← Back to searchWord Index →

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

No

While the dictionary definition of "testar" is identical in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese, there is a difference in typical usage.

In Brazil, "testar" is used very broadly to mean "to try out," "to sample," or "to test." A Brazilian might say they are "testing" a new restaurant, a new perfume, or a new recipe. In Portugal, "testar" is much more strictly reserved for technical, scientific, or formal verification (e.g., testing a machine, a software, or a hypothesis). For everyday activities like trying food, clothes, or a new hobby, a Portuguese person would much more naturally use the verbs experimentar or provar.

Brazilian Portuguese (Natural usage of "testar")

  1. Vou testar esse restaurante novo no fim de semana. (I'm going to try this new restaurant this weekend.)
  2. Precisamos testar se a internet está funcionando bem. (We need to test if the internet is working well.)
  3. Ele adora testar todos os novos aplicativos que saem. (He loves testing all the new apps that are released.)
  4. Vamos testar essa nova estratégia de vendas. (Let's test this new sales strategy.)
  5. Você já testou o novo shampoo que eu te dei? (Have you tested the new shampoo I gave you yet?)

Continental Portuguese (Natural usage of alternatives)

  1. Vou experimentar este restaurante novo no fim de semana. (I'm going to try this new restaurant this weekend.)
  2. Precisamos verificar se a internet está a funcionar bem. (We need to check if the internet is working well.)
  3. Ele adora experimentar todas as novas aplicações que saem. (He loves trying all the new apps that are released.)
  4. Vamos testar esta nova estratégia de vendas. (Let's test this new sales strategy.)
  5. experimentaste o novo champô que eu te dei? (Have you tried the new shampoo I gave you yet?)