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In some texts of European Portuguese it's common to see the word ecrã to refer to a computer screen, but it isn't used in Brazilian Portuguese if I'm not wrong.

I'd like to know what the popular meaning for this word is. Is it used only for computers — or also for TVs and smartphones, for example? In European Portuguese is the word tela used for the same purpose?

I know that Wikipedia and other sources indicate the words (ecrã and tela) as synonyms, but I'm looking for the popular use.

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    Don’t forget pantalha, from Spanish pantalla (same sound, different spelling). French has écran here, which is where Portuguese got ecrã (again same sound different spelling). Portuguese tela can be any kind of textile or cloth, but has plenty of other senses as well. Note also teia de aranha for spiderweb, also from Latin tela but this time with lenition of the intervocalic L; compare Spanish telaraña for spiderweb.
    – tchrist ♦
    Commented Aug 5, 2015 at 22:29

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The word "ecrã" is just used in Português of Portugal and Mozambique. This word doesn't exist in Brazil.

Ecrã is originally from Frances (écran).

The means of the world is screen/canvas.

Most common used for ecrã are:

  • Cinema
  • Computers
  • Canvas
  • Television
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    I wouldn't say it doesn't exist in Brazil. I've heard it occasionally.
    – Centaurus
    Commented Aug 6, 2015 at 0:13
  • This word doesn't exist in a official way.
    – AFetter
    Commented Aug 6, 2015 at 0:20
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    It does exist. Look it up in Aurelio's Second Edition (it's the one I have here).
    – Centaurus
    Commented Aug 6, 2015 at 0:33
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    Ecrã de televisão
    – ANeves
    Commented Aug 6, 2015 at 10:13
  • É uma palavra absorvida do pt-PT pelo pt-BR, mas fica restrita a sinônimo dicionarizado para conhecimento sobre seu significado original. Se recebo um eletrônico com manual pt-PT vou saber o significo, mas farei uso dele ou verei alguém fazendo em pt-BR.
    – André Lyra
    Commented Jun 1, 2016 at 18:36

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