Question from Quora: https://www.quora.com/Why-are-the-Portuguese-more-likely-to-speak-English-than-the-Spanish

Daniel Gracia:

Because their language makes it easier for them to learn English. Portuguese and English are stress-timed languages whereas Spanish is a syllable-timed language. In a stress-timed language, the intervals of time between stressed syllables tend to have the same length and the syllables in between are compressed or expanded as necessary (see Isochrony entry in Wikipedia). This normally confuses speakers of syllable-timed languages quite a lot and explains why Spanish people find it so difficult to understand Portuguese people even though the two languages are very similar. Spanish people may understand written Portuguese fairly well but may fail to understand the same sentences when pronounced by a Portuguese speaker. Portuguese is even more heavily stress-timed than English and this gives Portuguese people the edge over Spanish people when learning English. This is the most important reason why the Portuguese find it easier to learn English than Spanish people. If Portuguese were a syllable-timed language, Portuguese people would find English more difficult to learn although their greater range of vowel sounds would still give them an advantage over Spanish speakers.

Adrià Cereto i Massagué:

Just like Portuguese youngsters (as suggested by User in her answer), Spaniards also spend a lot of time on the internet and watching US series. But in Spanish. And I think here's the catch: almost everything is available in Spanish.

I mean, children even get their videogames translated into Spanish, while Portuguese children have to learn some basic English in order to be able to play things such as Pokémon (or use the Spanish translation if available, which is quite intelligible).

I learned a lot of English by playing games that were not available in Spanish (at the time, most, if not all of them: the first games I remember in Spanish were some PC and some latter N64 games... ToZ: Ocarina of time taught me a lot of English :P )

And probably English is taught better at Portuguese schools than at Spanish schools, which isn't very difficult. Most people finish highschool (bachillerato) with an A2 level of English at most or usually lower if they relied only on what is taught at school (provided that school offered English; a few have other foreign languages instead).

Also, English pronunciation is a lot easier for Portuguese speakers than for monolingual (most) Spaniards: Spanish has only 5 vowels and lacks many of the consonants present in English (but present in Portuguese: [v], [z], [ʃ], [ʒ], [dʒ]), the only exceptions being [ð] and [θ], which are present in central and northern European Spanish but not in Portuguese.

Another factor to take into account is that some (fortunately not many) Spaniards feel that there is no need to learn any other language because Spanish is a global language and anything worthy will be translated anyway.
I have found this attitude in French and English speakers too, maybe a remnant of their colonial empires. I have yet to find Portuguese speakers with this mindset. Maybe the fact that there are just a few countries where Portuguese is spoken (compared to Spanish, French or English) and that Portugal is a small relatively unimportant country in Europe have made more Portuguese realize that knowing more languages is important.

João Godinho:

Several reasons:

Spain is bigger and more selfcentred. Portugal, being smaller is more permeable to influence from outside the Iberian Peninsula, as a counter-balance to the (until recently) historical hegemonic tendencies of a larger neighbour. I see some similarities here to the case of the Dutch versus Germany (whether politically or culturally). Curiously, even in this case the inhabitants of the smaller nation, generally, speak better English than the inhabitants of the larger nation.
Historically, Portugal is an ally of England. In fact, the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 is the oldest diplomatic treaty still in use Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 - Wikipedia. On the other hand, Spain has been a historical enemy of the English, which may to a point explain why there has been some resistance to the English language. However, that is not the case at present. Well, perhaps with the exception of the Gibraltar issue..
Portugal is more atlantic; Spain more mediterranean. Even the nature of both empires were different. Spain was a territorial empire, Portugal (with the exception of Brazil and the creation of the “Captaincies”Captaincies of Brazil - Wikipedia), was a seafaring trade empire.
And perhaps currently the greatest reason: Portugal does NOT dub movies and TV series (with the exception of media oriented to a very young audience) as do the Spanish, the Italians, and even the Germans! The very few attempts that have been made, were all unsucessfull. I remember they tried to dub ER, but it didn´t take more than a few episodes for the Portuguese to yearn hearing George Clooney in his original voice, and the series ran for the rest of its duration in the original English. I don´t know if they still do it, but back in the heydays of the vinyl album, English named record and music titles were translated. I remember a good bargain I bought in Spain called “Autopista para el Infierno” or as it was named in Portugal “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC.
I don´t know about the quality of the teaching of English in the Spanish educational system or at what age it starts, but in Portugal it is cleary the second language - a sharp contrats from the past (up to mid 70´s) where French, now in decline, was the first foreign language the Portuguese were taught. It has been taught to increasingly younger students, to the current situation where it is mandatory from the 3rd year on of public school.

