vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

Yes.

The word "riscos" is identical in meaning, grammar, and spelling in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. It can refer to "risks" (danger), "scratches" (on a surface), "lines" (drawn), or "dashes" (punctuation). The only significant difference is in pronunciation:

• Brazilian Portuguese: The vowels are more open, and the "s" is pronounced as a dental/alveolar [s], similar to the "s" in "sun."
• Continental Portuguese: The vowels are more closed or reduced (sometimes almost disappearing in unstressed positions), and the "s" at the end of a syllable is pronounced as a postalveolar fricative [ʃ], similar to the "sh" in "ship."

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. Não podemos correr riscos agora. (We can't take risks now.)
2. O carro tem muitos riscos na porta. (The car has many scratches on the door.)
3. Faça dois riscos no papel para marcar o lugar. (Make two lines on the paper to mark the spot.)
4. Existem muitos riscos nesta nova estratégia. (There are many risks in this new strategy.)
5. Ele deixou alguns riscos na mesa de madeira. (He left some scratches on the wooden table.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

1. Não podemos correr riscos agora. (We can't take risks now.)
2. O automóvel tem muitos riscos na porta. (The automobile has many scratches on the door.)
3. Traça dois riscos no papel para assinalar o local. (Trace two lines on the paper to mark the location.)
4. Há muitos riscos nesta nova estratégia. (There are many risks in this new strategy.)
5. Ele deixou uns riscos na mesa de madeira. (He left some scratches on the wooden table.)