Learn About Portuguese
Português • 260 million speakers worldwide
"Olá, tudo bem?"
Pronunciation: OH-lah, TOO-doo behm?
Translation: Hello, how are you?
Speakers
260 million
Language Family
Romance (Western Romance)
Writing System
Latin script
Official Status
Official language in 9 countries
Regions (9 countries)
Portuguese developed from Latin in the Iberian Peninsula. It spread globally through Portuguese exploration and colonization from the 15th century onwards, leaving a linguistic legacy in Africa, Asia, and South America.
Nasal vowels (ão, õe)
Gendered nouns (masculine/feminine)
Complex verb conjugations
Distinct European and Brazilian variants
Pronunciation varies greatly across regions
European Portuguese
Brazilian Portuguese
African Portuguese
Asian Portuguese
Pay attention to nasal vowel sounds
Listen to Brazilian music to train your ear
Practice European vs Brazilian pronunciation differences
Focus on verb conjugation patterns
Read Portuguese newspapers for context
Brazilian Portuguese differs significantly from European Portuguese in pronunciation and vocabulary
Portuguese-speaking cultures emphasize hospitality and warmth
Football (soccer) is a central cultural theme
Portuguese literature has global influence, e.g., Fernando Pessoa and José Saramago
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, the largest country in South America
It is the fastest-growing European language after English
Portuguese has significant influence from Arabic words
Brazilian Portuguese has simpler grammar compared to European Portuguese