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

Yes

The word "rios" (the plural of "rio") has the same meaning, spelling, and grammatical function in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. The only difference lies in pronunciation.

In Brazil, the pronunciation of the initial "r" varies by region; it can be a strong retroflex "r" (common in the interior, similar to the American English "r") or an aspirated "h" sound (common in Rio de Janeiro). Brazilian Portuguese also tends to have more open and clearly articulated vowels. In Portugal, the "r" is typically an alveolar or uvular fricative, and the vowels are often more "closed" or reduced, especially in unstressed syllables, leading to a more "swallowed" sound compared to the Brazilian version.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. Os rios da Amazônia são gigantescos. (The rivers of the Amazon are gigantic.)
  2. Tem muitos rios passando perto da minha cidade. (There are many rivers passing near my city.)
  3. A gente precisa cuidar dos nossos rios. (We need to take care of our rivers.)
  4. Os rios estão ficando muito secos por causa da seca. (The rivers are getting very dry because of the drought.)
  5. Eu gosto de ver o reflexo das árvores nos rios. (I like to see the reflection of the trees in the rivers.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. Os rios de Portugal são muito calmos. (The rivers of Portugal are very calm.)
  2. Há muitos rios que atravessam a nossa região. (There are many rivers that cross our region.)
  3. É fundamental preservar os nossos rios. (It is fundamental to preserve our rivers.)
  4. O nível dos rios subiu muito com a chuva. (The level of the rivers rose a lot with the rain.)
  5. Os rios do Douro são muito conhecidos. (The rivers of the Douro are very well known.)