living room.)
- O lustre da varanda está com a lâmpada queimada. (The balcony chandelier has a burnt-out bulb.)
- Aquele lustre antigo é uma peça de decoração. (That antique chandelier is a decorative piece.)
- O lustre da entrada é enorme. (The chandelier in the entrance is huge.)
Continental Portuguese Examples
- O verniz dá muito lustre à madeira. (The varnish gives a lot of shine to the wood.)
- O lustre do quarto precisa de limpeza. (The bedroom ceiling light needs cleaning.)
- A limpeza devolveu o lustre à prata. (The cleaning restored the shine to the silver.)
- Este polidor realça o lustre do couro. (This polisher enhances the shine of the leather.)
- Gostamos do lustre que esta seda tem. (We like the luster that this silk has.)
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· BR vs PT Word Differences