Portuguese Meaning and Definition
Portuguese
Pronunciation
/ˈpɔr-tuˌgiz/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A language spoken in Portugal, Brazil, and several countries in Africa and Asia, derived from Latin and characterized by a unique set of grammatical and phonological features.
Examples
- I’m taking a class to learn Portuguese.
- The locals spoke Portuguese as their primary language.
Synonyms
- Linguistics
- Language
Antonyms
- English
- French
Additional Information
Portuguese is a Romance language that has its roots in Latin, and it is considered one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It has a significant impact on the culture and identity of Portugal and Brazil, and it is also used in many countries in Africa and Asia where it was introduced by Portuguese colonization.
The Portuguese language has a complex set of grammatical and phonological features, including the use of two vowels in some words, such as ‘nação’ (nation) and the use of the verb ‘ser’ (to be) instead of ‘estar’ (to be) in some situations. The language has a rich literary and cultural heritage, with famous authors such as Luís de Camões and Fernando Pessoa.
Etymology
The word ‘Portuguese’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Portus’, meaning port or harbor, which referred to the port city of Oporto in Portugal.
Usage Notes
The word ‘Portuguese’ can be used as an adjective to describe something related to Portugal or the Portuguese language, such as ‘Portuguese cuisine’ or ‘Portuguese literature’, or as a noun to refer to a person from Portugal or someone who speaks the Portuguese language.
Cultural References
The Portuguese language and culture have been mentioned in many works of literature and art, including the famous novel ‘The Lisbon Story’ by José Saramago and the films ‘Fado, the Soul of Portugal’ and ‘The Year of the Dog’.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Some common idiomatic expressions or phrases in Portuguese include ‘O Brasil è um país muito agradável’ (Brazil is a very pleasant country), ‘O português è uma linguagem muito fácil’ (Portuguese is a very easy language), and ‘Viver é a arte de lidar com o imprevisto’ (Living is the art of dealing with the unexpected).
Related Words or Phrases
Words or phrases closely related to ‘Portuguese’ in meaning or usage include ‘Spanish’, ‘French’, and ‘Brazilian’.
Collocations
Common word combinations with the term ‘Portuguese’ include ‘phrasebook’, ‘dictionary’, ‘tutor’, and ‘courses’.
Frequency of Use
The word ‘Portuguese’ is relatively common in modern language, with an estimated frequency of use of over 100,000 hits per year on search engines.
Common Misspellings
Common misspellings of the word ‘Portuguese’ include ‘Portiguese’, ‘Portagese’, and ‘Portugese’.