Brazilian Portuguese

Brazilian Portuguese (Português brasileiro or Português do Brasil) is a set of dialects of the Portuguese language used mostly in Brazil. It is spoken by virtually all of the 200 million inhabitants of Brazil and by a few million Brazilian emigrants, mainly in the United States, Paraguay, Japan, Portugal, and Argentina.

History

Brazilian Portuguese has had its own development, influenced by the languages of the Amerindian and African slaves, especially those from West Africa. The European Portuguese colonization in Brazil started in the 16th century, and the language was often used for communication between the natives and the colonizers. Over time, it evolved into what we now know as Brazilian Portuguese.

Characteristics

Brazilian Portuguese differs from the Portuguese spoken in Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking countries in several aspects, including vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. Some of these differences are due to the influence of indigenous languages, mainly the Tupi language and the African languages spoken by the slaves.

Dialects

There are several regional dialects of Brazilian Portuguese, including Northeastern Brazilian Portuguese, Fluminense Portuguese, and Southern Brazilian Portuguese. These dialects have different accents and use different vocabulary, but they are mutually intelligible.

Learning Brazilian Portuguese

Learning Brazilian Portuguese can be a rewarding experience, as it opens up a world of culture, gastronomy, music, and travel. There are many resources available for learning Brazilian Portuguese, including language schools, online courses, and language exchange programs.

See also

• Portuguese language
• Portuguese dialects
• Languages of Brazil