Luis M. González:

There's an almost absolute lack of exposure to foreign languages in Spain.
All movies, tv shows, videos and games get dubbed to Spanish.
This is probably the main cause.

Another one is, I believe (but not sure) that Spaniards learn everything at school. If it's not taught at school, it's unlikely they will learn it elsewhere.
Private classes are probably out of reach for most and are not common there.

The curious thing is that Spain is mostly a touristic economy. Tourism is a huge industry and Spain receives millions of foreign tourists every year. Incredibly, there's hardly enough Spanish youths with an acceptable level of English to cater to these tourists. Most people working at hotels and restaurants or bars in touristic areas are immigrants (mainly from Eastern Europe).

Youth unemployment is roughly 50%.
I find the situation absurd and I'm pretty sure I'm missing something here (I would appreciate if some Spaniard could correct me if I'm wrong).

However, things may be changing...
I recently visited London, and there were literally thousands of young Spaniards working there (coffee shops, bars, clothing stores). Most said they were escaping the crisis and learning English.

Assistant:

The likelihood of Portuguese people speaking English compared to Spanish speakers can be attributed to several factors:

Education System: In Portugal, English is often taught as a primary foreign language from an early age. The Portuguese education system places a strong emphasis on English, leading to higher proficiency levels among the general population.
Cultural Exposure: Portugal has a long history of cultural exchange with English-speaking countries, particularly through tourism and media. This exposure increases the motivation to learn and use English.
Economic Factors: Many Portuguese citizens view English as a valuable skill for employment opportunities, especially in tourism and international business sectors, leading to greater motivation to learn the language.
Geographic and Demographic Influences: Portugal's smaller size and population compared to Spain mean that English-speaking communities and resources might be more concentrated and accessible. Additionally, the Portuguese often travel or work abroad, further enhancing their English skills.
Historical Context: Spain's historical and linguistic diversity, with multiple regional languages (like Catalan, Basque, and Galician), may dilute the emphasis on English compared to the more homogenous linguistic landscape in Portugal.

Overall, while both countries have made strides in English education, these factors contribute to a generally higher level of English proficiency in Portugal compared to Spain.

Rita Almeida:

The common sense answer is because Spain is a dubbing country, while Portugal is a subtitling country. As a result, from early childhood the average Portuguese person is in constant contact with English, either through movies, TV shows or even the news in English.

Portuguese also has more vowels sounds than Spanish (14 vs. 5!) and more consonant sounds (23 vs 18), so it may be easier for us to pick up foreign languages.

Anonymous:

They are less insular, some might say less arrogant. Fewer people and fewer parts of the world speak Portuguese. When I lived in Lisbon, educated persons often spoke French, Spanish and English besides their native Portuguese. Some spoke even more languages than that....

Micael Daher Jardim:

Originally Answered: Why does everyone speak English in Portugal? Why not Portuguese or Spanish?

In Portugal, English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas and among younger generations. This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors:

1. Tourism: Portugal is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world. English has become the common language for communication between locals and tourists, as it is the most widely spoken second language globally.

2. Education: English is a mandatory subject in Portuguese schools from an early age. The emphasis on learning English in the education system ensures that most young people and adults have a good command of the language.

3. Media and Entertainment: Much of the media consumed in Portugal, including movies, TV shows, and music, is in English. This constant exposure helps people become more proficient in English over time.

4. Business and International Relations: English is the dominant language in international business and diplomacy. As Portugal engages in global trade and international collaborations, English proficiency becomes essential.

