Introduction:

Portuguese (português or, in full, língua portuguesa) is a Romance language originating in the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is the sole official language of Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Brazil, while having co-official language status in East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, and Macau. A Portuguese-speaking person or nation is referred to as “Lusophone” (lusófono). As the result of expansion during colonial times, a cultural presence of Portuguese and Portuguese creole speakers are also found around the world. Portuguese is part of the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several dialects of Vulgar Latin in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia and the County of Portugal and has kept some Celtic phonology and its lexicon. 

With approximately 215 to 220 million native speakers and 50 million L2 speakers, Portuguese has approximately 270 million total speakers. It is usually listed as the sixth-most spoken language and the third-most spoken European language in the world in terms of native speakers. Being the most widely spoken language in South America and all of the Southern Hemisphere, it is also the second-most spoken language, after Spanish, in Latin America, one of the 10 most spoken languages in Africa, and is an official language of the European Union, Mercosur, the Organization of American States, the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, an international organization made up of all of the world’s officially Lusophone nations.

We live in a technology-driven world that is fast becoming a global village.

So gone are the days when you have to rely on your native language to thrive in communication and business dealings.

There is an abundance of reasons to learn a new foreign tongue. Language-based careers, immigration, study abroad, traveling, health benefits, and the pursuit of a hobby are crucial advantages of the fascinating language learning journey.

When choosing an international language, most people prefer French, Spanish, German, or challenging Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, or one of the west Asian languages.

Unlike these languages, Portuguese is hardly ever taught as a foreign language in India or any English-speaking country.

Well, it is one of the foreign tongues you can rely on too. But why learn Portuguese instead of Spanish?

• Portuguese is a Language of Immense Popularity

While Portugal is a small country regarding size and population, but Portuguese reigns supreme in many regions of the world.

It will surprise you that Portuguese is spoken as an official language in 9 countries spread across four continents.

Brazil, Portugal, East Timor, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Angola, Sao Tome, and Principe are countries where Portuguese is widespread. It is also one of the official languages of Macau.

More people speak Portuguese as their mother tongue than German, French, Japanese, Persian, Russian, Italian, Turkish, or Persian.

In India, thousands of people also speak the Portuguese Language in Goa, Daman, and Diu.

• An “Underrated” Language of Rare Opportunity

Learning how to speak the Portuguese language will enhance new linguistic horizons and bring about professional ones.

Despite having such vast native speakers, the Portuguese language is one of the most underrated and less considered languages by language learners.

While many people are speaking the language, only a few are studying it.

Do you know what that means?

It means If you learn Portuguese, it will put you ahead of others studying more popular languages.

It will enable you to communicate with a larger population that other learners of popular languages cannot do.

The better part is that it will look so cool on your resume.

So, when job opportunities come by, you would be the first to get the employer’s attention.

And since it is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. You can be sure such opportunities would come, especially now that the global economy is rising and Brazil is the 8th largest economy globally.

• It is Perfect for Changing the Environment

If you are tired of living in your native places or cities where the cost of living is high, you want to change the environment and settle down for a decent and enjoyable life.

Well, Portugal is one place to contemplate. Portugal is a beautiful place to live in.

You can spend your life in areas like Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, and many cool cities worth moving into. Sorry that I sound a bit bias.

However, thanks to Portugal’s low cost of living, fantastic weather, great food, and laid-back lifestyle, you can’t help but list it as your number one spot to be.

That is why expatriates, entrepreneurs, retirees, digital nomads, tech specialists, and many more people are moving to Portugal.

Learn Portuguese, and it will allow you to settle down and enjoy a new life in the land of Magellan.

• It Is A Gateway To Other Romance Languages

Learning how to speak Portuguese has an extended effect when you decide to learn any other Romance languages.

Portuguese originates from Latin, and its vocabulary, grammar, and conjugation are somewhat related to other Romance languages like Spanish, French, Italian, and Romanian.

When you know of one of these languages, it makes it easy for you to pick up and fully comprehend any of the others quickly.

Thanks to the fact that they all came from Latin and shared similar syntax as well.

• Portuguese Is A Beautiful Language

One of the factors that motivate people to learn a language is the pleasure they derive from it. Portuguese has all that it takes to make the learning process enjoyable and thrilling.

The phonetic disposition of the Portuguese language, when spoken, is highly intriguing.

Romantic characteristics make all the words seem to be running together in a mesmerizing flow. It is as beautiful as other languages like French and Italian.

The nasal tones are out of this world. The sound of “M” at the end of a word is just like “ng” in a sung. Portuguese is a language that is also particularly great for Slavic speaking people as well.

