Language

The best means for communication in Brazil.

Many Brazilians in the larger cities—especially those you encounter working at airports, hotels, better restaurants, tour companies, travel agencies, etc.—speak at least some English. Both English and Spanish are taught in many Brazilian schools. However, the farther away you get from the larger cities, the less likely it is that you will encounter people who speak English.

Remember that the language of Brazil is Portuguese and, in spite of what some people think, Portuguese is not a dialect of Spanish or of any other language. Portuguese is a separate and distinct language. If you know some Spanish, you can certainly try to make your wants or needs known using Spanish. While Portuguese and Spanish are linguistic cousins and some Brazilians may understand what you say in Spanish, they probably will not answer you in Spanish.

Even if you are a Portuguese "beginner," learning and using simple Portuguese phrases with confidence can go a long way in demonstrating respect for Brazilian people and culture. Phrases like thank you (obrigado for men, obrigada for women), no thank you (não obrigado for men, não obrigada for women), por favor (please), com licença (excuse me), prazer (pleased to meet you), desculpe (sorry), bom dia (good morning), boa tarde (good afternoon), boa noite (good evening/good night), adeus (goodbye as in forever) or the even more commonly used tchau [pronounced like the Italian ciao] (goodbye) as well as other simple courtesies will be very much appreciated by most Brazilians.

Brazilians readily adopt words from many different languages including English. Words and phrases such as shopping (shopping center/mall; plural = shoppings), moto boy (motorcycle delivery driver), lite or light (light or lite foods or drinks), mouse (computer), sexy, happy hour, and many others have found their way into the Brazilian vernacular. They are regularly used and understood by Brazilians, although the pronunciation is most often very different. In addition, the spelling of many Brazilian Portuguese words are somewhat similar to their English counterparts so it is possible to 'wing it' and get by using English and a few Portuguese phrases (up to a point).

When speaking English to almost any Brazilian who says they know the language, it is best to speak clearly, slowly, and use simple words. Avoid using slang and colloquial expressions and, by all means do not assume that they really understand what you are saying in English. Brazilians are generally very polite and want to please you by showing that they understand you...even if they really don't. If you see a glassy-eyed expression accompanied by a smile when speaking English with a Brazilian, you may want to rephrase your statement or question.

Language Resources

MIT Language and Conversation Exchange Group: Sponsored by Community Wellness at MIT Medical for all members of the MIT community, the Language Conversation Exchange (LCE) helps connect people across the Institute for conversation, cultural exchange, and friendship.

​MIT Solta a Língua: Practice your Portuguese speaking skills in a relaxing setting. Improve your pronunciation, build up your vocabulary, and enjoy one hour of fun learning about the Lusophone cultures. Free and open to the MIT community and sponsored by MIT Global Studies and Languages (check for events), MIT-Brazil, and MISTI-Portugal.

Conversa Brasileira: A compilation of brief video clips produced by the University of Texas at Austin in which Brazilians talk about a whole series of different topics, everything from hobbies to shopping for friends who are coming over.

​Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC): Site contains cultural and language modules, including language survival kits with helpful vocabulary for different groups and industries (e.g. medical).

From Spanish to Portuguese: A detailed Portuguese language guide for those who read, write, and/or speak Spanish, written by late University of Arizona History Professor Bert J. Barickman.

The Tupi Language and Its Influence on Brazilian Portuguese: From The Culture Trip