Is Knowing Spanish Good Enough For Brazil

[JamesSa]

After deciding on several countries to visit first (Dominican Republic, Philippines, Columbia, and Brazil), I've decided to stick to my original plan of first going to Brazil based on their women (my ideal woman is one with a combination of African and European features, which Brazil has), their beaches, and their cultural values. Also, people in Brazil appear to be friendly and like to dance and have fun, while also enjoying relaxation.

My question, is, will my conversational Spanish skills be enough to get me around Brazil for a 30 day visit? Or should I stop being lazy and learn Portuguese ASAP as well?

[ladislav]

If you are going to visit for only 30 days, I would just get a Portuguese phrase book and study up a bit. Many Americans go to places as tourists and enjoy there knowing only English ( and throwing money around) . If you plan on living in Brazil long term or want to get to know the locals very well, then you should learn the language. Like Americans, Brazilians are mostly children of immigrants and their language unites them. Spanish would be understood if spoken slowly, but you know what I mean. There is a language in the country, get a phrase book and just have a good time. Next time when you go there for a longer time, get a more serious course in Portuguese.

[icarus]

If you want to offend a Brazilian, a good way is to assume they all speak Spanish. The next best way is to assume that speaking Spanish instead of Portuguese will be good enough in Brazil. Although they might possibly be able to understand you if you speak clearly enough, and you can probably read enough Portuguese by virtue of your Spanish, the sounds of Brazilian Portuguese will take some getting used to as it's a much softer and more nasal spoken tongue.

[JamesSa]

Thanks guys for the info. I ordered some software to learn basic Portuguese. Depending on how well my visit goes, I might learn to speak it fluently and stay there for a longer duration.

[DonFrancisco]

After deciding on several countries to visit first (Dominican Republic, Philippines, Columbia, and Brazil), I've decided to stick to my original plan of first going to Brazil based on their women (my ideal woman is one with a combination of African and European features, which Brazil has), their beaches, and their cultural values. Also, people in Brazil appear to be friendly and like to dance and have fun, while also enjoying relaxation.

My question, is, will my conversational Spanish skills be enough to get me around Brazil for a 30 day visit? Or should I stop being lazy and learn Portuguese ASAP as well?

You do need portuguese. But the best way to learn the launguage is to go to Brazil!

I learned portuguese using B&B method. Beer & Bed.
Just mongering around, I found a hot chick who stayed with me a month and in the month I learned portuguese from nothing to solid internediary.

F.

[Jeygonza]

Well let me tell you something, I worked in a hotel in Dominican Republic, The hotel comes from Spain and the biggest users are from Europe including Portugal, I don't speak Portuguese, and although Spanish is similar but the conversation was not very productive. So my advice is you have to learn Portuguese!