Is the word meus the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
No.
While the spelling, meaning, and grammatical function of "meus" (the masculine plural of "meu") are identical in both dialects, there is a difference in typical usage and pronunciation. In Brazilian Portuguese, it is very common and natural to use the possessive adjective without a preceding definite article (e.g., "meus amigos"). In Continental Portuguese, the definite article is almost always required (e.g., "os meus amigos"). Additionally, pronunciation differs; in Portugal, unstressed vowels often undergo reduction, making the "e" in "meus" much more closed or nearly silent compared to the clearer pronunciation in Brazil.
Brazilian Portuguese Examples:
- Meus amigos chegaram. (My friends arrived.)
- Onde estão meus livros? (Where are my books?)
- Meus pais moram aqui. (My parents live here.)
- Eu adoro meus cachorros. (I love my dogs.)
- Estes são meus problemas. (These are my problems.)
Continental Portuguese Examples:
- Os meus amigos chegaram. (My friends arrived.)
- Onde estão os meus livros? (Where are my books?)
- Os meus pais vivem cá. (My parents live here.)
- Eu adoro os meus cães. (I love my dogs.)
- Estes são os meus problemas. (These are my problems.)
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· BR vs PT Word Differences