Expat practicing Portuguese with a colleague in a Lisbon coworking space. Understanding European Portuguese If you’re moving to Portugal, you’ll hear European Portuguese (EP) —not Brazilian Portuguese (BP). They’re mutually intelligible, but EP differs in sound, grammar, and everyday usage. Key differences (EP vs BP) Pronunciation:  EP tends to have “closed” vowels and softer endings; BP is generally more open and syllable-timed. Pronouns & formality:  EP commonly uses tu  (i