by Olly RichardsWhy learn Portuguese? Well, by learning Portuguese, you open yourself up to a whole new world and culture.
Portuguese is a rich and beautiful language. Many people describe Brazilian Portuguese as having a melodic lilt.
There’s much to read, listen to, watch and experience through the ears of a Portuguese speaker. Here are 9 of the best reasons why you should learn Portuguese.
Pro Tip
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Table of Contents
#1 Why Learn Portuguese? Diverse History
When you learn a new language, you’re also learning history. Portuguese is an amazing language and Portuguese language history is fascinating.
Each country that speaks Portuguese is influenced by its history, from the African tribal words found in the Portuguese of Mozambique, Angola and Cape Verde to the Arabic influence in the Algarve region to Portugal’s South and the Gallic influence in the north of Portugal.
In Brazil you’ll find a mix of European, particularly Portuguese, Dutch, Italian and German sprinkled throughout the Southern part. The northern regions are heavily influenced by the Africans brought over by the slave trade. And the high concentration of indigenous tribes in states like Acre and Amazonas.
The words and phrases, customs and traditions borrowed from these cultures will provide you a rich and rewarding history lesson as you learn to speak Portuguese.
#2 Learn Other Romance Languages More Easily
Why learn Portuguese? Well, Portuguese is a Romance language. And if you’re able to learn one Romance language (Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian and Romanian), you can learn them all.
That’s because the Romance languages are all of Latin origin and have similar spellings, grammar and sentence structures.
If you don’t speak any other Romance language but you would like to learn, you can start with Portuguese. And it will make it much easier for you to learn any of the other Romance languages after that.
Though the Romance languages share many commonalities, Spanish and Portuguese are particularly similar to one another.
#3 Deepen Your Appreciation Of Brazilian Music
Brazil has some of the most celebrated forms of music in the world. So listening to and understanding Brazilian music is one of the most popular answers to the question – why learn Portuguese?
From bossa nova to MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira or Brazilian pop music) to Forró (Brazilian folk music) and the funk (Brazilian rap) made internationally popular by Brazilian superstar Anitta, Brazilian musicians have won international acclaim.
When you’re able to understand the lyrics, you can appreciate it on a whole new level. Here are some styles and musicians to check out to help motivate you to learn Brazilian Portuguese:
- Águas de março, Tom Jobim Bossa Nova.
- Pais e Filhos, Renato Russo with Legiao Urbano, MPB.
- Anunciação, Alceu Valenco, Forró
- Onda Diferente, Anitta, Funk
#4 Work In Brazil & Connect With Your Colleagues
If you’re in Brazil for work, you’ll want to pick up Portuguese to be able to communicate with colleagues and for social events. Brazilians are very hospitable and will appreciate your efforts to speak their language.
They are also very social. So it will be normal to be invited to after-work gatherings, parties, barbeques. And even family vacation homes of close colleagues.
While many Brazilians in larger cities speak English, in the more rural areas of Brazil it’s harder to find fluent English-speakers. Depending on where you are, being able to communicate in Portuguese could make a huge difference in your ability to get by each day.
But even if you’re surrounded by fluent English speakers, being in-country is a great opportunity to learn a new language. You might want to consider taking a Brazilian Portuguese class to help you with your Portuguese pronunciation and grammar.
Soon you’ll be ordering rounds during Happy Hour and conversing comfortably with the rest of your colleagues.
#5 Advance Your Career With Portuguese
Brazil is part of the economic conglomerate of emerging economies that include Brazil, Russia, India and China. As these economies become stronger, their influence in international business and politics will become more prevalent.
For anyone who works this area of profession, learning one or more of the languages of the BRIC countries is a great skill to have for career advancement.
#6 Why Learn Portuguese?: Marriage & Family
If you’ve married a Brazilian, you’ll want to learn Portuguese to get to know your partner’s native language and be able to speak to their family members during visits. This shows your appreciation of their cultural heritage.
If you’re planning on having children, ideally, they will be bi-lingual. So you don’t want to be the odd person out who doesn’t speak Brazilian Portuguese.
#7 Read Portuguese Literature And Poetry
There are some wonderful Portuguese books and poems to explore and savour in their original language.
And of course here at StoryLearning®, learning through story is the key to getting fluent in any language, including Portuguese.
Here are some books to curl up with:
- Fernando Pessoa, O Livro de Desassossego (The Book of Unquiet). Arguably the poet’s best work published after his death in 1982 and comprised of over 70 heteronyms.
- Clarice Listpector, Onde Estivestes de Noite (Where Were You at Night). A collection of stories about women published in 1974 towards the end of her career.
- Carolina Maria de Jesus, Quarto de Despejo (Child of the Dark). An edited version of the author’s diary recording the reality of life in a Sao Paulo favela (slum), published in 1960.
#8 Immerse Yourself In Brazilian Film
Brazil has a rich cinematic history and at their best, Brazilian movies provide insight into the divisions between the country’s rich and poor and the layers of corruption that are a source of frustration for many citizens.
