There are huge opportunities in Portuguese-speaking markets today. With about 260 million people speaking Portuguese on four continents, it’s the sixth most spoken language in the world.

Only about 5% of Portuguese speakers live in Portugal and the language’s strongest influence by far is found in Latin and South America.

If your business is heading into a Portuguese market, there’s a lot to consider. From a linguistical standpoint, you’ve got to know how the language varies around the world, so you’re talking the right variation of the language to your audience.  As a Language Service Provider (LSP), we understand the time, resources, and budget it takes to make such a move and, therefore, the nervousness around getting every part of the decision.

Over the next few minutes, we’ll walk you through the fundamentals to paving the way for success, whether you’re introducing your brand to the consumers of Sao Paulo, Brazil, or opening an office in Maputo, Mozambique.

What are the Main Dialects of Portuguese?

There are three main types of Portuguese spoken throughout the world. They differ primarily in pronunciation, vocabulary, and where pronouns are placed (European, after the verb; Brazilian, before the verb). The three types are:

• European Portuguese — This is the base language spoken in Portugal, from which all the other dialects and variants come. It has two major dialogue groups: the southern and central dialects around Lisbon, Madeira, and the Azores, and the northern dialects of Proto and Braga.
• Brazilian Portuguese — Brazilian Portuguese is the most spoken type of Portuguese in the world because of the size of the Brazil's population of Brazil, which is the seventh most populous country on the planet.
• African Portuguese — The official language in six African countries (Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Sao Tome, and Principe), this dialect of Portuguese is closer to Brazilian Portuguese than European Portuguese.

Portuguese is also spoken in a few areas of Asia. These tend to be smaller communities, but it's still an official language in the countries of East Timor (also known as Timor-Leste) and Macau, a special administrative region of China (meaning it's autonomous with its own government).

The dialects here are individual to the regions and based on European Portuguese.

It Doesn’t Stop at Three Variations - Getting Dialect Specific

The Portuguese language isn’t new to the countries that speak it or have it as their official language. It was primarily brought to these countries by explorers when the Portuguese Empire colonized them between 400 and 600 years ago.

The language has evolved in each of these countries through a linguistic cross-fertilization with local languages.

The result is that while Portuguese is an official language or widely spoken, there are numerous subdialects in each region.

Take Brazil, for example, there are 10 main dialects spoken (Brasiliense, Sulista, Baiano, Paulistano, Caipira, Nortista, Carioca, Nordestino, Gaucho, and Mieneiro), and each of these has subdialects that are specific to cities, towns, villages, and communities.

Suppose you want to integrate your business, brand, or product into Brazil. In that case, you need to put time into understanding exactly who you want to talk to. This is your localization strategy.

Localizing – Getting Under the Skin of Your Audience

To get your localization strategy right, you need on-the-ground knowledge. You need to have people on your team who are understand the religion, politics and nuances of the people, because they are one of the people.

Your LSP partner will work with you to understand your goals and put this team in place. They will help translate or transcreate your content in the case of marketing and advertising material and advise on how the area likes to embrace new products or businesses.

Consider the Legalities of Your Translations

Obviously, it's advisable to speak to those who will help build your brand, audience, sales, or even your new factory in the way they talk. But what about when it's not a nice-to-have but a must-have?

When moving into any foreign territory, it should always be part of your due diligence to check the legal language requirements in the country. Suppose Portuguese is an official language, even if it's not a widely spoken one. In that case, you might be obligated to give people the option to be communicated with in Portuguese.

Success in Portuguese

According to the University of Louisville, “Portuguese is with Spanish the fastest growing Western language, and, following estimates by UNESCO it is the language with the higher potentiality of growth as an international communication language in Africa (south) and South America.”

With the right research, insight, strategy and help, gaining a foothold with a Portuguese-speaking audience needn’t cause anxiety. It’s achievable when you know what type of Portuguese you need to use, what the cultures and customs of the people you’re speaking to are and how you stand legally. There you have it, your quick guia para o sucesso em português.

Get a Quote for Your Localization Needs

Expanding into Portuguese-speaking markets offers incredible opportunities, but success hinges on more than just translating words. Understanding the linguistic variations, cultural nuances, and legal requirements is critical to ensuring your message resonates with your audience and complies with local regulations.

At LinguaLinx, we have over two decades of experience helping businesses like yours navigate these complexities with ease. As an ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 certified language service provider, we uphold the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and compliance, ensuring your translations are not only precise but also culturally relevant and legally sound.

Is your business looking to move into a Portuguese-speaking territory? We’d love to help you succeed. Our consultations are free, with no obligation.

With LinguaLinx, you’ll never have to worry about your message getting lost in translation. Schedule a consultation today and discover how our expertise can help you connect with your new audience confidently and effectively.