The two variants of Portuguese
Given the disparity and geographic remoteness of Portuguese-speaking countries, it is no wonder that the Portuguese language has evolved over time and that there are differences in pronunciation and vocabulary between these countries, or even grammatical specificities.
As an English speaking person you know what is what. The UK, the States, Oz is not always easy to understand each other (and I do not even speak of regional accents!
European Portuguese (also known as Lusitanian Portuguese or Portuguese Portuguese) is one of the two standards of the Portuguese language, the second being the Brazilian standard (or Brazilian Portuguese). The Lusitanian norm is that which is spoken in Portugal, Africa and Asia.
Portuguese from Portugal and from Brazil remain one and the same language, but there are considerable differences between the two: the most obvious and easy to recognize is pronunciation, but there are also differences in grammar and vocabulary (and sometimes perfectly harmless words in European Portuguese represent an insult in Brazil).
The use of the pronouns TU and VOCÊ.
In Portugal, we use TU when we talk to someone in an informal way, that is, with friends, with certain family members, with certain colleagues or even with children. And we use você for more formal situations.
To put it simply, the pronoun tu corresponds to the French tu, and você corresponds to the French polite you.
Whereas in Brazil, você is used for both formal and informal situations (a bit like English you).If you'd like to add some formality or respect you should add senhor before você. Example. Excuse, do you know where the bakery is? Por favor, o senhor sabe onde fica a padaria?
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