• It Opens The Door To A Rich Culture

Portuguese has a rich and fascinating culture.

It will interest you to know that Portugal is a Southern European country, and it’s ranked as the smallest but has the highest numbers of world heritage sites.

It boasts 21 in total for such a size!

Portugal’s cultural heritage can make you blush and feel right at home if you are a lover of architecture, harmonious music, and breathtaking landscapes.

The evidence lies in Serra and Sintra’s city, known as cultural landscapes with impressive buildings and natural parks.

When you consider all the Latin languages, Portuguese stands out as one of the best and most identifiable musical renditions.

• Learn Portuguese To Enhance Your Job Prospects

The global economy is growing, and Portuguese is known as the official language of some of the world’s rising and relatively prosperous economies.

Learning Portuguese as a second language will help boost your resume.

It takes you a notch ahead of others who speak other popular languages like Spanish and French when searching for a job.

For instance, Brazil is among the best and ten largest economies worldwide, and Brazil has become a great player in global business activities.

So, Are you into cross-border business dealings?

Learning the language will give you a competitive advantage in closing deals with businesses and companies operating in Brazil, Portugal, some countries in East Asia, and Africa. Also, career opportunities are opened in Portugal for people who speak Portuguese.

Sectors like the Service Industries, restaurants, hotels, and tourism, telecommunications and computers, offer an excellent range of job opportunities.

Plus, you can also work or do freelance jobs as a translator or an interpreter, or tour guard for a decent income.

• Career After Learning Portuguese language in India

India and Brazil share a very close relationship at the bilateral level as well as in the international forum such as BRICS, G-20, BASIC, IBSA, G-4, and in the broader multilateral bodies like UN, WTO, UNESCO, and many more.

Today, Brazil is the most vital trading partner of India in the entire LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) region.

Today, there is a rising demand for Portuguese Language specialists in India in various industries like Technology, Finance, Education, Technical Support, IT/ITES, Tourism, and KPO & BPO.

The global economy is seeking experts in Portuguese.

• It Enhances Your Love For Soccer

One of the world’s most famous and followed sports in the world is soccer (football).

Learning Portuguese is another excellent way to enjoy the game. The game is so massive in Brazil and Portugal.

No other countries have ever won the world cup more than Brazil.

Portugal and Brazil produce some of the finest players like Pelé, Garrincha, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Zico in the game, including that the two leagues in these countries are highly popular and followed worldwide.

Once you learn Portuguese, it will allow you to finally follow your favorite football superstars on social media and elsewhere on the internet.

• It Is A Language Of Rich Tourist Destinations

If you are looking to experience a different touch in your vacation or travel destination as a tourist, learning Portuguese can give you a different experience.

Do not forget that the language is spoken in some different countries across four continents.

Some of these countries, Particularly Goa (India), Macau (China), and Brazil offer a wide range of vibrant and beautiful tourist attractions and features mostly on travel bucket lists and tickets.

You can now spend your holidays and vacations in style, as Brazil alone has a 7,000 square mile of beaches and many more exotic resorts and charming landscapes.

Learning how to speak will make you enjoy this whole phenomenon.

• The Fifth Most Used Language On The Internet

New technological development is making Portuguese one of the most popular languages online.

About 84 million people who surf the internet speak Portuguese, even as the rate of Portuguese WebPages increases every year.

As per the Internet World Stats, it is the fifth most used language on the internet.

These entire points make Portuguese one of the most common and desired internet languages, as it continues to attract new business and educational prospects.

• It is an Easy Language to Learn

Although Portuguese is originally from Portugal, Brazilian Portuguese is its most famous variant in the globe today.

While language learning takes time, dedication, and years of hard work, however Portuguese is a straightforward language to pick up.

Portuguese is descended from Latin and is quite closely related to Spanish, French, Italian, and Romanian language.

Thus, if you already know how to speak one of these Romance languages, you’ll find it quite simple to learn Portuguese.

The grammar and sentence formation is straightforward.

• Conclusion — Should You Learn Portuguese?

Learning a second language is essential for everyone in the 21st century, and Portuguese is such a tongue.

The economic, social, and educational prospect it offers is bright and rewarding, now and in the future.

If you’re on the fence about picking Portuguese, don’t hesitate and do it! It will be worth it!

You can start taking Portuguese classes in Delhi, Goa, or other parts of India today.

It is a comparatively uncomplicated language to learn.

So why are you waiting? Start Learning

Happy learning!!!