Which countries speak Portuguese? The full list of Portuguese-speaking countries
Quick answer: Portuguese is an official language in 9 countries: Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor and Equatorial Guinea. Brazil alone has more than 200 million speakers.
Where Portuguese is spoken
The Lusophone world spans four continents:
- South America: Brazil
- Europe: Portugal
- Africa: Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Equatorial Guinea
- Asia: East Timor (Timor-Leste)
Brazil, the giant
Brazil has over 80% of the world’s Portuguese speakers, and Brazilian Portuguese differs from European Portuguese in accent and some vocabulary.
Portuguese in Africa
Angola and Mozambique are the largest Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, each with over 30 million people.
Portuguese-speaking countries
Where Portuguese is official:
| Country | Region |
|---|---|
| Portugal | Europe |
| Brazil | South America |
| Angola | Africa |
| Mozambique | Africa |
| Cape Verde | Africa |
| Guinea-Bissau | Africa |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Africa |
| Timor-Leste | Asia |
| Equatorial Guinea | Africa (co-official) |
Brazil and Portugal
Brazil has more than 200 million people, about 20 times the population of Portugal, so most Portuguese speakers are Brazilian. The two versions differ in pronunciation, some vocabulary and spelling, much like British and American English.
How Portuguese spread
Portuguese spread during the age of exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, when Portuguese sailors built trading posts along the coasts of Africa, India and Asia and colonised Brazil. Today it is spoken on four continents, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries links the nations where it is official.
Portuguese words from Arabic
Like Spanish, Portuguese borrowed hundreds of words from Arabic during the centuries of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula:
| Portuguese | Arabic origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Azeite | az-zayt | Olive oil |
| Açúcar | as-sukkar | Sugar |
| Almofada | al-mukhadda | Cushion |
| Oxalá | law sha’ Allah | Hopefully |
| Armazém | al-makhzan | Warehouse |
Frequently asked questions
How many countries speak Portuguese?
9 countries have Portuguese as an official language.
Is Portuguese spoken in Macau?
Yes, Portuguese is co-official in Macau, a special region of China, though few people use it daily.
Which country has the most Portuguese speakers?
Brazil.
Why is Portuguese spoken in Brazil?
Brazil was a Portuguese colony from 1500 until independence in 1822.
Which African countries speak Portuguese?
Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Equatorial Guinea (co-official).