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Time vs. equipe vs. equipa

Word practice demo
The difference between time, equipe, and equipa primarily depends on the region (Brazil vs. Portugal) and specific contexts within sports. While they all translate to team, they are not always interchangeable.

Time

A1
This is widely used in Brazilian Portuguese. It is the most common term for a sports club or a squad, specifically in competitive sports like football (soccer), volleyball, or basketball. The word is derived from the English word team.
Meu time ganhou o campeonato ontem à noite.
(My team won the championship last night.)
Para qual time você torce?
(Which team do you support?)
O técnico convocou os jogadores para formar o time titular.
(The coach summoned the players to form the starting team.)
O Brasil tem um time de futebol muito famoso.
(Brazil has a very famous soccer team.)

Equipe

A2
Used primarily in Brazilian Portuguese, this word is slightly more formal than time. In sports, it is the standard term for Formula 1 teams or cycling squads. It is also frequently used to describe the support staff (coaches, doctors) rather than just the players.
A equipe médica entrou em campo para atender o goleiro.
(The medical team entered the field to attend to the goalkeeper.)
A Ferrari é a equipe mais tradicional da Fórmula 1.
(Ferrari is the most traditional team in Formula 1.)
A equipe técnica decidiu mudar a tática para o segundo tempo.
(The technical team (staff) decided to change tactics for the second half.)
Somos uma equipe unida dentro e fora do ginásio.
(We are a united team inside and outside the gymnasium.)

Equipa

A1
This is the standard word in European Portuguese (Portugal) and Portuguese-speaking Africa. It is used for all contexts, replacing both time and equipe. In Portugal, time is rarely used.
A equipa portuguesa jogou muito bem no Estádio da Luz.
(The Portuguese team played very well at the Estádio da Luz.)
O treinador está orgulhoso da sua equipa.
(The coach is proud of his team.)
Nesta equipa, todos os jogadores são importantes.
(In this team, all players are important.)
A equipa de arbitragem cometeu um erro grave.
(The refereeing team made a serious mistake.)

Summary

If you are speaking Brazilian Portuguese, use time for sports clubs (football, basketball) and equipe for staff, racing, or formal contexts. If you are speaking European Portuguese, always use equipa.