Only a few people know which countries speak Portuguese, even though it’s the third most spoken language in the western world, right after English and Castilian. It is also the fifth most spoken language on the planet.
In audiovisual productions, using specific language that sounds natural to the audience is always very important. Although European and Brazilian Portuguese are mutually intelligible, the differences are significant enough that a Portuguese project will not work in Brazil, and vice versa.
Investing in a Portuguese translation of your video can bring huge benefits by unlocking a massive new market. To achieve that, you will have to find a language specialist with a high degree of knowledge in this field including portugese voice over.
A professional agency with a wide range of native-speaker voice actors can help you connect your brand with the right audience and make them feel a sense of belonging on a deeper level.
Different Portuguese Accents and Dialects
There are about 279 million people in the world who speak Portuguese, and it is one of the fastest-growing western languages. It is also an excellent language for business, given the number of native speakers and their role in the global economy.
For those wondering if there’s a “neutral Portuguese,” the answer is no. If we take only the three main variants of Portuguese into account, Brazil, Portugal, and Angola, there’s little hope of a middle ground.
Evoking emotions and making things crystal clear through Portuguese voice-over is crucial for establishing solid connections that resonate with a target audience. You will need qualified language professional assistance to reach your business goals in the Portuguese-speaking market.
So, which territories and countries speak Portuguese as an official language?
- Portugal
- Brazil
- Angola
- Mozambique
- Guinea-Bissau
- Cape Verde
- East Timor
- São Tome and Principe
- Equatorial Guinea
Portuguese is also used as an unofficial language in Goa (India) and Macau (China).
Did you know that there are entirely different words in Portugal and Brazil? Let’s review some of them:
| United States | Portugal | Brazil |
| Bus | Autocarro | Ônibus |
| Refrigerator | Frigorífico | Geladeira |
| Candy | Rebuçado | Bala |
| Life Guard | Banheiro | Salva-vidas |
| Train | Comboio | Trem |
| Injection | Pica (informal, also: Injeção) | Injeção |
| Girl | Rapariga | Menina |
Portuguese from Portugal
Portuguese is quite a fascinating language. European, Brazilian, African and Asian Portuguese have evolved separately through years of cultural and historical differences. While there are many similarities, there are striking differences in vocabulary, grammar, syntax and pronunciation.
That is why it is vital to localize projects for European Portuguese audiences, hiring professionals who master the subtle nuances of this unique culture with all different accents and dialects.
While Portuguese originated in Europe, it is now far more widely spoken in South America. But Portugal represents a very significant market and has the added advantage of being part of the European Union.
Brazilian Portuguese
Today, Brazil has the largest number of Portuguese speakers in the world, but it is another Portuguese variant called Brazilian Portuguese.
Brazil is the most populous Portuguese-speaking country, and its sheer size reflects in its audiovisual industry. It ranks among the largest markets in the world. What’s more, Brazilian Portuguese voice over is widely used on most gaming platforms and presents a potential opportunity for video producers willing to invest in this market.
Other Portuguese Speaking Countries
The Portuguese language around the world is on the rise, particularly in Africa. It is the official language of six African countries that are former colonies of the Portuguese empire: Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Here are some examples of countries that speak Portuguese:
Angola
Angola is an important market. It’s the second-largest Portuguese-speaking country in the world and one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.
Mozambique
Mozambique is a curious case when it comes to Portuguese. Its Portuguese-speaking population is higher than in Portugal, but some parts of the country still struggle to find stable internet access.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde or Cabo Verde, is a Portuguese-speaking island-country with a population of about 570,000. Most natives here use a creole language known as the Cape Verdean.
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea has three official languages: Portuguese, Spanish and French.
Guinea-Bissau
Although its primary language is Creole, it is still one of the world’s largest official Portuguese-speaking countries.
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe (Saint Thomas and Prince) is an island country and is the smallest official Portuguese-speaking country in the world.
East Timor
East Timor is another unique case on the list. It is located in Southeast Asia, where most languages are part of either Austro-Asiatic or Austronesian families.
Macau
Macau or Macao is a city with a population of 650,000. It uses Portuguese and Cantonese dialects.
Brazil vs. Portugal: Best Accent for Voice-Over
Localizing Portuguese translations, subtitling and voice-over services has a significant impact on sales numbers. Studies show that gamers from Brazil and Portugal would rather spend money on a game with a Portuguese localizing translation than one in English or Spanish.
The data is clear on this: Portuguese is among the most sought-after languages for adapting games. Companies that embrace localizing their projects have far greater penetration in the huge Portuguese-speaking market, so investing in a Portuguese translation is a must.
So, if you want your project to make a difference, you will need professional native Portuguese voice-over actors to perfectly fit your content and articulate the ideas, emotions, and experiences behind it.
Some say Brazilian Portuguese is more sexy and melodic, while the European counterpart is a legit romance language with more expressive intonations that are hypnotizing to listen to.
The big question is, which studio is the perfect fit for your project? Where can you find native Portuguese voice-over talents that can bring your script to life in a way that will make your viewers fall in love with your products?
At GoLocalise, London’s leading voice-over, subtitling and translation agency, you will find handpicked Portuguese voice talents that put love into what they do. GoLocalise works with a specialized group teaming together to ensure they take a fresh look at every new script with the same passion. So, when your viewers see your project, they will embrace nothing but the authentic, original experience.
Now you know which countries Speak Portuguese!
