Spanish and Portuguese are sister languages, both descended from Latin and sharing roughly 89% lexical similarity. If you learn one, you get a significant head start on the other. But which should you learn first?
By the Numbers
| Factor | Spanish | Portuguese |
|---|---|---|
| Native speakers | ~475 million | ~260 million |
| Total speakers | ~560 million | ~300 million |
| Countries (official) | 20 | 9 |
| FSI difficulty | Category I (600-750 hours) | Category I (600-750 hours) |
Pronunciation
Spanish pronunciation is straightforward. Five vowels always pronounced the same way. Spelling is phonetic.
Portuguese pronunciation is significantly harder. Nasal vowels, vowel reduction, and consonant sounds that don't exist in Spanish or English. Brazilian Portuguese is generally easier than European Portuguese.
Career Value
Spanish is the most in-demand foreign language in the US job market. Valuable in healthcare, education, law, and international business.
Portuguese is less commonly studied, which means less competition. Professionals with Portuguese are in demand for Brazil-focused trade, energy, and tech.
Which First?
Learn Spanish first if: you live in the US, want the widest geographic coverage, or prefer easier pronunciation.
Learn Portuguese first if: you have a connection to Brazil, work in Brazil-focused industries, or want a less competitive language skill.
The bridge effect: Spanish speakers can learn Portuguese in roughly half the time. The reverse is also true.
At Targumi, we offer tutors for both Spanish and Portuguese. Start your Romance language journey today.
Sources and References
- Spanish — Ethnologue: Spanish is spoken by about 490 million native speakers. Language family: Indo-European, Romance branch.
- Wikipedia — Spanish: encyclopedic information on the language, its geographic area and official status.
- Targumi — Learn Spanish: courses with certified native teachers.
Further Reading
- Learn Spanish on Targumi — courses with native teachers
- All languages on Targumi — 106 languages taught