vs · BR vs PT Word Differences

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

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

Yes

The word "tentaram" is identical in spelling, meaning, and grammatical function in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. It is the third-person plural of the Pretérito Perfeito (past tense) of the verb tentar (to try).

The differences are strictly:

• Pronunciation: In Brazil, vowels are generally more open and clearly articulated. In Portugal, unstressed vowels (like the "a" in the final syllable) are often "reduced" or almost entirely silent, making the word sound more clipped.
• Syntactic Context: While "tentaram" remains the same, the words surrounding it often change. In Brazil, it is common to place object pronouns before the verb (e.g., tentaram me ligar), whereas in Portugal, it is standard to place them after the verb using a hyphen (e.g., tentaram ligar-me).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. Eles tentaram pegar o ônibus, mas não conseguiram. (They tried to catch the bus, but they couldn't.)
2. Os cachorros tentaram comer a comida do gato. (The dogs tried to eat the cat's food.)
3. Elas tentaram me ligar ontem à noite. (They tried to call me last night.)
4. Os jogadores tentaram fazer o gol no último minuto. (The players tried to score a goal in the last minute.)
5. Eles tentaram esconder o presente de mim. (They tried to hide the present from me.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

1. Eles tentaram apanhar o autocarro, mas não conseguiram. (They tried to catch the bus, but they couldn't.)
2. Os cães tentaram comer a comida do gato. (The dogs tried to eat the cat's food.)
3. Elas tentaram ligar-me ontem à noite. (They tried to call me last night.)
4. Os jogadores tentaram fazer o golo no último minuto. (The players tried to score a goal in the last minute.)
5. Eles tentaram esconder o presente de mim. (They tried to hide the present from me.)