BR vs PT · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

No.

The difference between the word "nos" in Brazilian Portuguese and Continental Portuguese is not found in its meaning, spelling, or pronunciation, but in its typical usage and syntax (specifically, clitic placement).

In Brazilian Portuguese, there is a strong linguistic preference for proclisis, which is the placement of the pronoun before the verb (e.g., Ele nos viu). This is the natural, standard way to speak and write in most Brazilian contexts.

In Continental Portuguese, the standard and natural usage is enclisis, where the pronoun is placed after the verb, connected by a hyphen (e.g., Ele viu-nos).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples:

  1. Eles nos entregaram os documentos. (They delivered the documents to us.)
  2. Ela nos contou uma história engraçada. (She told us a funny story.)
  3. Você nos traz o café? (Will you bring us the coffee?)
  4. Eles nos encontraram no shopping. (They found us at the mall.)
  5. O diretor nos avisou sobre a reunião. (The director warned us about the meeting.)

European Portuguese Examples:

  1. Eles entregaram-nos os documentos. (They delivered the documents to us.)
  2. Ela contou-nos uma história engraçada. (She told us a funny story.)
  3. Tu trazes-nos o café? (Will you bring us the coffee?)
  4. Eles encontraram-nos no shopping. (They found us at the mall.)
  5. O diretor avisou-nos sobre a reunião. (The director warned us about the meeting.)