vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

No

The spelling, meaning, and grammar of "mata" are identical in both variants. The differences lie in pronunciation and typical usage. In Brazilian Portuguese, "mata" is used more broadly to refer to any wooded or jungle area. In Continental Portuguese, "mata" is often reserved for smaller thickets or specific types of groves, whereas "floresta" is the standard term for larger forested regions. Furthermore, Brazilian pronunciation features more open vowels, while Continental Portuguese tends to close or reduce unstressed vowels.

Brazilian Portuguese

1. A mata é muito verde. (The forest is very green.)
2. Esse veneno mata os insetos. (This poison kills insects.)
3. Eu gosto de caminhar na mata. (I like walking in the woods.)
4. O incêndio na mata assusta. (The fire in the woods is scary.)
5. O calor mata a gente. (The heat is killing us.)

Continental Portuguese

1. A floresta é muito verde. (The forest is very green.)
2. Esse veneno mata os insetos. (This poison kills insects.)
3. Eu gosto de caminhar pelo bosque. (I like walking through the woods.)
4. O incêndio na floresta assusta. (The fire in the forest is scary.)
5. O calor mata-nos. (The heat is killing us.)