What Languages Are Spoken In Brazil? Let’s Find Out Together!

Portuguese is the official and most common language in Brazil. However, Brazil’s cultural richness extends far beyond the Portuguese language. The country hosts 200 indigenous (native) Brazilian languages and languages of immigrants (and their impact) on top of Portuguese. You’ll have to rely upon expert translation services for the languages spoken in Brazil to be able to properly communicate with the Portuguese-speaking natives (and others), in person, in a video conference, or through documentation.
But you must first know a bit about the language in Brazil.

What Is The Official Language Of Brazil?

The primary or main language in Brazil is Portuguese. This is due to the country’s colonial history – contrary to its smaller neighbors in South America, this swath of land was colonized not by the Spaniards but by their next-door neighbors – the Portuguese.
Today, it is the official language of Brazil; Portuguese was introduced to the region during the colonial period. Ever since then, it has become deeply ingrained in the nation’s identity. Today, almost 99% of Brazilians speak the language. It is used for informal communication, as a medium of education, government documentation, media, and official purposes.
Portuguese unifies the diverse regions of Brazil. If you’re planning to engage with the locals (in a video conference for business purposes, for instance) or want to exchange documents, you’ll need reliable Portuguese translation services so that you can communicate effectively.

What Languages Are Spoken In Brazil? Let’s Find Out!

On top of the official of Brazil, Brazilian Portuguese, hundreds of other languages and dialects are used throughout the country. How so, you may ask? Well, the European Portuguese colonizers of the Latin American settlements in the region adopted the indigenous languages (like those spoken today in Sao Paulo, Bahia, and Pernambuco).

However, as time passed, Portuguese emerged as the most common language in Brazil – it was thus adopted as the country’s primary language. However, influences from the indigenous tribes, the African diaspora, and the immigrant communities also found their way into the vocabulary of the language.

During Brazil’s independence in 1822, there was an influx of Germans and Italians. This further added to the linguistic variations in the region. Today, you can notice differences in regional dialects and pronunciation. Despite the schools teaching standard Portuguese, the spoken version, or the “Brazilian Portuguese,” developed its own identity.

Today, it is quite different from the European Portuguese variant.

Brazilian Portuguese reflects the country’s multicultural heritage:

• Indigenous influences contributed to the idiomatic expressions of the language
• African dialects influenced music, culture, and cuisine (including samba and bossa-nova)
• Immigrant communities also helped forge distinct dialects like Hunsrückisch and Ukrainian

Besides Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish too is widely understood because of its similarities with Portuguese. In some border areas, the locals have forged a mixture of the two tounges known as Portuñol. Thus, saying that Brazil is a linguistically diverse country would be an understatement.

Difference Between Brazilian Portuguese And European Portuguese

While both variants of the Brazilian language spoken in the country share a common linguistic heritage, they have evolved to become distinct in some ways. A native translator can easily spot the main differences between the two versions.

Beyond the Brazilian Portuguese vs. European Portuguese differences in vocabulary, there are some distinctions in pronunciation as well.

You can see some examples of these differences between the Brazilian native language and the European variant:

English	Brazilian Portuguese	European Portuguese
Car	Carro	Automóvel
Potato chips	Batata frita	Batatas fritas
Bus	Ônibus	Autocarro
Computer	Computador	Computador
Watermelon	Melancia	Melão de água

Now that you know “what language is spoken in Brazil,” let’s move on and compare the top three languages of the country/region.

Let’s Compare The Top Three Languages Spoken In Brazil

So, what are the top 3 languages spoken in Brazil?

These three languages stand out as the most widely spoken in the country:

Portuguese

We already know that Portuguese is the most spoken language in Brazil. As the official language, Brazilian Portuguese is the primary means of communication for most of the Brazilians. Originally introduced during the colonial era, the local variant has been affected by indigenous communities, the Brazilian Italian community, the German Brazilian community, the African diaspora, and so on. Today, it is a unifying language across the country.

Spanish

While Brazilian Portuguese is dominant throughout the land, the Spanish also has a significant presence. This is especially true for the border regions. Many Brazilians understand Spanish very well due to its similarities with Portuguese (and, in some cases, have even developed a hybrid language).

English

English is also a widely spoken language in the country (although not even close to as much as Brazilian Portuguese). It is taught in Brazilian schools, and many Brazilians study English as a second language. Urban areas and regions with higher levels of education tend to have more English speakers.

