← Back to searchWord Index →

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

No

The primary difference between the two is the spelling. In Brazilian Portuguese, the word is spelled sutil, whereas in Continental Portuguese (Portugal), the standard spelling is subtil.

Regarding pronunciation, there is also a distinction. In Brazil, the "t" before the "i" sound typically undergoes palatalization, sounding like "su-chee" (/suˈtʃi/). In Portugal, the "t" remains a dental/alveolar sound, closer to "su-teel" (/suˈti/).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. Ela deu um toque sutil na decoração. (She gave a subtle touch to the decoration.)
  2. O perfume dela é muito sutil. (Her perfume is very subtle.)
  3. Notei uma diferença sutil entre as duas cores. (I noticed a subtle difference between the two colors.)
  4. Ele foi sutil ao fazer o comentário. (He was subtle when making the comment.)
  5. Há uma mudança sutil no seu comportamento. (There is a subtle change in your behavior.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. Ela deu um toque subtil na decoração. (She gave a subtle touch to the decoration.)
  2. O perfume dela é bastante subtil. (Her perfume is quite subtle.)
  3. Notei uma diferença subtil entre as duas cores. (I noticed a subtle difference between the two colors.)
  4. Ele foi subtil ao fazer o comentário. (He was subtle when making the comment.)
  5. Há uma alteração subtil no seu comportamento. (There is a subtle change in your behavior.)