The Best Tips for Learning Portuguese After Spanish – Part 2

In a world ever more connected, learning languages is one of the most rewarding challenges you can tackle. Spanish and Portuguese are among the most chosen languages by learners. Curiously, they are similar enough that you can leverage your knowledge of one to learn the other.

Besides, there are many advantages to doing so. For example, learning both Spanish and Portuguese will account for two of the five main Romance languages. It will make it easier for you if your goal is to keep moving forward into learning Italian, French, or Romanian.

Additionally, whether in South America or the Iberian Peninsula, Spanish and Portuguese are geographically connected. Thus, you can cross borders and move freely through hundreds and even thousands of kilometers without worrying about communication.

Spanish ranks as the second most spoken native language worldwide. Thus, many start by learning Spanish, whether as a first or second language, and then go on to their next language. However, it might not be easy for Spanish speakers to know where or how to start. If you identify with this feeling, you might ask yourself: How should I go about approaching the Portuguese language? How can I leverage my Spanish abilities to learn Portuguese faster and better?

Portuguese and Spanish: Two Beautiful Romance Languages

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If you already know Spanish and want to explore the Portuguese language, keep reading. Discover more about the relationship between these two languages. Additionally, learn how you can leverage your Spanish knowledge to understand Portuguese and even speak it!

Introduction to Portuguese

Like Spanish, Portuguese evolved from Vulgar Latin spoken throughout the Roman Empire. Today, it is spoken by about 266 million people worldwide. It is also an official language in nine countries, including Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, and Mozambique. The other countries are São Tomé and Princípe, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and East Timor.

Together, these Portuguese-speaking countries make up the CPLP. This international organization serves native Portuguese speakers in these nations and other territories, like Macau. It also protects the interests of Portuguese-speaking communities worldwide.

A Note on European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese

As you have likely seen with Spanish, there are several variants of Portuguese. The two main ones are European and Brazilian. They are mutually intelligible, but each has its pronunciation, and there are also changes in vocabulary and grammar. Interestingly, it is like Latin American Spanish, which also has a simpler grammar, accent, and terminology than Castilian.

Before tackling Portuguese as a foreign language, you must decide which variant to study. There are many similarities between them, but their differences usually prove too much for language learners. Many even say they sound like two distinct languages. Choosing one and focusing on it will facilitate your learning process and help you get the results you want from Portuguese learning.

Is Portuguese Easier to Learn After Spanish? – A How-to

Are you a native Spanish speaker who wants to learn Portuguese as a second language? Or have you learned Spanish and are looking for a new challenge among other Romance languages?

Then, you are not alone. Many Spanish speakers naturally progress into Portuguese as a second or third language. Besides, you will be happy to know that speaking Spanish will make a huge difference when you want to learn Portuguese. After all, they are closely related languages.

Discover how to leverage your Spanish knowledge to learn Portuguese. Then, explore the differences between these two languages.

Leveraging Prior Knowledge

Studying Spanish gives you many of the tools you will need to master Portuguese. Consider two of the similarities between these languages.

Vocabulary

Spanish and Portuguese have many words in common. You can use this as an advantage to help you grow your Portuguese vocabulary. These words, called cognates, are etymologically related, with the same meaning, origin, form, and a similar sound. Here are ten such examples. The first term is in Portuguese, followed by its Spanish equivalent, and the English translation.

• Animal
  – Animal (Animal)
• Família
  – Familia (Family)
• Importante
  – Importante (Important)
• Universidade
  – Universidad (University)
• Cultura
  – Cultura (Culture)
• História
  – Historia (History)
• Música
  – Música (Music)
• Restaurante
  – Restaurante (Restaurant)
• Telefone
  – Teléfono (Telephone)
• Problema
  – Problema (Problem)

Grammar

You will also find many similarities in grammar. For example, they are both gendered languages. Thus, you must adapt nouns and verbs to the gender of the subject in each sentence. Besides, you must also conjugate verbs according to number. You can also apply some Spanish conjunctions in Portuguese, like Como

(How) and Porque

(Why).

The Differences Between Spanish and Portuguese

Many aspects distinguish Portuguese from Spanish. After all, they are two different languages. You can easily tell spoken and written Portuguese from dialogues or texts in Spanish.

One of the aspects that has made Portuguese its own language is the disappearance of the letters L and N. It is one of the things that makes Portuguese different from other Romance languages. Around the thirteenth century, the Portuguese had already eclipsed the L and the N between vowels in many words.

Moreover, in some words, the original form of Portuguese was born without the L and N that existed in the Latin language. In cases like Volante

(Steering wheel; Standing) and Sonante

(Sonorous), the L and N were added much later.

Linguists have yet to find a reasonable explanation for this phenomenon that seems to be random. However, it is something a Spanish native will immediately notice when in contact with the Portuguese language. Consider the following examples in Portuguese, along with their Spanish equivalents and English translations.

