Introducing the Portuguese Language

Not many people know that Portuguese is spoken in Brazil, one of the few Latin American countries where Spanish is not the official language. In fact, Portuguese is spoken in far-reaching parts of the globe, such as Portugal, Goa (India), Macau (China), Guinea-Bissau, Angola, and Mozambique, among other countries. So what are the origins of this language? How is it similar to or different from Spanish? What makes Brazilian Portuguese different from European Portuguese? And why should you learn it? 

Why Learn Portuguese?

Have you ever listened to a bossa nova love song and wondered what the lyrics mean? Perhaps you have always been intrigued by fascinating exotic places such as the Amazon jungle or Copacabana beach. Maybe your grandparents emigrated from the Azores, Madeira, or Portugal, and you always wanted to write to them in their language. Or you might be interested in learning Portuguese to communicate with your coworkers.

Many people in the world (close to 200 million) speak Portuguese. You might be interested to know that many African and Asian countries have Portuguese as their official language. In addition, there is a growing Portuguese-speaking population in the United States. Because it is an uncommonly taught language, being fluent in it will probably serve you well when you look for a job! Also, learning Portuguese will help you understand the lyrics of famous bossa nova songs, the lines in Oscar-nominated Brazilian films, and the prose of an incredibly diverse body of literature.

Whatever the reason, be it reclaiming your heritage, learning more about the diversity of Latin America, or discovering new worlds of cuisine, literature, and history, learning Portuguese is a great step in your life. So put on your samba shoes and let’s get started!