← Back to searchWord Index →

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

No.

While the spelling and the literal meaning of "nadando" (the gerund of the verb nadar) are identical in both dialects, there is a significant difference in typical usage and grammatical construction when expressing ongoing actions.

In Brazilian Portuguese, the gerund (nadando) is the standard and most natural way to express an action currently in progress. In Continental Portuguese, while the gerund is grammatically possible, it is much more natural to use the preposition a followed by the infinitive (a nadar) to express the same continuous action.

Brazilian Portuguese Usage

  1. Eu estou nadando na piscina. (I am swimming in the pool.)
  2. Eles estão nadando no mar hoje. (They are swimming in the sea today.)
  3. Você gosta de passar o dia nadando? (Do you like to spend the day swimming?)
  4. A criança estava nadando muito bem. (The child was swimming very well.)
  5. Nós estamos nadando no rio agora. (We are swimming in the river now.)

Continental Portuguese Usage

  1. Eu estou a nadar na piscina. (I am swimming in the pool.)
  2. Eles estão a nadar no mar hoje. (They are swimming in the sea today.)
  3. Tu gostas de passar o dia a nadar? (Do you like to spend the day swimming?)
  4. A criança estava a nadar muito bem. (The child was swimming very well.)
  5. Nós estamos a nadar no rio agora. (We are swimming in the river now.)