BR vs PT · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

No

The difference between the two dialects lies in typical usage. While the spelling and the core meaning of "sujou" (the third-person singular, past tense of sujar) are identical, Brazilians frequently use the verb intransitively to indicate that something became dirty (e.g., a camisa sujou). In Portugal, it is much more natural and standard to use the reflexive form, sujou-se, to express the same idea. Additionally, related vocabulary often changes, such as the Brazilian use of bagunça for "mess" versus the Portuguese preference for confusão.

Brazilian Portuguese usage:

  1. A camisa sujou muito rápido. (The shirt got dirty very quickly.)
  2. O menino sujou a mão com chocolate. (The boy got his hand dirty with chocolate.)
  3. A calça sujou no parque. (The pants got dirty at the park.)
  4. Ele sujou o tapete com vinho. (He stained the rug with wine.)
  5. A cozinha sujou toda com a bagunça. (The kitchen got all dirty with the mess.)

Continental Portuguese usage:

  1. A camisa sujou-se muito depressa. (The shirt got dirty very quickly.)
  2. O menino sujou-se com chocolate. (The boy got dirty with chocolate.)
  3. A calça sujou-se no parque. (The pants got dirty at the park.)
  4. Ele sujou o tapete com vinho. (He stained the rug with wine.)
  5. A cozinha sujou-se toda com a confusão. (The kitchen got all dirty with the mess.)