Multiple national standards
Portugal, Brazil, Angola and Mozambique use common principles but their own official and technical terms.
Romance language
Have Portuguese translated
Portuguese
Portuguese combines documents from Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. Country of origin and national terminology are essential for an accurate translation.
Portuguese is spoken by approximately 260 million people and is one of the world's largest languages.
Geographical distribution of Portuguese
- Main distribution
- Other regional use
- Selected Diaspora
Portugal
Brazil
Angola
Mozambique
Cabo Verde
Guinea Bissau
Sao Tome and Principe
Timor Leste
France
Germany
Schematic selection of important distribution areas. Language usage does not always follow national borders; the map is not complete population statistics.
Language profile
Portuguese at a glance
- Proper name
- Portuguese
- language family
- Romance language
- font
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- pt
Documents and deployment
The language direction is often used
It's not just the language that matters. ABBA-Sprachendienste also classifies document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirement and desired language direction.
Have the document checked- Birth and marriage certificates
- Diplomas and educational certificates
- Employment and business contracts
- Company and commercial documents
- Court and immigration documents
Origin and development
How language developed
Portuguese developed from medieval Galician-Portuguese in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. With the Portuguese state, the linguistic center shifted south.
Seafaring and colonial history spread the language to Brazil, Africa and Asia. European and Brazilian Portuguese differ in pronunciation, vocabulary and, to some extent, grammar.
Good to know
What makes this language special
Name necklaces
Multi-part surnames do not always follow German expectations. The order and complete official spelling must be retained.
Orthographic development
Spelling agreements have changed spellings; older documents may still show earlier forms.
A little language insight
Three first expressions
The transcription only serves as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transcription | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bom dia | — | Good afternoon |
| Obrigado/Obrigada | — | Thank you |
| Por favor | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide values and may vary depending on the definition, year of survey and inclusion of second language speakers.
- Portuguese language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardized language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and area names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial source status: July 14, 2026. Information will be cross-checked before production goes live.
Portuguese FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Portuguese
Can I have Portuguese translated into German and German into Portuguese?
Both directions can be requested. A binding commitment is made after checking the type of document, subject area, certification, date and intended use.
Which documents are often relevant when speaking Portuguese?
Birth and marriage certificates, diplomas and educational certificates, employment and business contracts, company and commercial documents are among the typical occasions. Other types of documents can also be checked with an easy-to-read photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste look for in Portuguese?
The language direction, document type, Latin alphabet, names, stamps, subject area, purpose and possible need for certification are checked.
Do I need a certified translation for my Portuguese document?
This is decided by the receiving authority, the court, the notary or the other requesting body. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be presented; then the need can be classified appropriately.
Is a photo enough for the first check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and easy-to-read photo or PDF is usually sufficient to check the offer. Depending on the order, the original may also be required for later execution.
Have Portuguese ↔ German checked specifically
Send an easy-to-read photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste personally checks the language direction, document, purpose and certification requirements.