5. Historical Influence: While Portuguese is the official language and is spoken by everyone in Portugal, English has gained prominence due to historical ties with English-speaking countries and the influence of globalization.

For those looking to improve their English, there are many specialized schools and courses available. For example, Lingualize offers high-quality English courses tailored for adults. You can learn more about their programs on their [website](Aula Particular Online Inglês para Executivos | Lingualize).

For further reading on this topic, you can check these sources:

- [Wikipedia on English in Portugal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language_in_Portugal)

- [EF English Live on the importance of English](https://englishlive.ef.com/blog/language-lab/how-english-became-global-language/)

Washington A. Demicheli:

Originally Answered: Why do most Brazilians speak English and not Spanish?

I do believe that's for the moment. I'm 68 yo. Up to the 60’s the Brazilians high schools used to teach French. In the end of 60’s the high schools started to teach English. After 2000 the high schools started to allow the students to choose between English and Spanish — no more French. It happened due to the Mercosul, an integrated market among some.counyries in South America. Even Spanish seems (and it's not true) to be easier than English, most students prefer to learn English, not only at the high schools but also at private courses. It's because most of students want to travel (tourism), study or work abroad and English is a nest choice as 2nd language for these reasons.

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Juliet Dutra:

As a half american and Brazilian i have to say because in all of the schools there is english classes like you have to get a good grade to pass

Vasco da Gama 0:

Originally Answered: Why does everyone speak English in Portugal? Why not Portuguese or Spanish?

We do speak Portuguese. As we are an educated country many people speak English and French. But pur daily base is Portuguese. I think that you have never been to Portugal

Tiago Carvalho:

Originally Answered: Why does everyone speak English in Portugal? Why not Portuguese or Spanish?

The portuguese speak portuguese. but we do it with each other. By I understand where you’re coming from. It’s, but we do it because Portugal is packed with foreigners to we are forced to speak english with everyone else, due to tourism.

And because this country offers more conditions to foreigners than our own people, we are forced to leave our country and our homes to live somewhere else, cause we can’t afford to pay rent or buy houses anymore. This is why we speak more english than portuguese. Because we have to, not because we want to.

Laura Almeida:

Originally Answered: Why does everyone speak English in Portugal? Why not Portuguese or Spanish?

In Portugal, people speak Portuguese! Spanish is the official language of Spain.

It's true that a high percentage of Portuguese people can speak English, since they start learning it at 6 at school.

David Domingues:

According to Wikipedia, the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) attempts to rank countries by the average level of English language skills amongst those adults who took the EF test.

This index rates Portugal in position number 12 with a very high proficiency band, whereas Spain rates in position 35 with moderate proficiency.

This only is an index among many others.

Andre Louchet:

Originally Answered: Why does everyone speak English in Portugal? Why not Portuguese or Spanish?

Where your information comes from? In Portugal everybody speaks portuguese. Some people can speak french (the old generation), many youngs can speak english more or less fluently as everybody does in the world. Some people can speak spanish, and in any case a spanish speaker is more or less understood by Portugueses people. But english is not the common language, of course !

Jo Canfield:

It hasn't been important for Spanish people to speak English.

If it had been, they would have.

Remember that Spanish is the second most widely spoken first language in the world, after Chinese.

And in the western hemisphere, Spanish is the most widely spoken second language.

So, before computers, globalization, and the relatively recent influx of tourists from northern Europe, there was really no reason for Spaniards to learn English.

Furthermore, before Franco died — less than fifty years ago — Spain was nearly cut off from the rest of Europe.

Paulo Rosa:

when I traveled to Portugal and Spain on vacation, I noticed that everywhere I went to in Portugal, people would talk to me in English first, not sure why, I am 15/16 Portuguese and I think I look Portuguese, but something about me give it away that I am foreign and I guess they tend to talk to foreigners in English.

In Spain it didn't matter if I approached someone in English, Portuguese or Portunhol (português espanhol haha), they would always answer in Spanish, they were not necessarily rude, but I believe they felt more conformable in their own skin.