Important Minority Languages Spoken In Brazil

Let’s recap a bit…

Hopefully, you know by now what to say when someone asks, “Is Brazil a Spanish-speaking country?”

In short, no – it is not!

Do Brazilians speak Spanish?

Yes, but it is primarily a Portuguese-speaking country.

Portuguese, Spanish, and English are the three most commonly spoken languages in the country.

But other than these dominant languages, Brazil nurtures a wide variety of minority languages, such as:

Indigenous Languages (A Category of More than 200 Languages)

Other than Brazilian Portuguese, the country is home to an impressive array of indigenous languages. This reflects the country’s rich native heritage. There are over 200 indigenous languages spoken throughout the land.

African Languages

Some regions in Brazil still cherish African diaspora languages, such as:

• Quimbundo
• Yoruba
• Bantu languages

Italian

The Brazilian Italian community, especially in states like São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, speaks Italian, which many local communities cherish.

German

German is spoken in some regions of Brazil, such as in cities like Blumenau and Joinville, where the German Brazilian community has maintained its language.

Ukrainian and Polish

The Ukrainian and Polish communities, such as in the State of Paraná, continue to contribute to the linguistic diversity of the country.

Japanese

In cities like Liberdade in São Paulo, there is a notable Japanese community that proudly speaks Japanese as a minority language.

French

Much like other minority languages owned by regional communities (and ethnicities), French is spoken by the local French Brazilian community.

Portuñol

In the border areas, the locals have made a Brazilian Portuguese-Spanish hybrid language called Portuñol. This fusion reflects the cultural blending between Brazil and its neighboring countries.

Sign Language

Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) is an officially recognized language used by the deaf community in Brazil.

Is English Spoken In Brazil?

English may not be Brazil’s primary language, but it is important nonetheless.

The British Council conducted a study that revealed that students learned English in Brazil to expand their knowledge and access better job prospects. Proficiency in English is seen as a major plus point for anyone looking to enter the job market and secure better-paid opportunities.

Please note that only a small fraction of the local community considers English to be their primary language. However, Brazil cherishes its linguistic diversity, and this goes for English as well, which continues to be adopted across the board.

Essential Languages to Learn for Traveling to Brazil

Now that you know “What language to speak in Brazil,” you can see which ones are worth learning if you plan to travel extensively. Why would you want to do that? Well, it will greatly enhance your experience and interactions with locals.

Here are some essential languages worth considering:

Portuguese

Learning some basic Brazilian Portuguese phrases and expressions will help you big time. Since this is the most widely understood language in the country, you can use it to navigate day-to-day situations, communicate with locals, and, of course, show respect for the country’s culture.

Spanish

Given its similarities with Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish too is widely spoken and understood here. If you know some Spanish, that too can come in handy. If you’re traveling to border regions or wish to explore the rest of South America, your experience will be truly enhanced by learning some Spanish.

English

English is becoming increasingly popular in urban areas and tourist destinations. If you’re reading this, you can communicate with local tour guides and other people who understand the language.

Brazilian Sign Language (Libras)

If the traveler is deaf or hard of hearing, they can learn some basic Libras signs to communicate easily.

Wrapping Up: Let Us Help You Translate Brazilian Languages Accurately!

Now that you know “How many languages are spoken in Brazil,” let’s see how you can get your message across effectively if you’re not an expert in Brazilian Portuguese or other local languages. At Pronto Translations, we understand the importance of effective communication. Our professional translation services can help you bridge the gap between you and Brazilian natives.

Whether you need translation support for languages spoken in Brazil, language learning resources, or interpretation services, we are here to help you. You can count on Pronto Translations to be your language partner for Brazilian Portuguese and many other languages.

Reach out to us now to discuss your specific translation needs!

FAQ

Is Brazil’s language Spanish or Portuguese?

So, is Spanish the official language of Brazil? Well, no. Brazil’s primary and official language is Portuguese. In contrast to most of its Spanish-speaking neighbors in South America, Brazil was a former Portuguese colony. Portuguese is spoken by around 99% of the Brazilian population.

Is Brazil French-speaking?

No, French is not among the most spoken languages in Brazil. While Brazil has a rich cultural diversity and numerous immigrant communities, French is not spoken as widely (not anywhere compared to Portuguese). Portuguese remains the dominant language across the country.

What is the most commonly spoken language in Brazil?

The most commonly spoken language in Brazil is Portuguese. It has become deeply ingrained in the nation’s identity since the colonial period. Besides Portuguese, Brazil is also home to hundreds of indigenous and several immigrant languages.