There are about 10 million speakers of Portuguese in Portugual itself, and the large majority of speakers in Brazil (about 150 million), but where else in the world can one hear this wonderful language spoken?
The short answer: former Portuguese colonies. The Lusophonic (Portuguese-speaking) world, also known as the Lusosphere really wraps around the globe, with representative countries in Europe, South America, Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and a smattering of islands in the Atlantic.
Here’s a Big Map of the Lusophonic world.
Transparent Language’s own overview of the Portuguese language is very informative, and if you’ve ever been curious about the history of the language, you should check out that page.
More information…
Here’s a list of countries/geographic regions where Portuguese is spoken:
Brazil [Brasil]
Portugal
Mozambique [Moçambique]
Angola
Azores [os Açores]
Cape Verde [Cabo Verde]
São Tomé and Principe
Guinea-Bissau
East Timor
Macau
Goa
I would be remiss not to make mention of the significant immigrant populations in any attempt to enumerate lusophonic regions. Japan has large pockets of Brazilian immigrants, many of whom are of purely Japanese descent but speak no Japanese, as they were raised in Brazil.
The Northeast region of the United States certainly makes the cut; there is a critical mass of Brazilian immigrants, legal and illegal, in and around Boston in particular. Fall River, MA has a long history of Portuguese-descended fishermen making their residence their, and more recently waves of immigrants from Brazil, Cape Verde and other lusophonic nations have arrived and created quite a community.
Framingham, Massachusetts, is perhaps the most well-known and affluent concentration of Brazilians in the Greater Boston area and will certainly warrant a longer dedicated post!
![[Post to Twitter]](http://www.transparent.com/portuguese/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter-micro3.png){kind=icon}
"
12 Comments
OOPS!You must add two more
Brazil [Brasil]
Portugal
Mozambique [Moçambique]
Angola
Azores [os Açores]
Cape Verde [Cabo Verde]
São Tomé and Principe
Guinea-Bissau
East Timor
Macau
Goa
Damao
Diu
Thanks Tino! Missed those before…. thanks for the tip!
-Christopher
What about Madeira they speak portuguese
I think Madeira is cover by the Azores….see comments 3.
Hey you beautiful people out there - just to let you know some form of Portuguese is spoken in Malacca - a small ex Portuguese colony situated in Asia. It is not pure portuguese as it has been mixed with the local dialect of Malay. Please look up in youtube and key in “Portuguese descendants of Malacca”. I am from that colony and I am very proud of my Portuguese heritage!
Don’t forget that there is also a large community of Portuguese and Brazilians in New Jersey, in particular in Newark and Elizabeth.
In the last 5 years, 2-3,000 Portugese people have come to work in Northern Ireland, mostly in Dungannon and Portadown, in meat processing plants. Most of them originate from East Timor with a substantial number of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, a few Angolans and 1 or 2 Mozambiquans. Oh, and a fit looking girl from Goa!
See 3.
The beautiful island of Madeira is a self governing Region within Portugal.
Perhaps the Channel Islands might be considered as many many Madeirans work there and are very important to the economy.
At this time of year they flood back home to enjoy Christmas at home.
HI MY CUZIN AND I GET MAD AT EACH OTHER OUR GERAMPA IS PORTUGESE BUT WE BOTH GO TO SCHOOL AND TAKE A PORTUGESE SPEAKING AND READING CLASS AND HE SAID POUGESEE ARE FRANCH PEPOLE BUT I WAS TOLD THEY WERE LATINO WHAT RACE ARE THEY
Response to KEYOKA: Portuguese (from Portugal) and Brazilians are NOT latino that is the wrong information. You are not considered latino when it comes to race.
actually oliveira portuguese, french and spanish people are considered latino. the reason being that they have latin roots. they can also be called white or european.
Just to amend 2 tremendous errors written over here:
Madeira has nothing to do with Azores.
Portuguese are not latinos ?!?!?!?!?!?
The truly latinos people are:
Portuguese, spanish, italians, french and romenians.
The ones commonly called (in USA and other American countries) as latinos are not truly latinos ..they are just mixed with latinos.