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Is the word principalmente the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?
Yes
The meaning, spelling, and grammar of "principalmente" are identical in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. The only difference is pronunciation.
In Brazilian Portuguese, the pronunciation is more "vocalic" and melodic; vowels are generally more open, and unstressed vowels are clearly articulated. In Continental Portuguese, the pronunciation is more "consonantal" and stress-timed. Unstressed vowels are often reduced, swallowed, or almost completely silent, making the word sound much shorter and more "clipped" to a Brazilian ear.
Brazilian Portuguese Examples
- Eu gosto de frutas, principalmente maçã. (I like fruits, especially apples.)
- Ele estuda muito, principalmente à noite. (He studies a lot, especially at night.)
- Viajamos para o Nordeste, principalmente para a Bahia. (We traveled to the Northeast, mainly to Bahia.)
- O grupo é formado por jovens, principalmente estudantes. (The group is made up of young people, mainly students.)
- O clima aqui é quente, principalmente no verão. (The climate here is hot, especially in the summer.)
Continental Portuguese Examples
- Eu gosto de fruta, principalmente maçã. (I like fruit, especially apples.)
- Ele estuda muito, sobretudo à noite. (He studies a lot, especially at night.)
- Viajámos para o Norte, sobretudo para o Porto. (We traveled to the North, especially to Porto.)
- O grupo é composto por jovens, sobretudo estudantes. (The group is composed of young people, especially students.)
- O tempo aqui é quente, sobretudo no verão. (The weather here is hot, especially in the summer.)
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· BR vs PT Word Differences