vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

No.

While the core meaning of the word (the rodent) is identical in both dialects, there are differences in typical usage and semantic scope. In Brazil, "rato" is used colloquially to describe a stingy or cheap person, whereas a Portuguese person would typically use the word "avarento." Additionally, regarding the computer peripheral, Brazilians naturally use the English loanword "mouse," whereas "rato" remains the standard and most natural term in Portugal.

Brazilian Portuguese

1. O rato roeu a roupa. (The rat gnawed the clothes.)
2. Ele é um rato de biblioteca. (He is a bookworm.)
3. Aquele rato contou o segredo para todos. (That snitch told the secret to everyone.)
4. O rato de esgoto é muito perigoso. (The sewer rat is very dangerous.)
5. Ele é um rato, nunca quer gastar dinheiro. (He is stingy, he never wants to spend money.)

Continental Portuguese

1. O rato roeu a roupa. (The rat gnawed the clothes.)
2. Ele é um rato de biblioteca. (He is a bookworm.)
3. Aquele rato contou o segredo para todos. (That snitch told the secret to everyone.)
4. O rato de esgoto é muito perigoso. (The sewer rat is very dangerous.)
5. Ele é um avarento, nunca quer gastar dinheiro. (He is a stingy person, he never wants to spend money.)