• Cor
  – Color (Color)
• Lã
  – Lana (Wool)
• Pá
  – Pala (Shovel)
• Só
  – Solo (Alone)
• Nó
  – Nudo (Knot)

Vocabulary and false cognates

Despite having much in common, you will find many differences between the Portuguese and Spanish vocabularies. You should also be aware of false cognates, which seem similar but have distinct meanings. Here are five examples:

• Embaraçada
  (Embarrassed) – Embarazada (Pregnant)
• Rato
  (Mouse) – Rato (Rat)
• Assistir
  (To watch) – Asistir (To attend)
• Pasta
  (Folder) – Pasta (Pasta, like spaghetti)
• Esquisito
  (Weird, strange) – Exquisito (Exquisite, delicious)

Additionally, many unique Portuguese words are not used by Spanish speakers at all. Here are ten examples:

• Beco
  (Alley)
• Cabide
  (Clothing hanger)
• Contabilista
  (Accountant)
• Mealheiro
  (Moneybox)
• Larápio
  (Thief)
• Olival
  (Olive grove)
• Poupança
  (Saving)
• Queda
  (Fall)
• Sotaque
  (Accent)
• Ventoinha
  (Air fan)

Pronunciation

The most obvious difference between these languages is their pronunciation. European Portuguese sounds seem shorter, specifically vowel sounds because they are weaker. It has more nasal vowels and a wider range of diphthongs than Spanish.

Overcoming Language Challenges

One of the most significant challenges for native English speakers when learning Portuguese from Portugal is pronunciation. Even fluent Spanish speakers will not only notice but often struggle with the differences in inflection. Additionally, Spanish pronunciation has fewer occurrences of nasal vowels.

Other common difficulties related to Portuguese grammar. Even though they are related, Spanish grammar is simpler in terms of verb conjugation. For example, the Future Subjunctive is a common verb tense in the Portuguese language. However, it is largely obsolete in Spanish.

One last challenge Spanish speakers often face is mixing Portuguese and Spanish into one language. It is such a common phenomenon that it has been coined Portunhol

or Portuñol. It also happens with Portuguese speakers trying to learn Spanish.

With patience and dedication, you can easily overcome these and any other challenges that might arise. Focus on exposure, listen to native speakers and try to mimic their pronunciation. This way, you will improve your diction and get used to the natural flow of the language.

Staying Motivated

Learning a new language can be a long and frustrating process. You will face many challenges that might leave you demotivated. Nevertheless, the key to being successful and achieving your goals is trusting the process. Here are five tips to help you stay motivated:

• Set achievable goals and reward yourself when you reach them. Small victories are stepping stones to greater accomplishments.
• Find a language exchange partner or tutor to practice speaking and get constructive feedback.
• Enhance learning by introducing various study methods.
• Focus on exposure through podcasts, music, movies, and TV shows.
• Do a little bit every day. Being consistent will produce the best results.

Find more useful suggestions in How to Stay Motivated to Learn a Language – Part 2: Dealing With Plateaus.

You Can Learn Portuguese After Spanish!

Spanish and Portuguese share their origins, much of their vocabulary, and even some basic grammar. Together, they are official languages in 30 countries and have over 800 million speakers worldwide.

Learning Portuguese after Spanish requires dedication, effort, and practice. Still, it is undoubtedly a rewarding experience.

You can overcome common language challenges by leveraging prior knowledge. Remember to immerse yourself in the language, and find strategies to stay motivated. By doing so, you will achieve fluency.

With the right approach and resources, you can quickly improve your pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Before long, you will start speaking Portuguese.

FAQs

Find answers to the most common questions related to this subject! If you want to learn more European Portuguese, check out: An Introduction to Portuguese – Answering 10 FAQs.

Didn’t find your question below? Leave us a comment and we’ll answer you ASAP.

How easy is it to learn Portuguese after learning Spanish?

Because of their similarities, it is relatively easy to learn Portuguese after Spanish. As an English speaker, the European Portuguese pronunciation might be challenging for you. However, both languages share the same difficulty rating. According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), it will take you about 23-24 weeks to learn each of them.

Should I learn Spanish or Portuguese first?

There are many reasons to learn Spanish before Portuguese. It is usually easier to find native speakers to practice with, and many language apps are teaching it. However, there are also reasons to learn Portuguese before Spanish. For example, it will be easier to learn the nasal vowels.

Thus, your choice will come down to your motives for learning these languages and how easily you can do so. If you live or will travel to Latin America, Spanish fluency should be your goal. Yet, if you want to do business in Brazil or are taking a trip to Portugal, you should focus on Portuguese.

Is it more useful to speak Spanish or Portuguese?

The most useful language for you will come down to your goals, location, and available resources. Assess your current situation and your reasons for learning a new language and decide which option is best for you.

How quickly can you learn Portuguese after Spanish?

Learning speed will depend on the amount of time you can dedicate to learning Portuguese every day. Some people can leverage their Spanish knowledge and learn Portuguese within a few months. Others take longer than a year.

Is Portuguese a Hispanic language?

The short answer is no. Hispanic refers to Spanish-speaking countries and people. Although Portuguese and Spanish have similar origins, the term Hispanic does not apply to Portuguese.