Multiple national standards
Portugal, Brazil, Angola and Mozambique share a common linguistic foundation but use their own official and specialist terminology.
Romance language
Have Portuguese translated
português
Portuguese is used in documents from Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. The country of origin and its national specialist terminology are essential for an accurate translation.
Portuguese is spoken by approximately 260 million people and is one of the world's most widely spoken languages.
Geographical distribution of Portuguese
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Portugal
Brazil
Angola
Mozambique
Cabo Verde
Guinea-Bissau
São Tomé and Príncipe
Timor-Leste
France
Germany
A schematic selection of the main areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders, and the map does not show complete population statistics.
Language profile
Portuguese at a glance
- Native name
- português
- Language family
- Romance language
- Script
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- pt
Documents and areas of use
Common uses for this language combination
It is not just about the language. ABBA-Sprachendienste also takes into account the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and the language combination you need.
Have your document checked- Birth and marriage certificates
- Diplomas and educational records
- Employment and business contracts
- Corporate and commercial documents
- Court and immigration documents
Origin and development
How the language developed
Portuguese developed from medieval Galician-Portuguese in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula. As the Portuguese state developed, the language's centre shifted southwards.
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 distinctive
Sequences of surnames
Multi-part surnames do not always follow German conventions. Their order and complete official spelling must be preserved.
Orthographic development
Spelling agreements have changed some spellings; older documents may still use previous forms.
A glimpse of the language
Three phrases to start with
The transliteration is only a rough guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may differ.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bom dia | — | Good day |
| Obrigado / Obrigada | — | Thank you |
| Por favor | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide figures and may vary depending on the definition, the year of the survey and whether second-language speakers are included.
- 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 standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources as of 14 July 2026. The information will be cross-checked by subject experts before the website goes live.
Portuguese FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Portuguese
Can I have Portuguese translated into German and German into Portuguese?
You can request either direction. We give a binding commitment once we have checked the document type, subject area, certification, appointment and intended use.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Portuguese?
Birth and marriage certificates, diplomas and educational records, employment and business contracts, and corporate and commercial documents are typical examples. Other types of document can also be assessed using a clear photograph or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check for Portuguese?
We check the language combination, document type, script (Latin alphabet), names, stamps, subject area, intended use and whether certification may be needed.
Do I need a certified translation of my Portuguese document?
That is decided by the authority, court or notary receiving the document, or by whichever other office has requested it. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted, so that your requirements can be assessed properly.
Is a photo enough for the initial check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually enough for us to check your request and prepare a quote. Depending on the job, the original may also be needed later, when the work is carried out.
Ask us to review your Portuguese ↔ German requirements
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally check the language combination, document, intended use and whether certification is needed.
