Why We Use the Term “European Portuguese”
When we decided to add the word “European” to the title of our book, we knew it might raise questions. And it did.
Some people didn’t understand the choice. Others disagreed with it strongly. A few comments questioned whether “European Portuguese” even exists as a term.
So let’s explain—clearly, honestly, and respectfully – why we made this decision and who it is for.
First, let’s be clear: this is not a political statement
Adding “European” to “Portuguese” is not a denial of history, identity, or linguistic unity.
Portuguese is one language with multiple standard varieties, shaped by geography, history, and daily use. This is true for many languages:
- English → British, American, Australian
- French → European, Canadian
No one doubts that these are all English or French. The adjective simply helps learners know what they’re getting.
Portuguese is no different.
Addressing a common objection
“European Portuguese doesn’t exist. There is Brazilian Portuguese and Portuguese.”
From a native speaker’s perspective, this feeling is understandable. In Portugal, “português” naturally means the language spoken in Portugal.
But from a learner’s perspective, especially an international one, this distinction is not obvious at all.
On the global market:
- “Portuguese” often defaults to Brazilian Portuguese
- Many resources don’t specify the variant
- Learners only discover the difference after weeks/months of study
That frustration is exactly what we wanted to avoid.
The real problem learners face
Both authors of this book have heard the same complaint again and again:
“I thought I was learning Portuguese from Portugal… but it turned out to be Brazilian.”
This happens with:
- Books on Amazon
- Online courses
- Language apps (for example Duolingo)
- In the past: older versions of Google Translate
For years, learners had no reliable way to know which Portuguese they were studying unless it was explicitly stated.
Today, this situation has improved, but the confusion still exists.
Why “European Portuguese” helps
Adding the adjective solves a practical problem:
- It sets clear expectations
- It saves learners time and frustration
- It respects their goals (living, working or integrating in Portugal)
This is not just our approach.
Many respected platforms do exactly the same, for example:
- Practice Portuguese, Portuguese with Leo, Portuguese Lab Academy and much more…
- Universities and language schools across Europe (for example King’s College London)
- Linguistic and academic publications (for example Journal of Portuguese Linguistics)
Even Wikipedia uses the term European Portuguese (Português europeu) as a standard reference.
So this is not an invention, nor a marketing trick – it is a widely accepted descriptive term.
What about Angola, Mozambique, and other countries?
Another comment we received said, in essence:
“What is spoken in Angola or Mozambique is the same as in Portugal.”
Linguistically, these varieties are closer to European Portuguese than to Brazilian Portuguese in many aspects -but they also have their own pronunciation, vocabulary, and influences.
Once again, the adjective is not about exclusion. It is about precision.
Our book is designed for learners who want to understand and use standard Portuguese as spoken in Portugal today.
A note for learners
If you’re learning Portuguese, here’s a simple rule:
👉 Always check which variant a resource teaches.
Ask yourself:
- Does it match the country where I live or plan to live?
- Does it reflect the pronunciation I hear around me?
- Does it use vocabulary I encounter daily?
Choosing the right variant early makes learning faster, easier and far less frustrating.
In conclusion
We didn’t add “European” to create division.
We added it to create clarity.
For learners, clarity is not a luxury – it’s a necessity.
And if one extra word helps someone confidently say:
“Yes, this is the Portuguese I’m looking for”
then that word belongs in the title.
