The language spoken in Portugal is Portuguese, the country's sole official language and the mother tongue of virtually all 10.3 million residents. A Romance language descended from Latin, Portuguese is also a global heavyweight: roughly 260 million people speak it worldwide, making it the sixth most widely spoken language on Earth and the most spoken language in the Southern Hemisphere.
Portuguese: The Official Language
Portuguese (portugues) is the official and national language of Portugal, used in government, education, media, and everyday life from Lisbon and Porto to the islands of the Azores and Madeira. It belongs to the Romance branch of the Indo-European family, evolving from the Vulgar Latin spoken by Roman settlers in the Iberian Peninsula. Centuries of contact with Arabic during the Moorish period left their mark too, surfacing in words such as almofada (cushion) and place names like Algarve.
Beyond Portugal's borders, Portuguese is remarkably far-reaching. It is the official language of nine countries spread across four continents: Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, East Timor, and Equatorial Guinea. This legacy of the Portuguese maritime empire means a traveler can use the language in West Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia alike.
European vs. Brazilian Portuguese
While Portugal gave the language its name, Brazil is home to the overwhelming majority of its speakers, and the two varieties differ noticeably. European Portuguese tends to compress or "swallow" unstressed vowels, producing a clipped, consonant-heavy sound that newcomers sometimes mistake for a Slavic language. Brazilian Portuguese, by contrast, keeps vowels more open and has a flowing, musical cadence.
Vocabulary diverges as well. A train is a comboio in Portugal but a trem in Brazil; a bus is an autocarro in Lisbon and an onibus in Rio. Grammar differs too, particularly in how the two address people and place pronouns. A 1990 spelling reform, the Acordo Ortografico, aimed to unify written Portuguese across all nine countries, though its rollout has stirred debate on both sides of the Atlantic. Despite these differences, speakers from Portugal and Brazil understand one another with ease.
Mirandese and Minority Languages
Portugal is unusually homogeneous linguistically, but it does recognize one minority language. Mirandese (mirandes) is spoken by an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people in the northeastern municipality of Miranda do Douro, near the Spanish border. It is not a dialect of Portuguese but a distinct Asturleonese language, more closely related to the tongues of northwestern Spain. Portugal granted Mirandese official co-status in 1999, allowing it to be taught in local schools and used in regional signage. It remains the country's only legally recognized minority language, a small but cherished piece of cultural heritage kept alive by its rural community.
English and Other Languages in Portugal
Portugal consistently ranks among Europe's strongest non-native English speakers, a result of mandatory English instruction in schools and the fact that foreign films and television air with subtitles rather than dubbing. In Lisbon, Porto, and the tourist-heavy Algarve, you can generally get by with English in hotels, restaurants, and shops. French and Spanish are also widely understood, the former popular among older generations and the latter aided by its similarity to Portuguese. Still, learning a few Portuguese phrases is warmly appreciated by locals.
- Ola — hello
- Bom dia — good morning
- Obrigado / Obrigada — thank you (said by a man / by a woman)
- Sim / Nao — yes / no
- Quanto custa? — how much does it cost?
- Fala ingles? — do you speak English?
A Language Worth Knowing
Portuguese carries a literary and emotional depth that fascinates language lovers. The famously untranslatable word saudade captures a bittersweet longing for something or someone absent, and it sits at the heart of fado, Portugal's soulful national music. From the poetry of Luis de Camoes to the novels of Nobel laureate Jose Saramago, Portuguese has a rich written tradition. For a fuller picture of the country behind the language, explore our portugal country guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portuguese the same as Spanish?
No. Although both are Romance languages from the Iberian Peninsula and share much vocabulary and grammar, they are separate languages. Speakers can often read each other's writing with some effort, but spoken Portuguese and Spanish are not reliably mutually intelligible.
Can you get by with English in Portugal?
In most cities and tourist areas, yes. Portugal has high English proficiency, especially among younger people and those in hospitality. In rural areas and small villages, however, knowing basic Portuguese phrases is far more useful.
How many people speak Portuguese worldwide?
Approximately 260 million people speak Portuguese across the globe, making it the sixth most spoken language in the world. The vast majority live in Brazil, while Portugal itself accounts for around 10 million speakers.
What other languages are recognized in Portugal?
Mirandese is the only officially recognized minority language, spoken by 10,000 to 15,000 people in the Miranda do Douro region near the Spanish border. It has held co-official status since 1999.