Portuguese

Why it’s Important to Learn Portuguese

The Portuguese language is a Romantic language originated of area of today’s Galiza and the North of Portugal, from the vulgar Latin introduced in the West of the Iberia Peninsula circa two thousand years ago.

The Portuguese language has spread in the World during the 15th and 16th Centuries when Portugal became a colonial and commercial empire, including Brazil, Goa, Macau and East Timor in Asia. 

The Portuguese language has been exclusively used as lingua franca in the island of Sri Lanka for almost 350 years. During this time, many creole languages based on the Portuguese also appeared in the World, mainly in Africa, Asia and Caribbean. 

 With approximately 240 million of native speakers, the Portuguese language is the fifth most spoken language in the World (ahead of German, French and Italian). It is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Vert, Guinea-Bissau, Macau, Mozamnique, Portugal, East Timor, Saint Tome and Prince and since 2007 in Equatorial Guinea.

Portuguese has also been spoken in the old territories of the Portuguese India, such as Goa, Daman, Angediva Island, Simbor, Gogola, Diu and Dadra and Nagar-Aveli. Also in small communities that were part of the Portuguese Empire in Asia such as Malaca in Malasia and Zanzibar in Africa.

The Portuguese language has the official recognition in the European Union. Mercosul, African Union, in the Organization of American States, Latin Union, Community of Portuguese language Countries, Association of Olympic Committees of Portuguese as official Language.