Brazilian Portuguese
The Language of BrazilBrazilian Portuguese is the language of Brazil, and in fact, it is the only country in South America where Portuguese is spoken. Portuguese is part of the Latin Romance family of languages and has similarities with Spanish, Italian, and French. Brazilian Portuguese differs from that spoken in Portugal just as British English differs from English spoken in the United States. English is not commonly spoken in Brazil, but it is taught more commonly now to the younger generation. People working in the tourist industry are often hired based on their English language skills. Hotel desk clerks and Tour Guides will speak English, but rarely will you find English speaking waiters, taxi cab drivers, shop owners, etc. Therefore, it's best to take along a Portuguese phrase book or try to learn a little of the language before taking your Rio de Janeiro vacation.
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