Audiência vs. público
The Portuguese words audiência and público can both translate to audience in English, but they differ in usage and context. While audiência is often associated with formal or legal settings or refers to the listeners/viewers of a specific medium, público usually means the general public or a broader group of people attending an event or targeted by communication.
Audiência
B1Audiência typically refers to listeners, viewers, or participants of specific media (like TV, radio, or online platforms). It also means a formal or legal hearing where discussions take place.
O programa teve uma audiência de dois milhões de pessoas.
(The show had an audience of two million people.)
A audiência do rádio está diminuindo com o tempo.
(The radio's audience is decreasing over time.)
O advogado preparou-se para a audiência no tribunal.
(The lawyer prepared for the hearing in court.)
Público
A2Público refers to a general group of people, such as attendees at an event, a target audience for an advertisement, or the broader public at large.
O público aplaudiu calorosamente ao final do concerto.
(The audience applauded warmly at the end of the concert.)
O autor dirigiu-se ao público jovem em seu novo livro.
(The author addressed the young audience in their new book.)
Havia um grande público assistindo ao desfile na rua.
(There was a large crowd watching the parade on the street.)
Summary
While both audiência and público can mean audience, their contexts differ: audiência often applies to specific media viewers/listeners or a formal legal hearing, while público refers to the general public, event attendees, or a target demographic. The distinction lies in scope and usage, so choosing the right term depends on specificity and context.