vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

Yes

The word "persuadir" is identical in meaning, spelling, and grammar in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. The only differences lie in pronunciation:

• Vowel Quality: In Brazilian Portuguese, the unstressed vowels tend to be more "open" and clearly articulated. In Continental Portuguese, unstressed vowels are often "reduced" or even swallowed (e.g., the "e" might sound more like a closed "i" or a neutral schwa).
• Stress and Cadence: Brazilian Portuguese has a more musical, syllable-timed rhythm with more distinct vowel sounds, whereas Continental Portuguese is more stress-timed, meaning unstressed syllables are much shorter and less distinct.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. Ele tentou me persuadir a ir à festa. (He tried to persuade me to go to the party.)
2. É muito difícil persuadir essa criança. (It is very difficult to persuade this child.)
3. Você consegue persuadir o cliente? (Can you persuade the client?)
4. Eu não sei como persuadir meu irmão. (I don't know how to persuade my brother.)
5. Ela sempre sabe como nos persuadir. (She always knows how to persuade us.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

1. Ele tentou persuadir-me a ir à festa. (He tried to persuade me to go to the party. — Note the use of the enclitic pronoun "-me" after the verb.)
2. É muito difícil persuadir essa criança. (It is very difficult to persuade this child. — Identical usage.)
3. Consegues persuadir o cliente? (Can you persuade the client? — Uses the "tu" conjugation for a more natural/informal tone.)
4. Não sei como persuadir o meu irmão. (I don't know how to persuade my brother. — Note the use of the definite article "o" before the possessive pronoun.)
5. Ela sabe sempre como nos persuadir. (She always knows how to persuade us. — Note the slightly different natural word order for the adverb.)