Portuguese vs. Spanish: Which One Should You Learn?

Whether you’re planning an upcoming trip abroad or want to add a second language to your resume, Spanish and Portuguese are both great options! You’re probably thinking, “Should I learn Spanish or Portuguese?”, and the short answer is to consider both individually. It’s also possible to learn both languages simultaneously, although it is undoubtedly easier to tackle one at a time.

Your choice will depend on a variety of factors—the list of pros for learning each language is long and it will ultimately come down to your personal and professional goals. Learning a language is exciting, challenging, but oh so worthwhile. Take some time to consider whether you should learn Portuguese, Spanish, or both, and then dive right in!

Why is Portuguese so different from Spanish?

It’s important to understand the difference between Portuguese and Spanish to determine which one would be the best to learn. Historically, Portuguese originates from the northwest Iberian Peninsula and the Latin and Gallego-Portuguese languages.

Spanish, similarly, originated from Latin but evolved differently, spreading north as far as the Pyrenees. While there is a common origin of Spanish and Portuguese, they developed to be very different languages due to historical events and geography.

Here are a few noticeable differences in Portuguese vs. Spanish:

• Alphabet and sounds: The Spanish alphabet contains 28 letters compared to 23 letters in the Portuguese alphabet, although the Portuguese language contains more possible sounds (thanks to a more complex phonology).
• Grammar: There are differences in tenses, prepositions, cardinal numbers, and more in Spanish vs. Portuguese.
• Pronunciation and spelling: Portuguese contains more accents and silent letters than Spanish, making spelling and pronunciation more difficult than Spanish.

These differences may appear subtle, but it’s common for Spanish and Portuguese speakers not to understand each other! There are also regional variations and dialects of each language. Explore resources for examining the nuances of each language to help determine whether you should learn Portuguese or Spanish.

READ: 9 Convincing Reasons to Learn Portuguese ASAP

Is Portuguese harder than Spanish?

So, is Spanish or Portuguese easier to learn? Measuring Portuguese vs. Spanish difficulty is subjective and primarily depends on the learner.

For example, if you live in a place with a large Spanish-speaking population, you may be able to pick up the language quite easily since you’ll be able to practice frequently. Spanish music and television are also more widely available and you may already be familiar with many words and phrases from the language.

Does that mean Spanish is easier to learn? Not necessarily.

Is Portuguese or Spanish easier? The answer depends a lot on where you live and what you’ve studied in the past.

Portuguese may be easier to learn if you’ve studied French in the past or have lived in areas where French is widely spoken, since the influence of the French language is seen in Portuguese. When determining if Portuguese or Spanish is easier, you should also consider who you know—access to a native speaker means the opportunity to practice your skills!

READ: 8 Solid Arguments in Favor of Learning Spanish Abroad

How to decide if you should learn Spanish or Portuguese

So, should you learn Portuguese instead of Spanish? Are there advantages to knowing one over the other? Educating yourself in either language can bring many opportunities. There are a variety of factors you should consider prior to making a decision:

1. Personal or professional motivation

Why do you want to learn another language? Will learning Portuguese or Spanish look great on your resume and help you achieve education or career goals?

Perhaps you’re preparing for future travel to a location where knowing one or the other language would allow you to fully immerse in the local culture. Your personal and/or professional motivation for language learning will help you decide if you should learn Spanish or Portuguese.

2. Where you currently live or plan to live

If you live in the southwest United States, for example, it may make more sense to learn Spanish, which is widely spoken there. Portuguese may be harder to learn than Spanish if you don’t have regular access to it.

However, if you plan to travel to a Portuguese-speaking country, there are plentiful online resources that you could leverage. Additionally, if you enjoy a specific culture and want to learn more about it (like learning about the literature, music, history, television, movies, art, etc.), learn the language that will allow you to do so.

3. Past language learning experience

If you have prior language learning experience, consider building on it. Portuguese may be harder to learn than Spanish if you already have years of high school or college Spanish language courses under your belt.