- Orpheu Negro (Black Orpheus). This 1958 classic was filmed in Brazil by French filmmaker Marcel Camus which reimagines the Greek tale of Orpheus and Eurydice through the lens of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnaval.
- Cidade de Deus (City of God). This award winning 2002 film by Brazilian directors Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund tells the story of one of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas (slums) as told through the eyes of a budding young journalist who lives there.
- Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad). Another award-winning film from 2007, directed by Jose Padilha, this film explores Brazil’s elite police force, Ibope, that was formed to clean up the slums of Rio de Janeiro prior to the Pope’s visit in 1997.
#9 Why Learn Portuguese? Travel
Brazil accounts for 47 percent of the size of the entire continent of South America. It also has nearly 7,500 km of coastline with beautiful beaches from the country’s northern to its southern coast.
Inland it has beautiful landscapes, rivers, wildlife, historical towns and is home to Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
As you can imagine, travelling round Brazil and experiencing its sights authentically is a popular answer to the question, why learn Portuguese?
Here are some places to visit in Brazil if you’re planning a trip:
The Amazon
The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world with an incredible diversity of plants and wildlife.
Leaving from the city of Manaus, the state of Amazonas’ capital, are a variety of tours for all levels of adventure seeker. Or those who just want to take a leisurely ride down the Amazon River and spot monkeys and pink dolphins.
Lençóis Maranhenses
Located in the Northeastern state of Maranhão, this area is a protected national park due to its incredible sand dunes where fresh water gets trapped, creating beautiful patterns of water and sand and natural freshwater lakes in the middle of the desert.
Bahia
This beautiful northeastern state is home to some of the country’s most coveted beaches.
From the surf haven village of Itacaré to the picturesque islands of Morro de Sao Paulo and Boipeba to the historic city of Salvador where you can find authentic acarajé, a delicious local street food made of dried shrimps and fried bean paste.
You’re likely to hear the berimbau, a simple musical instrument used to create rhythm in the Brazilian dance and martial art practice of capoeira, whose roots are in Salvador from the time of slavery.
And don’t forget to check out the Afro-Brazilian drum music of Olodum at night. The large percussion band are known to throw impromptu street parties, especially when it’s near to Carnaval.
Minas Gerais
This mountainous region in the middle of the country is home to some of its most famous culinary delights. They are famous for their cheese and guava paste and is home to some of Brazil’s oldest rum distilleries.
Additionally, many of the old towns like Ouro Preto have several of their historic buildings preserved and many of the streets are still paved with cobblestone. It’s like walking back in time.
Rio de Janeiro
No trip to Brazil is complete without visiting the famous carioca city of Rio de Janeiro. Take time to sip fresh coconuts on its famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema.
Then head off to take the cable car ride up to Sugarloaf Mountain and take in the breathtaking view of the beaches and the 98-foot-tall Christ the Redeemer statue that is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Foz de Iguacu
This national treasure shares a border with Argentina. And it's one of the world’s largest waterfalls at nearly 3km in extension. An 80m drop at the area nicknamed Devil’s Throat will leave you breathless.
FAQs About Why Learn Portuguese?
Why is learning Portuguese useful?
Learning Portuguese is useful because it is the 6th most spoken language in the world and the official language of many countries, including Brazil, Portugal, and parts of Africa.
It opens doors to opportunities in business, culture, travel, and international relations, particularly in emerging economies like Brazil.
Why learn Portuguese instead of Spanish?
Learning Portuguese instead of Spanish may be advantageous if you are interested in countries where Portuguese is dominant, such as Brazil, which has the largest economy in Latin America.
Portuguese also gives you access to unique cultural experiences, and knowing it can help you understand other Romance languages, including Spanish.
Is it more useful to learn French or Portuguese?
The choice between learning French or Portuguese depends on your goals.
French is useful in diplomacy, international organisations, and parts of Europe and Africa, while Portuguese is valuable for engaging with Brazil's growing economy and Lusophone countries.
Both languages are globally significant, but Portuguese offers unique opportunities in rapidly developing markets.
Why is Portuguese considered a critical language?
Portuguese is considered a critical language due to its geopolitical importance, particularly in Brazil, a major player in global trade and regional leadership.
It is also vital for international relations with Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, which have strategic importance in areas like natural resources, commerce, and political alliances.
So, Why Learn Portuguese?
Why learn Portuguese? Well, there are so many reasons to learn this beautiful language and these are just some of them. Now that you’re motivated, the only thing left to do is start learning! Boa sorte!
And if you want to learn Portuguese fast while having fun, then make sure you use the StoryLearning® method and immerse yourself in books in Portuguese.
As you read, you'll start to pick up the most important grammar and vocabulary of Portuguese naturally, without having to study verb tables or learn word lists.
Before you know it, you'll be ready for a travel adventure in Brazil or to immerse yourself into Brazilian TV shows or movies. And you'll be the one to answer the question – why learn Portuguese!?
Olly Richards
Creator of the StoryLearning® Method
Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.
Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.
When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.
