Portuguese Vs Spanish: 11 Essential Language Differences

A popular misconception is that the Portuguese language is near-identical to Spanish. In fact, speaking Spanish in Portugal is a surefire way to annoy the locals. True, Portuguese derived from the Vulgar Latin that was originally spoken in Galicia, both are Romance languages and knowing one will give you an advantage when learning the other, but they are nonetheless very different. Although this is only the tip of the vernacular iceberg, here are a few of the major differences between European Portuguese and European Spanish.

Eu versus Yo and Me

One of the first lessons to master is the proper way to express yourself in the first person. In Portuguese, the word for ‘I’ is eu, while in Spanish yo and me are used.

‘I love this’ = Eu adoro (Portuguese) and Me encanta (Spanish)

‘I want to go there’ = Eu quero ir ali (Portuguese) and Yo quiero ir allí (Spanish)

Common Substitutions

Some words beginning with f in Portuguese will begin with h in Spanish, while z in the middle of a word in Portuguese will be represented with a c in Spanish. Here are a couple of examples:

‘To do’ = hacer (Spanish) and fazer (Portuguese)

‘To speak’ = hablar (Spanish) and falar (Portuguese)

y and e

Language learners will also notice words and sounds with the same meaning, pronounced the same way, but spelled differently; y (Spanish) and e (Portuguese) are one example. Both mean ‘and’.

‘Thank you’ is gracias in Spanish but obrigado in Portuguese

ñ and nh

Ñ in the Spanish alphabet is substituted with nh in Portuguese.

‘Spain’ = España (Spanish) and Espanha (Portuguese)

-ón and –ão

Sometimes, a word in Portuguese that ends in -ão will end in -ón in Spanish. Here are some examples:

‘Heart’ = corazón (Spanish) and coração (Portuguese)

‘Inversion’ = inversión (Spanish) and inversão (Portuguese)

‘Emotion’ = emoción (Spanish) and emoção (Portuguese)

‘Collection’ = colección (Spanish) and coleção (Portuguese)

Expressing ‘You’

When saying ‘you’ in Portuguese, the words voce or senhor/a are used in formal conversation, and tu is used when speaking to friends or family. On the other hand, tu is used often in Spanish, regardless of whether the person is a close friend or a stranger – it’s not considered impolite. When trying to be formal (at work, for instance) use usted.

Differences in Pronunciation

Sounds are among the biggest differences between the two languages. The sounds of Portuguese have been compared to the sounds in the Russian language, while Spanish can be described as sounding smoother.

For example, –s at the end of a word is usually pronounced ‘sh’ in Portuguese (as in ‘shush’) but ‘s’ in Spanish (as in ‘soup’). This difference can also be seen when comparing European Portuguese to Brazilian Portuguese.

Written Differences

Many words will stay practically the same when translated, or will have one extra vowel added, so speakers of one language will find it easy to read the other. Usually, the reason for this is diphthongs, that is, sounds that are created when two vowels are combined.

Spanish diphthongs include ue, ua, ie, and ia; they are substituted for e and o in Portuguese. Furthermore, the Portuguese diphthong ei will replace the letter e in Spanish. Here are some examples:

‘Wood’ = madera (Spanish) and madeira (Portuguese)

‘First’ = primero (Spanish) and primeiro (Portuguese)

‘New’ = nuevo (Spanish) and novo (Portuguese)

False Cognates

Although 89% of the words in the two languages have a similar-looking equivalent (a cognate), be aware that some words may look the same but have completely different meanings. These are known as false cognates. Sometimes, using a false cognate is simply funny, while at other times it can turn an innocent sentence into an offensive one. For example, salada in Portuguese means ‘salad’, while salada in Spanish means ‘salty’. Polvo in Portuguese means ‘octopus’, while polvo in Spanish means ‘powder’.

Some Entirely Different Vocabulary

Then there are the words that are completely different. Don’t try speaking a Portuguese word with a Spanish sound in Spain or vice versa in Portugal, because it simply won’t work, and you’ll be met with a confused look.

‘Dessert’= postre (Spanish) and sobremesa (Portuguese)

‘Dinner’ = cena (Spanish) and jantar (Portuguese); note that cena in Portuguese means ‘scene’ and is another example of a false cognate!

Regional Differences

Spain has more distinct regional differences than Portugal. The regional languages are Castilian, Basque, Andaluz, Galician, and Catalan. In Portugal, while accents vary between the north and south of the mainland, the language is the same. The biggest differences in European Portuguese are those between the islands and the mainland. Furthermore, it is thought to be easier for Portuguese and Galicians to communicate in their respective languages than it is for a Portuguese to communicate with a Spanish person from another region.

Check out more fascinating facts about the Portuguese language.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.