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

No.

While the dictionary definition and grammar of "pretendente" are identical in both varieties, there is a difference in typical usage and register. In Brazilian Portuguese, "pretendente" is most naturally used in a romantic context to refer to a "suitor." In Continental Portuguese, while it can be used for a suitor, it is much more commonly used in a formal, legal, or historical register to mean a "claimant" (someone claiming a throne, a title, or an inheritance). When expressing the idea of a romantic suitor, a person from Portugal would much more naturally use the word "admirador."

Brazilian Portuguese (using "pretendente" as a suitor):

  1. Ele é um pretendente muito gentil. (He is a very kind suitor.)
  2. Ela tem um pretendente de longa data. (She has a long-time suitor.)
  3. O pretendente apareceu de surpresa. (The suitor showed up by surprise.)
  4. Não quero nenhum pretendente agora. (I don't want any suitor right now.)
  5. Aquele é o pretendente dela. (That is her suitor.)

Continental Portuguese (using "admirador" to express the same idea naturally):

  1. Ele é um admirador muito gentil. (He is a very kind admirer.)
  2. Ela tem um admirador de longa data. (She has a long-time admirer.)
  3. O admirador apareceu de surpresa. (The admirer showed up by surprise.)
  4. Não quero nenhum admirador agora. (I don't want any admirer right now.)
  5. Aquele é o admirador dela. (That is her admirer.)