Can people who speak Spanish and Portuguese understand each other?

While there are some differences between the two languages, most native Spanish and Portuguese speakers can understand each other if each party speaks clearly.

Can you get by with Spanish in Portugal?

You probably will get by fine with Spanish or English. I found that many in Portugal both Spanish and English and are happy to communicate in whatever language.

Can Portuguese people understand Spanish people?

Originally Answered: Can Portuguese speakers naturally understand Spanish? Yes, they can. The Portuguese understand Spanish quite well, even if they have not studied it. When I had not yet learned Portuguese, when I visited this country I spoke Spanish and I had no problem.

Can most Portuguese people speak Spanish?

But do the Portuguese speak Spanish? Or do they at least understand? The short answer is no; the Portuguese don’t speak Spanish. The Spanish language is the third most common foreign language in Portugal and spoken, to a certain extent, by 7-10\% of the Portuguese population.

Is it hard to learn Portuguese if you speak Spanish?

Spanish gives you an enormous boost to learn Portuguese. I have studied many different languages. Learning Portuguese while knowing Spanish has been by far the easiest and the most rewarding learning experience ever.

Should you learn Spanish before Portuguese?

Whether you start with Spanish or Portuguese, the other language will be easier to learn once you’ve mastered the first. Because Spanish and Portuguese share so much vocabulary and structure, you may be surprised how quickly you can pick up the other language.

Is it disrespectful to speak Spanish in Portugal?

In sum, use Spanish in Portugal and you’ll be seen as ignorant, silly at most, but not as being disrespectful. You see this has a lot to do with how Portuguese see themselves, or their relevance, in the world. Collectively we have that frustration we should be more and yet are not.

Is Spanish too close to Portuguese?

Spanish is just too close to Portuguese. When I speak English, I think in English and then I speak in English. When I speak Spanish, I think in Portuguese, roughly translate from Portuguese to Spanish, and then attempt to speak in Spanish.

What is the difference between spoken Spanish and Portuguese?

Spoken Spanish and Portuguese are less mutually intelligible than their written forms. In other words, on paper, the two languages look very similar and speakers of either language can generally read the other language without too much struggle.

Do I need to know Spanish to learn Portuguese?

It’s confusing even for the Portuguese speaking neighbors, who will think the exact same thing. The bottom line is that although Spanish and Portuguese have fundamental differences, knowing one will help you learning the other. If you already know Portuguese and want to try your hand at Spanish, troubleshoot with one of our online courses.