Looking for a challenge? Perhaps you want to try something new and know you excel at picking up new languages—Portuguese can be fun and exciting to learn! You’ll be proud of yourself for taking the road less traveled.

4. Popularity

If you’re planning to travel to see Brazil’s iconic sights firsthand, learning Portuguese is a great move.

While Spanish is more widely spoken, Portuguese is the ninth most spoken language in the world! Being conversational or fluent in Portuguese opens doors in countries like Brazil (the economic powerhouse of South America) and in many other countries as well: Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and Macau, China to name a few! If you’re planning to work or travel in one of those regions, then that’s one good reason why you should learn Portuguese instead of Spanish.

5. Learning with a friend

Learning a language with someone else can have many benefits. Whether it’s creating flashcards for each other or having simple conversations which lead to more complex discussions in the language you’re practicing, having a language learning buddy can make the experience even more worthwhile.

They may have their own motivations for choosing Spanish over Portuguese or vice versa. Check in with your learning partner and make a list of pros and cons!

6. Time and budget

How much time and money do you have budgeted for learning another language? If you’re planning on hiring a tutor, purchasing digital or print resources, or attending language-specific meet-up groups, you will want to make sure you have both the time and funds to do so. Compare the accessibility of Portuguese vs. Spanish resources prior to making your decision.

Selecting a language to learn should be seen as an adventure! You’ll not only be gaining a new skill, you’ll be exposing yourself to new cultures, seeing the world from a different perspective, and growing as a person.

4 tips for learning Spanish and Portuguese at the same time

Still can’t choose between Spanish and Portuguese? You may not have to! Learning Spanish and Portuguese at the same time is not as crazy as it sounds.

While different in many ways, Spanish and Portuguese are more similar to each other than they are to other languages, and there are tips and tricks for learning both in one fell swoop:

1. Purchase or rent materials

Whether learning one or more languages, you’ll need at least one medium of education. Luckily, there are many online and print materials available for learning both Spanish and Portuguese. Getting a similar material for both languages is recommended for learning them simultaneously. Cover the same topic in both languages to grasp the similarities and differences and keep yourself from confusing them.

2. In-person practice or tutoring

Take your language learning to new heights with in-person conversation practice.

More of a hands-on learner? Speaking in person is proven to accelerate fluency in another language. You’ll also have a personal cheerleader to get you through challenges and celebrate successes! Tutoring or in-person practice is highly recommended for those that are attempting to learn Spanish and Portuguese at the same time, although you may need to find different teachers for each.

3. Be adaptable in language learning techniques

Being open to different techniques is a must for learning two languages at once. Perhaps you mix up your flashcards to practice distinguishing between each language. You can also practice assigning each an “identity” through simple color coding or full-on immersion, which will help familiarize you with the culture that comes with the language.

4. Consider choosing a “priority” language

If one language comes more naturally to you than the other, either put more time and energy into the one that doesn’t, or assign a priority language. Which would you rather gain fluency in first? Which do you gravitate to and enjoy learning the most?

Having knowledge of both Portuguese and Spanish will set you apart from your peers. You’ll have many opportunities professionally and personally by learning two of the most popular world languages!

Our Online Advisor can match you with 5 Portuguese and Spanish language programs—it’s free!

Whether you choose to learn Portuguese or Spanish, you can’t go wrong

Still asking yourself, “Should I learn Portuguese or Spanish?” There’s no bad choice here!

Portuguese and Spanish are both widely spoken, offer a wide variety of opportunities, and are accessible to learn, so you really can’t go wrong when selecting one over the other! If you’re going for gold and decide to learn both languages at the same time, consider setting some objectives for both and setting budgets and timelines to keep track of your success.

You’ll feel empowered and connected by learning one or both languages. Your language learning journey is sure to be filled with small achievements, large triumphs, new friends, and lasting memories!