For the most part, speakers of European Portuguese can understand Brazilian Portuguese, and vice versa. They are considered dialects, but there are some differences between the two.
There are some differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and even grammar, but they are similar enough that communication is usually possible. Here’s a breakdown:
- Similarities: They share a core vocabulary and grammar.
- Vocabulary: Some words have different meanings or don’t exist in the other dialect.
- Pronunciation: European Portuguese has a more complex sound system and slightly different rhythms. It is especially visible when students of linguistics or philology choose the dialect. When they graduate, the students of European Portuguese can understand the Brazilians, but not always the European Portuguese can be clearly intelligible for the students of Brazilian Portuguese.
Despite these differences, the two dialects are largely mutually intelligible, and speakers of both would get along well with each other.