← Back to searchWord Index →

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

No.

While the fundamental meanings of the verb (to play an instrument, to ring, to touch) are shared, the usage of the word "tocando" is grammatically different. In Brazilian Portuguese, the gerund (tocando) is the standard way to express an ongoing or continuous action. In Continental Portuguese, the continuous aspect is almost always expressed using the preposition a followed by the infinitive (a tocar). Additionally, there are vocabulary differences in the objects being "touched" or "played" (such as mobile phones or acoustic guitars).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. Eu estou tocando piano. (I am playing the piano.)
  2. A música está tocando no rádio. (The music is playing on the radio.)
  3. O meu celular está tocando. (My cell phone is ringing.)
  4. Ele está tocando a mesa com o dedo. (He is touching the table with his finger.)
  5. Ela está tocando violão muito bem. (She is playing the acoustic guitar very well.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. Eu estou a tocar piano. (I am playing the piano.)
  2. A música está a tocar no rádio. (The music is playing on the radio.)
  3. O meu telemóvel está a tocar. (My mobile phone is ringing.)
  4. Ele está a tocar na mesa com o dedo. (He is touching the table with his finger.)
  5. Ela está a tocar guitarra muito bem. (She is playing the acoustic guitar very well.)