Is it acceptable to say "brasilero" instead of "brasileño"?

Question

On the Wikipedia article in Spanish about Brazil, both terms, brasileño and brasilero, are used as gentilic for people born in Brazil. It also mentions that brasilero is used only on certain regions and as an adjective. So, the question is, under what circumstances is it acceptable to use brasileño and brasilero?

En el artículo en español de Wikipedia acerca de Brasil ambos términos, brasileño y brasilero, son usados como gentilicio para personas nacidas es Brasil. También se menciona que brasilero es usado solamente en algunas regiones y como un adjetivo. Así que la pregunta es: ¿bajo qué circunstancias es aceptable usar brasileño y brasilero?

Quotation/Citación

El natural de Brasil se denomina brasileño o brasileña, aunque en el habla corriente de varios países hispanos limítrofes con Brasil, también se usa con carácter de sinónimo tanto brasilero como brasilera, así como también se usan estos dos términos en otros diferentes contextos, al utilizarlos por ejemplo como adjetivo o como sustantivo.267 Véase que en la formación de gentilicios en idioma español, se usan ambas terminaciones -eño, -ero.

score 7 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 20 '16 at 13:52

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The word for the citizen of Brasil in Portuguese is brasileiro. I think because of the many similarities that Spanish and Portuguese language have, it was added to the Spanish.

Your quotation says that the countries close to Brazil are the ones saying brasilero, so that makes a lot of sense, because they are more in contact with them.

Brasileño has been always the word for citizens of Brazil in Spanish.

edited Jun 20 '16 at 13:52

fedorqui

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answered Feb 03 '13 at 20:06

eLRuLL

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I want add that I am from Perú, also next to Brazil, so i heard the use of these words. – eLRuLL Feb 05 '13 at 14:02

score 5 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 20 '16 at 13:51

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Being from Argentina (next to Brasil) we use both without distinction. I can't assure you that's common outside South America (meaning the rest of Latin America and Spain), but I reckon Spanish speakers from all around will understand both without a problem.

Now if you are writing for a newspaper or your PhD I'd suggest to use brasileño, which is the former one.

edited Jun 20 '16 at 13:51

fedorqui

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answered Feb 04 '13 at 00:31

LPoblet

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A similar case in Argentina: "sureño/surero". In both cases (and looking at other words that have no ambiguity: norteño, caribeño) the "eño" sufix seems more fundamental and original, and the "ero" looks as a variant that strives for better sound. – leonbloy Feb 04 '13 at 17:25

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 04 '13 at 04:52

En España "brasilero" no se usa nunca, o al menos yo nunca lo he escuchado de boca de alguien nacido en este lado del charco.

Es más, creo que si a los españoles nos piden usar otra palabra en lugar de "brasileño", seguro que a la mayoría se nos vendría a la mente de forma espontánea "brasileiro","brazilian", o incluso "brésilien" pero no "brasilero".

score 3 · Answer 4 · edited Jun 21 '16 at 06:44

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The word "brasilero" is accepted by the Real Academia de la Lengua. So, you can use it instead of "brasileño" without any problem.

Recommendation: when you doubt about a word, just check it at http://www.rae.es. To be honest, I always thought that "brasilero" was wrong but it turns out that is correct.

edited Jun 21 '16 at 06:44

fedorqui

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answered Jun 20 '16 at 23:55

Mario S

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score -3 · Answer 5 · answered Jun 09 '21 at 01:48

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Según la RAE Real Academia Española la bíblica de la lengua española, es brasileño, a. Brasilero, a no existe. Mucho menos brasileiro, a; que es en portugués.

Igualmente con el gentilicio perteneciente a Jamaica. Es jamaicano, a. No se dice jamaiquino, a.

answered Jun 09 '21 at 01:48

C. H. Linares

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Vaya https://dle.rae.es/brasilero – RubioRic Jun 09 '21 at 06:50

Is it acceptable to say "brasilero" instead of "brasileño"?

5 Answers5