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

No

While the spelling, grammar, and basic meaning of "positivo" remain the same, there is a difference in typical usage. In Brazilian Portuguese, "positivo" is frequently used to describe a person's personality, temperament, or mindset (acting as a synonym for "optimistic"). In Continental Portuguese, describing a person as "positivo" is much less common and can sound slightly unnatural; Portuguese speakers much more naturally use the word "otimista" for people, reserving "positivo" primarily for objective results, data, or feedback. Additionally, Brazilians commonly use the verb "dar" (to give/to yield) with "positivo" when discussing medical tests, whereas Portuguese speakers more frequently use "ser" (to be) or "ter" (to have).

Brazilian Portuguese Usage

1. Ele é uma pessoa muito positiva. (He is a very positive person.)
2. O resultado do exame deu positivo. (The test result came back positive.)
3. Tivemos um feedback muito positivo sobre o projeto. (We had very positive feedback about the project.)
4. É importante manter o pensamento positivo. (It is important to keep a positive mindset.)
5. O saldo da conta está positivo este mês. (The account balance is positive this month.)

Continental Portuguese Usage

1. Ele é uma pessoa muito otimista. (He is a very optimistic person.)
2. O resultado do exame foi positivo. (The test result was positive.)
3. Recebemos uma resposta bastante positiva. (We received quite a positive response.)
4. É fundamental manter o otimismo. (It is fundamental to maintain optimism.)
5. O saldo da conta encontra-se positivo este mês. (The account balance is positive this month.)