We’re living in a world where everything is global. I mean, because of globalization, every topic of discussion, every issue and every news item are followed by the whole planet in a matter of seconds. But of course, there’s the barrier of language. Yeah, sure we can access and connect with basically every single country nowadays, but how can we communicate properly and have the full-on experience, if we can only read and speak the language we are used to?
Learning new language helps you communicate across cultures and economies. It also helps you get in touch with people in a way you never did before. This is a unique opportunity to grow as a person and to consider new career opportunities as well.
Why Learn Brazilian Portuguese?
Portuguese is the sixth most spoken language in the world, and the official language of 10 countries, besides being significantly present in other territories. It is estimated that over 270 million people worldwide speak Portuguese, and 80% of them are in Brazil.
Although Portuguese is originally from Portugal, Brazilian Portuguese is its most studied variant in the world today. Throughout the history of Brazil, the Portuguese language gathered indigenous terms used there before the colonization by Portugal, and grew stronger with its own features, particularly in phonology.
Despite this, Brazilian and European Portuguese are very similar, especially when considering formal writing. Representatives from countries in which Portuguese is the official language agreed on a reform of the Portuguese orthography. This reform aims to unify and strengthen the language, making it even more important to world.
Today, Brazil is the 9th largest economy in the world. Due to its economic importance, especially in the MERCOSUL (South America’s sub-regional block), many countries in South America, and some of Brazil’s economic partners, are now teaching Portuguese at schools and educational centers.
The world is changing fast. Companies are doing business in several countries around the world and Brazil is among one of their favorite places to invest their money. Among other things, Brazil has one of the largest consumer markets in the world. A vast majority of young and dynamic workers, is the second largest emerging market, and is among the top producers and exporters of sugar, ethanol, biofuel, coffee and soy beans.
If That Wasn’t Reason Enough…
Now that you already have a motivation – an economic motivation – to learn Brazilian Portuguese, let’s talk about the fun part: music, friends, dance and travel…
First of all, it has to be said that the Portuguese language is beautiful! It is fluid and smooth… Spanish writer, Miguel de Cervantes, used to say that Brazilian Portuguese is “sweet and pleasant, the most sonorous language in the world.” Portuguese is a delight to listen to, and it is even better when you understand what is being said!
Brazilians are people who are always willing to help you, it doesn’t matter if you don’t speak the same language as them. Whether through gestures or images, they will try to understand what you are saying at all costs.
However, it is important to note that most Brazilians do not speak another language other than Portuguese. Learning Brazil’s mother tongue if you’re planning on traveling through Brazil is a great “excuse”. Brazil has numerous sights and attractions, wonderful natural beauty and many different cultures within just one country. It is really a delight to explore and has a little bit of everything.
On top of that, Brazilian music is very rich, recognized by many countries as one of the best artistic forms. There is nothing better than appreciating good Brazilian music, like the world-famous “The Girl from Ipanema”.
In every corner of Brazil, you can find different and exciting rhythms, cheerful and noisy songs, music to dance and listen to in the background while witnessing a beautiful sunset on the beach, or watching a little fishing boat slowly cut through the water.
Brazilian people are fun, friendly and kind. They like to party, meet new people and make friends. How could you not want to learn Portuguese to meet people like that? While making Brazilian friends, you can also immerse yourself in the fun world of slang! Brazil is full of slang words, as they are a big part of the daily vocabulary for all Brazilians and are very fun to learn.
Other Interesting Facts About the Portuguese Language:
- It’s the third most spoken European language
- 1.3 million native Portuguese speakers live in the US
- Only 35 million people in the world choose Portuguese as their second language. If you speak
- Portuguese, you have a trick up your sleeve!
- In Uruguay, Portuguese is a compulsory subject in schools
If you already speak languages like Spanish, Italian or French, Portuguese is very easy to learn.
If you are interested in learning Brazilian Portuguese in a fun and dynamic environment, contact Caminhos Language Center and check out the courses and activities we provide. Visit http://caminhoslanguages.com to learn more.
About the author: Amanda Ennes is young writer and blogger. is a Digital Content Producer at Caminhos Language Center. Amanda is a graduate of Universidade Candido Mendes with a degree in advertising. She’s interested in photography, nature and music. Amanda write for Caminho’s blog, takes care of their social media and is responsible for their website content.