Why You Should Learn Portuguese in 2025
By Megan Frye
If you’re looking for a language that unlocks adventure, connection, and opportunity, Portuguese is it. Spoken across continents, tied to one of the world’s biggest economies, and pulsing with music, poetry, and history, it’s a language worth knowing. Here’s why you should learn Portuguese:
1. Portuguese Is Spoken in Nine Countries
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, and Equatorial Guinea—that’s 266 million speakers across four continents. It’s the 8th most spoken language in the world, yet most people overlook it.
2. Brazil Is a Global Powerhouse
Brazil is Latin America’s largest economy and ranks eighth worldwide, with a GDP of over $2 trillion. It dominates in agriculture, energy, tech, and tourism. If you want to work, invest, or travel in South America, Portuguese isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
3. Brazilian Portuguese Is Unique and Expressive
Brazilian Portuguese is different from European Portuguese—not just in accent, but in rhythm, vocabulary, and even body language. It’s melodic, full of warmth, and reflects Brazil’s diversity. The language has been shaped by Indigenous, African, and European influences, making it as rich and layered as Brazilian culture itself.
4. You Won’t Get By on Just Spanish or English
Some Brazilians understand and even speak Spanish or English, but not most. You can’t assume people will understand you. Speaking Portuguese opens doors—it lets you connect with everyone, from street vendors to business owners, from the Amazon to the beaches of Bahia. You’ll experience Brazil in a way tourists never do.
5. The Culture Is Unmatched
Brazil is a cultural giant—samba, bossa nova, MPB, baile funk, cinema novo, modernist literature. If you want to understand Caetano Veloso, Fernanda Montenegro, Clarice Lispector, or Seu Jorge, learning Portuguese is non-negotiable.
6. It’s a Bridge to Other Languages
Portuguese is a Romance language, so if you speak it, Spanish, French, and Italian become easier to learn. If you already know Spanish, Portuguese is within reach—it’s like unlocking a whole new world with a bit of effort.
7. It’s a Language of the Future
Portuguese isn’t just relevant now; it’s growing. Brazil is on the rise, and Portuguese is gaining influence in global business, politics, and culture. Speaking it now puts you ahead of the curve.
So why not? 2025 is the perfect time to learn Portuguese. And GoBrazil here in Maceió, Alagoas is the perfect place. You will be understanding the thick nordestino accent in no time. And once you can speak nordestino, o céu é o limite!
¡Vai nessa!
Megan Frye is a journalist and documentarian specializing in low-impact, regenerative travel, with a focus on Latin America. With a background in newsroom journalism and nonprofit management in Detroit and Mexico, she explores the intersection of consciousness and adventure, bringing a humanistic and naturalistic lens to storytelling. She spent five weeks studying Portuguese at Go Brazil, where she navigated a profound personal journey, embraced by the kindness of community, the warmth of Brazilian hospitality, and the beauty of Garça Torta’s shores. Read more of her work at www.meganfrye.com.
