Portuguese from Portugal | History and curiosities

The official language of Portugal is Portuguese

Portuguese was the 6th most spoken language in the world by the number of native speakers. It is estimated that there were around 215 to 220 million native speakers of Portuguese at that time.

Brazil is the country with the most Portuguese speakers in the world

Brazil is the country with the most Portuguese speakers in the world. It has the largest population of native Portuguese speakers and is the most populous country among the Lusophone countries. Brazil alone accounts for the majority of the total number of Portuguese speakers globally, with over 200 million native speakers.

The history between Portugal and Brazil

Brazil was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century. The Portuguese first arrived in the territory in 1500 and established settlements. Over time, they developed a strong presence and influence in the region, leading to the widespread adoption of the Portuguese language.

Differences between Portuguese from Portugal and Portuguese from Brazil

There are differences between Portuguese from Portugal and Portuguese from Brazil. While both variants are based on the same language, they have evolved differently over time due to historical, cultural, and geographical factors.

Portuguese from Portugal is also known as European Portuguese.

Students say it’s easier to learn Brazilian Portuguese

Some learners may find Brazilian Portuguese slightly easier to understand for a few reasons:

Pronunciation: Brazilian Portuguese tends to have clearer and more open vowel sounds compared to certain variations of European Portuguese. The pronunciation of some words may be more straightforward for learners.

Melodic Quality: Some learners find Brazilian Portuguese to have a more melodic and sing-song quality, which can make it easier to follow along and identify word boundaries.

Exposure: Due to Brazil’s large population and significant cultural influence, learners may have more exposure to Brazilian Portuguese through music, movies, and television, making it feel more familiar.

Informal Language: Brazilian Portuguese often incorporates informal language and expressions, which can be more relatable and accessible for learners.

Learner-Friendly Resources: Brazilian Portuguese has a wide range of learner-friendly resources, including textbooks, apps, and online courses, which can support language acquisition.

Author: Adriano Martins Pinheiro is a lawyer in Portugal, with offices in Porto and Guimarães. In addition to being a lawyer, he is a writer and professor of online courses.

tags: learn portuguese, portugal, language, idiom, brazil, brazilian .