Gledson Bernardelli Pereira:

Originally Answered: Why do most Brazilians speak English and not Spanish?

First of all, no! Most Brazilians do not speak English. I wish we all did, though. (That's my job—teaching English to Brazilians). According to the British Council, only 5% of Brazilians speak English, and only 1% are actually fluent in the language. Our language in Brazil is Portuguese, and even though almost all of our neighboring countries speak Spanish, we don't. That's because Portuguese works just fine for us.

John Plaut:

Originally Answered: Why do most Brazilians speak English and not Spanish?

Because, almost all Brazilians speak portugnol, a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese, like Mexicans speak spanglish. There is no need to study Spanish.

And it is not true that most Brazilians speak English, not even in Rio or São Paulo. In fact only 99% speak Portuguese and only 5% speak English. Just 2% are fluent speakers.

Wesley Pimentel:

Originally Answered: Why do most Brazilians speak English and not Spanish?

English is the main language of the world, Spanish is our closest sibling, so we don't study it very well, but now in touristic places (beaches) like Floripa and Itajaí there are many Argentinians, so, there, there are people that speak it.
Our television stations don't play Spanish songs.
And the majority of Brazilian population lives near the sea.

But I think we should listen to Spanish good music like Morat, Susana Cala, Mägo de Oz, Churupaca etc.

Paloma Mazaia:

I'm brazilian and I prefer studying english because it's the language more used in business and everywhere someone speak english and you can talk with others people. The spanish it's similar with portuguese a little bit, but has many differences. We can understand somethings.

André David:

In my personal experience, Spanish is inch tougher phonetically and I suspect there is also an aspect of being so close in some things that it is easy to make mistakes in the things that are different.

Robert Serrano:

Originally Answered: Why do most Brazilians speak English and not Spanish?

First of all most Brazilians speak Portuguese not English and if they do speak English they may learn it as a second language in school in Brazil.

Second of all most people in Brazil don't need to speak Spanish because they have a whole country to themselves where they can speak Portuguese 99%.

Spanish is not as popular in Brazil as it is in other countries in Latin America. Most Brazilians that do speak Portuguese speak a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish known as Portuñol or Portunhol.

John Plaut:

Originally Answered: Why does everyone speak English in Portugal? Why not Portuguese or Spanish?

You are lying. Not everyone speaks English in Portugal.

In fact, EVERYONE SPEAKS PORTUGUESE IN PORTUGAL, EXCEPT TOURISTS.

SPANISH IS THE LABUAGE OF Spin, not of Portugal.

Francis:

Many expats even report living there for many years and having no problems getting by with no Portuguese at all, such is the prevalence of English there due to tourism. Portuguese people immigrate a lot so a good part of the older population knows English.

Philip Quarrier:

Originally Answered: Why do most Brazilians speak English and not Spanish?

A person will want to learn something useful. It could be English, but in some parts of Brazil it will be Japanese or German. A Brazilian will likely understand Spanish, but If he replies in Portuguese, the Spanish speaker may not understand. Along the borders, some people on both sides will speak Portuñol, an ad-hoc mix. Read about Os Confederados, descendants of Americans who migrated after the Civil War.

Gary M Critser:

Originally Answered: Why do most Brazilians speak English and not Spanish?

Cause they just don’t want to speak Spanish when English is that more available!!!( or some other ludicrous reasoning point!!!)

Gary CRITSER, DO

Alfonso Garcia:

There is other important reason. It is a psychological reason. There are 570 million people that speak Spanish around the world. We don't need to study English.

Besides, we understand people that speak Portuguese and Italian if they speak slowly. So, we understand one billion people around the world in different degrees of understanding. For a lot of Spaniards is enough.

We think the same that a lot of British and American people.

Lara Ximenes:

Actually this is not true. A Portuguese teenager will likely have an easier time learning French or Spanish than English itself. Not my case though: I'm fluent in English while I'm not in Spanish... and I live on the border.

I guess teenagers develop a certain hate for the English language that I never managed to understand.