← Back to searchWord Index →

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

No

While the spelling and fundamental meaning of "ninar" (to lull or rock to sleep) are identical in both dialects, there are differences in typical usage and the grammar used alongside the word. In Brazilian Portuguese, the verb is commonly used in the gerund form (e.g., nindo) to express an ongoing action. In Continental Portuguese, the gerund is rarely used; instead, the preposition a is used with the infinitive (e.g., a ninar). Additionally, Brazilians typically omit the definite article before possessive pronouns (e.g., meu filho), whereas Portuguese people almost always include it (e.g., o meu filho).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. A mãe está ninando o bebê. (The mother is rocking the baby.)
  2. Eu adoro ninar meu filho até ele dormir. (I love rocking my son until he falls asleep.)
  3. Ela passou a noite inteira ninando o pequeno. (She spent the whole night rocking the little one.)
  4. Estavam ninando a criança quando eu cheguei. (They were rocking the child when I arrived.)
  5. Ninar o bebê exige muita paciência. (Rocking the baby requires a lot of patience.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. A mãe está a ninar o bebé. (The mother is rocking the baby.)
  2. Eu adoro ninar o meu filho até ele dormir. (I love rocking my son until he falls asleep.)
  3. Ela passou a noite inteira a ninar o pequeno. (She spent the whole night rocking the little one.)
  4. Estavam a ninar a criança quando eu cheguei. (They were rocking the child when I arrived.)
  5. Ninar o bebé exige muita paciência. (Rocking the baby requires a lot of patience.)