vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

No.

While the fundamental meaning of the word is the same—referring to "savings" or a "savings account"—there are differences in typical usage and grammar. In Brazil, "poupança" is often used as a shorthand for the bank account itself (e.g., "a poupança"), whereas in Portugal, it is much more common to use the full term "conta de poupan/savings account." Additionally, Brazilians typically use the verbs "guardar" or "depositar" (to keep/deposit) when talking about this money, while Portuguese people naturally use "colocar" (to put). Finally, in Portugal, "poupança" is used much more broadly to refer to the "saving" or reduction of resources like energy or water, whereas a Brazilian would almost always use the word "economia" for those contexts.

Brazilian Portuguese

1. Eu guardo dinheiro na poupança todo mês. (I put money in my savings account every month.)
2. A poupança rendeu muito pouco este ano. (The savings account yielded very little this year.)
3. Preciso fazer uma poupança para viajar. (I need to save up some money to travel.)
4. Vou usar minha poupança para comprar um carro. (I am going to use my savings to buy a car.)
5. Onde posso abrir uma conta poupança? (Where can I open a savings account?)

Continental Portuguese

1. Eu coloco dinheiro na conta de poupança todos os meses. (I put money into my savings account every month.)
2. A conta de poupança rendeu muito pouco este ano. (The savings account yielded very little this year.)
3. Fiz uma poupança para viajar. (I made a saving to travel.)
4. Vou usar a minha poupança para comprar um carro. (I am going to use my savings to buy a car.)
5. Onde posso abrir uma conta de poupança? (Where can I open a savings account?)